Presentation

2027 EMPLOYEE 
BENEFITS & WELLNESS 
PROGRAMS
CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION 
September 14,  2026
Janice Ashley, Employee Benefits Administrator

Benefit Programs Overview 
Programs/Vendor Partners
• Medical/Behavioral Health/Prescription Drug = Cigna & 
Affiliates/Partners, MedImpact, VibrantRx, PaydHealth
• Health and Wellness Medical Center = Premise Health
• Mesa Wellness 360 = City Wellness Team and 
Champions, WebMD technology platform and Health 
Coaching
• Dental = Delta Dental of Arizona
• Vision Care = Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Employee Assistance Program = ComPsych
• Health and Dependent Care FSA = Navia Benefits
• Business Travel Accident/Commuter Travel Accident   
Insurance = LINA/New York Life
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment 
Insurance = The Standard
• Short Term Disability Insurance = The Standard
• LTD Insurance (secondary) for Sworn 
Officers/Elected Officials = The Standard

Benefit Program Drivers for 2027
Financial Considerations

EBT Trust Fund balance projections

Oncology national cost/incidence increases

Musculoskeletal (MSK) services utilization

Specialty Drug cost impacts

Utilization of high-cost non-Specialty Brand drugs

High-cost RX “pipeline” 

Social & media RX advertising – increased demand

Benefit Program Drivers for 2027, cont.
Employee Engagement

Competitive payroll deduction premiums

Manageable out-of-pocket expenses 

Broad high-quality networks

Wellness incentives and rewards (gift cards &   
medical plan premium credits)

Free Health and Wellness Medical Center

Lifetime retiree/family health plan access and 
funding

Highlights - Benefit Plan Changes for 2027 
What’s not changing in 2027 Medical Plans?

Comprehensive, high-value coverage – 3 Plan options

Experienced, quality TPA administrators and broad national networks 

Free Employee Health and Wellness Center – primary/preventive 
care 

No change In-Network medical deductibles, coinsurance and copays

Continued 100% In-Network coverage for: Preventive Care, High-
Tech Radiology, Behavioral Health care, MDLive virtual urgent care

Broad eligibility across F/T and P/T benefit eligible active employees, 
retirees and respective spouses/committed partners and children to 
age 26

Highlights - Benefit Plan Changes for 2027 cont.
What’s changing in 2027 Medical Plans?
Enhancements:
100% In-Network Outpatient services - Basic and Choice Plans – same as Copay Plan
Laboratory services
X-Ray/Ultrasound services - aligns with 100% Outpatient High Tech Radiology
Expand MSK In-Network therapy, clinical care and surgery services network options - Basic, 
Choice and Copay Plans:
Cigna/Pathwell Bone and Joint (voluntary case management and network steerage)
Cigna/Hinge Health (virtual/clinician supported exercise therapy services)   
Cost Containment:
No Out-of-Network (OON) coverage – Basic and Choice Plans for:
Inpatient Hospital (medical, surgical and behavioral health related), facility and professional 
services (except emergencies) 
Outpatient Laboratory and all Outpatient Radiology services (except emergencies)
Chiropractic services and Rehabilitation Therapies like PT/OT/ST

Highlights - Benefit Plan Changes for 2027 cont.
Prescription Drug RX Changes (applies to Basic, Choice and Copay 
Plans – Commercial and Retiree Medicare Part D PDP/Wrap Plans):

No separate RX deductibles or premiums

Increased RX MOOP’s (maximum out-of-pocket) = $5,000/$10,000 including 
Medicare Part D RX MOOP = $2,400

No changes to mins/maxs/coinsurance levels for Generic Drugs/Tier 1

Higher maximum copays for Brand Drugs/Tiers 2 and 3, and higher 
minimums and maximums for Specialty Drugs/Tiers 4, 5 and 6

Medical/Prescription Drug Plans - Rate Changes
Medical Plan Premium Rate Increases for 2027:
Active employees and families (approx. 10% rate increase):
Plan option and single/family tier determine monthly premium    
increases:
Basic Plan: $12 to $34 per month increase
Choice Plan: $18 to $40 per month increase
Copay Plan: $27 to $81 per month increase
**No rate changes for Dental and Vision Care Plans**

Active Medical Plan Premium Rates for 2027

Mesa Wellness 360
Annual Wellness Program:
Up to $1,000 per household in incentives/rewards!  
Health and Wellness Center:
Preventive/primary care medical services (Premise Health)
State-of-the-art location at 59 S. Hibbert
Skilled, high-quality, dedicated medical providers and staff
Over 16,000 medical plan members (over age 2) eligible
All medical services - free of charge!
Annual physicals
Chronic care management
Lab draw services
Skin Cancer screenings
Vaccinations
Youth sports physicals

Open Enrollment and Wellness Benefits Fair
Open Enrollment 2026 for CY 2027: October 7 – October 21

eBenMesa enrollment system

Benefits Website: OE Guides, 2027 Plan Document, and other communications

Passive enrollment (except FSA, and elective changes for Voluntary Life Insurance = positive 
enrollment required)
Wellness and Benefits Fair/“Peace, Love and Wellness” Theme
Tuesday October 13 – from 8 am to 1 pm - Mesa Convention Center 

Employees/retirees welcome

Enrollment computer lab with volunteers to assist (until 4pm!)

Benefit plan vendors, City department information booths and Employee Network vendors

Free Flu Shots including high dose for eligible age groups (first come, first served)

Free Body Composition Testing & Free Chair Massages

Mammography mobile unit (with appointments – claims to medical plan)

Food and beverage trucks (from 7:30 am)