Columbus Council Advances $225,000 Disability Runout Contract With Hartford
The one-year agreement covers trailing claims and administrative fees through 2027 as the city transitions employee disability management to MetLife.
Legislation before Columbus City Council authorizes a $225,000 runout contract with Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company to manage trailing municipal employee short-term disability claims.
The agreement, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and runs through Dec. 31, 2027, allocates $200,000 for disability claims and $25,000 for administrative fees from the city's Employee Benefits Fund. The funding allows the city to settle remaining claims and fees under existing contractual obligations resulting from an upcoming vendor transition.
Under the ordinance, council waived competitive bidding requirements in city code, finding the waiver in the city's best interest to complete obligations under its existing program with Hartford. Columbus initially entered into its municipal short-term disability administration agreement with Hartford on Feb. 1, 2021.
The runout contract follows a vendor change initiated in April 2026, when the Department of Human Resources and benefits consultant Marsh & McLennan Agency solicited bids for a third-party administrator. After interviewing six finalists, city officials selected Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. as the lowest and best bid to take over short-term disability and life insurance services under a three-year contract beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
The Hartford runout legislation is contingent on council approving the city's broader 2027 employee insurance appropriation. City legislative records list the ordinance with a status of Second Reading.
Previously, Pique Media reported on Columbus legislation authorizing a Delta Dental employee benefits contract.
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Supporting evidence (9)
Legislation before Columbus City Council authorizes a $225,000 runout contract with Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company to manage trailing municipal employee short-term disability claims.
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To authorize the Director of the Department of Human Resources to enter into a contract with the Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company and to provide all runout claims and administrative fees for the short term disability program from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027; to authorize the expenditure of $225,000.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the costs of said contract
The agreement, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and runs through Dec. 31, 2027, allocates $200,000 for disability claims and $25,000 for administrative fees from the city's Employee Benefits Fund.
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Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550208 | Program: RM005 | Amount: $25,000.00 (STD Admin) Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550208 | Program: RM006 | Amount: $200,000.00 (STD Claims)
The funding allows the city to settle remaining claims and fees under existing contractual obligations resulting from an upcoming vendor transition.
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Due to this vendor change, runout claims and administrative fees need to be paid under existing contractual obligations.
Under the ordinance, council waived competitive bidding requirements in city code, finding the waiver in the city's best interest to complete obligations under its existing program with Hartford.
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SECTION 4. That City Council hereby finds it to be in the best interests of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes and does hereby waive the same.
Columbus initially entered into its municipal short-term disability administration agreement with Hartford on Feb. 1, 2021.
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This contract was initiated on February 1, 2021.
The runout contract follows a vendor change initiated in April 2026, when the Department of Human Resources and benefits consultant Marsh & McLennan Agency solicited bids for a third-party administrator.
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In April of 2026, the Department of Human Resources, with assistance from Marsh & McLennan Agency, the City’s employee benefits and wellness consultant, went out to bid for a short-term disability third party administrator via RFP032768.
After interviewing six finalists, city officials selected Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. as the lowest and best bid to take over short-term disability and life insurance services under a three-year contract beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
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The RFP team interviewed 6 short term disability third party administrators as finalists. After careful consideration and evaluation, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. was selected as being the lowest and best bid for short-term disability program services for the City.
The Hartford runout legislation is contingent on council approving the city's broader 2027 employee insurance appropriation.
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This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2027 insurance appropriation ordinance 2680-2026.
City legislative records list the ordinance with a status of Second Reading.
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{Body=Workforce, Education, & Labor Committee, Content type=Legislation, Document coverage=API text and document metadata; linked PDF bytes are not retained, File=2856-2026, Legislation type=Ordinance, Municipality=columbus, Status=Second Reading, Text version=1}
Supporting evidence (1)
After interviewing six finalists, city officials selected Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. as the lowest and best bid to take over short-term disability and life insurance services under a three-year contract beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
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The Department of Human Resources requests to contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029 and to provide funding from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027 for these programs. This contract has an initial term of three years with the option of two one-year renewals.
Columbus Legislation Authorizes Delta Dental Employee Benefits Contract
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on Columbus legislation authorizing a Delta Dental employee benefits contract.
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Columbus Legislation Authorizes Delta Dental Employee Benefits Contract