Civil Service Commission 10/15/26 at 1:00 p.m.

At its October 15, 2026 meeting, the City of Minot Civil Service Commission considered an amendment to the 2027 pay plan changing employee contributions for self-funded health and vision coverage. The proposal set employee shares at 7.5% for employee-only medical coverage, 12% for employee-plus-children coverage, and 20% for employee-plus-spouse or family coverage; employees would pay 100% of their selected vision tier. The change was presented in response to a 16.4% health-benefit cost increase, compared with the 7% increase budgeted. The health fund had $3.7 million in reserves against a $2.2 million floor, and maintaining current contribution levels was estimated to draw about $1.1 million from reserves. The Commission unanimously approved the amendment, 4–0; it was expected to proceed to the City Council for approval.

Staff said they had planned to issue an RFP for the health plan, but could not obtain two reports needed for bidders from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota without signing an NDA that the City Attorney advised could conflict with state open-records requirements. As a result, the plan could not be taken to market, and no vendor selection or contract award occurred. Discussion also covered the disruption and provider-network risks of changing carriers, the impact of high-cost specialty drugs—which staff said accounted for 62% of claims spending from 2.5% of claims—and the need for earlier cost forecasting in future budgets.