Columbus Legislation Authorizes Delta Dental Employee Benefits Contract
The proposed four-year agreement covers municipal dental and COBRA administration starting in 2027, alongside companion vision and disability plans.
Legislation before Columbus City Council authorizes an $8.65 million contract with Delta Dental Plan of Ohio to provide municipal employee dental coverage and COBRA services for 2027. The agreement establishes a four-year initial term running from Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2030, with options for two one-year renewals.
The contract selection followed a competitive bidding process initiated in May 2026 by the Department of Human Resources and benefits consultant Marsh & McLennan Agency. Reviewers evaluated five proposals and interviewed four finalists—Aetna, Anthem, Delta Dental, and MetLife—before choosing Delta Dental Plan of Ohio as the lowest and best bid.
Under the legislation, the city's 2027 maximum commitment includes $350,000 for administrative fees and $8.3 million for claims paid from the Employee Benefits Fund. City officials calculated the cost estimates using weighted benefit expenditures from 2024 through 2026, combining actual city utilization patterns, anticipated adjustments from upcoming union contract negotiations, and consultant input.
City legislative records list the dental ordinance under File 2720-2026 with a status of Second Reading. The dental ordinance is contingent on passage of the 2027 insurance appropriation ordinance 2680-2026.
Council introduced the dental contract alongside companion benefit packages for municipal workers. One related measure authorizes an agreement with Vision Service Plan to provide employee vision coverage and COBRA administration through 2030, authorizing a 2027 expenditure of $1.52 million. A second measure authorizes a contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. through 2029, dedicating $6.105 million in 2027 to cover short-term disability services and life insurance.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (8)
Legislation before Columbus City Council authorizes an $8.65 million contract with Delta Dental Plan of Ohio to provide municipal employee dental coverage and COBRA services for 2027.
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To authorize the Director of the Human Resources Department to enter into a contract with Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc. and to provide all eligible employees and eligible terminated participants with COBRA, dental insurance services from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2030; to authorize the expenditure of $8,650,000.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund
The agreement establishes a four-year initial term running from Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2030, with options for two one-year renewals.
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This contract has an initial term of four years with the option of two one-year renewals.
The contract selection followed a competitive bidding process initiated in May 2026 by the Department of Human Resources and benefits consultant Marsh & McLennan Agency.
Read supporting passage
In May of 2026, the Department of Human Resources, with assistance from Marsh & McLennan Agency, our employee benefits and wellness consultant, went out to bid for a dental insurance program administrator via RFP032902.
Reviewers evaluated five proposals and interviewed four finalists—Aetna, Anthem, Delta Dental, and MetLife—before choosing Delta Dental Plan of Ohio as the lowest and best bid.
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The RFP team interviewed four dental insurance administrators finalists of the five bids provided: Aetna, A CVS HEALTH COMPANY Anthem Inc Delta Dental Of Ohio MetLife After careful consideration and evaluation, Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc.was selected as being the lowest and best bid.
Under the legislation, the city's 2027 maximum commitment includes $350,000 for administrative fees and $8.3 million for claims paid from the Employee Benefits Fund.
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Amount: $350,000.00 (Dental Admin) Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550205 | Program: RM006 | Amount: $8,300,000.00 (Dental Claims)
City officials calculated the cost estimates using weighted benefit expenditures from 2024 through 2026, combining actual city utilization patterns, anticipated adjustments from upcoming union contract negotiations, and consultant input.
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Cost estimates for 2027 are based on weighted 2024, 2025 and 2026 benefit fund expenditures, using a weighted average of actual city utilization, expected changes due to union negotiations, as well as input from the City's employee benefits and wellness consultant.
City legislative records list the dental ordinance under File 2720-2026 with a status of Second Reading.
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File=2720-2026, Legislation type=Ordinance, Municipality=columbus, Status=Second Reading
The dental ordinance is contingent on passage of the 2027 insurance appropriation ordinance 2680-2026.
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This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2027 insurance appropriation ordinance 2680-2026.
Supporting evidence (1)
One related measure authorizes an agreement with Vision Service Plan to provide employee vision coverage and COBRA administration through 2030, authorizing a 2027 expenditure of $1.52 million.
Read supporting passage
To authorize the Director of the Human Resources Department to enter into a contract with Vision Service Plan and to provide all eligible employees vision services and eligible terminated participants with COBRA coverage from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2030; to authorize the expenditure of $1,520,000.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund
Supporting evidence (2)
A second measure authorizes a contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. through 2029, dedicating $6.105 million in 2027 to cover short-term disability services and life insurance.
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To authorize the Director of the Human Resources Department to enter into a contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co and to provide all eligible employees short-term disability services and life insurance coverage from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029; to authorize the expenditure of $6,105,000.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund
A second measure authorizes a contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. through 2029, dedicating $6.105 million in 2027 to cover short-term disability services and life insurance.
Read supporting passage
Amount: $205,000.00 (STD Admin) Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550208 | Program: RM006 | Amount: $4,100,000.00 (STD Claims) Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550203 | Program: RM005 | Amount: $1,800,000.00 (Life Insurance Premiums)