The state has procurement rules that we must follow when procuring a contract for services, in this case, dental insurance.
The state procurement rules specify that the benefits in a contract may not extend beyond five calendar years. Therefore, when a current contract for benefits is nearing the end of its contract term, Benefits Administration issues a request for proposals, or RFP, to procure a new contract.
A new contract with a different vendor will result in a different network of providers. Your provider may or may not be in the new network. Check the network directory closely. Even though contracts for dental insurance with Cigna and MetLife remain in place until December 31, 2030, there will be changes in the provider network. Even if your provider is in-network during the Annual Enrollment period, there is no guarantee that they will remain in-network throughout the entire plan year.
How often are the dental insurance companies selected for the state’s insurance program?
