Specifications include, but are not limited to: The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals to enter into a contract with a qualified vendor to explore the feasibility and options for shared employee health insurance benefits among the sixteen Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutions, including opportunities for carrier and plan consolidation, shared brokerage, use of common pharmacy benefit managers, among other potential changes to increase employee health insurance efficiency, quality and value. The companies submitting proposals in response to this RFP will hereafter be referred to as “Vendor.” USHE is examining several alternatives of providing this service and may decide, after reviewing proposals submitted, not to enter into any agreement. USHE institutions currently use six different health benefit carriers with varying costs, coverage, and contract negotiation processes. Five of the degree-granting institutions and one of the technical colleges are self-insured, four of which use the same benefits administrator to manage their plans. The other three degree-granting institutions and seven technical colleges are not self-insured and use traditional insurance carriers. Of the institutions that are not self-insured, eight, plus USU Eastern, use the Public Employees Health Program (PEHP) and two use other carriers. PEHP - a non-profit government entity - offers medical insurance, dental insurance, employee life insurance, and long-term care insurance to employees at state agencies, with some membership from higher education and public education as well. The Utah Public Employees’ Benefit and Insurance Program Act prohibits PEHP from insuring larger public higher education institutions in Utah.
