REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
LEONARDO GONZALEZ, Director, Human Resources Department
SUBJECT
Title
Dental Preferred Provider Organization Premium Rates for Plan Year 2026-27
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Dental Preferred Provider Organization premium rates for active employees, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act participants, and their eligible dependents for plan year 2026-27, as shown in Attachment A.
(Presenter: Leonardo Gonzalez, Director, 387-5570)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). There is no additional cost to the County associated with the approval of this item as the County’s contribution to employee dental insurance premiums is fixed pursuant to ordinances, compensation plans, and negotiated Memoranda of Understanding with individual labor unions.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On October 15, 2021, the Human Resources Department (HR) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP-HRD221-HR2-4366) to solicit vendor proposals for dental plan benefits in order to obtain favorable dental premium rates and cost containment on its Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) and Dental Preferred Provider Organization (DPPO) plans for employees and retirees.
As a result of a competitive process, on May 24, 2022 (Item No. 55), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Delta Dental of California (Delta Dental) as the group plan provider for active employees, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) participants, and eligible dependents for plan years 2022-23 through 2026-27, and authorized the Director of HR to finalize contracts with Delta Dental. On July 26, 2022 (Item No. 24), the Board approved Contract No. 22-720 with Delta Dental to provide group dental plan benefits for active employees, COBRA participants, and eligible dependents for plan years 2022-23 through 2026-27.
On June 10, 2025 (Item No. 56), the Board approved DPPO premium rates through plan year 2025-26, and DHMO and Preferred Provider Organization Administrative Services Only (ASO) fee rates through plan year 2026-27. As a result, DHMO and ASO fee rates for plan year 2026-27 remain unchanged, and the recommendation only seeks approval of DPPO premium rates for plan year 2026-27.
Each year, HR contracts with a health and welfare consultant to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the County’s self-insured Delta DPPO plan’s claims experience, including a three-year financial projection.
In February 2026, HR contracted with the Segal Company (Segal) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the County’s self-insured Delta DPPO plan’s claims experience, including a three-year financial projection to recommend the best rates for plan year 2026-27. Segal provided three different three-year projections that would maintain adequate fund reserves to cover future benefit expenses for the DPPO plan.
Based on Segal’s analysis and following careful review, HR and the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee (EBAC) recommend approval of an approximate 6% increase to the current DPPO premium rates for active employees, COBRA participants, and their eligible dependents for plan year 2026-27 (as shown in Attachment A), to cover rising utilization costs while maintaining an adequate level of fund reserves.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jose Mendoza, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 20, 2026; Purchasing (Jessica Barajas, Supervising Buyer, 387-2065) on April 21, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Garrett Baker, Administrative Analyst, 387-3077) on April 29, 2026.