During the Brooksville City Council meeting on August 4, 2025, a significant discussion centered on the renewal of employee benefits coverage, particularly medical and dental plans, with Cigna being the selected provider. The city, represented by the Gehring Group and Human Resources, successfully negotiated a 2% reduction in medical premiums and a 10% reduction in dental premiums, resulting in a total savings of approximately $38,000 for the city.

Athena, a senior benefits consultant from the Gehring Group, presented the details of the renewal process, highlighting the city's long-standing relationship with Cigna since 2014 as a key factor in securing favorable terms. The renewal not only provides financial savings but also ensures continuity of care for employees with minimal disruption.

The meeting also addressed broader trends in healthcare costs, with predictions indicating an increase in medical trends to 8% for 2025, driven by inflation, a shortage of healthcare providers, and rising pharmaceutical prices. Athena emphasized the importance of managing these costs effectively, noting that 25% of the city’s total healthcare spending was attributed to catastrophic claims.

In addition to the premium reductions, the council discussed increasing the city's contribution to employee coverage, particularly for those with children, as a strategy to enhance employee retention. The proposal included raising the employer contribution from 64% to 75% for employee-plus-children coverage and from 46% to 50% for family coverage.

The council is expected to vote on these proposals, which aim to balance cost savings with improved employee benefits, reflecting a commitment to supporting city employees and their families.