HR Benefits - Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Central Health (Travis County Healthcare District), a Texas public hospital district, is requesting proposals for hospital indemnity insurance coverage for approximately 2,300 active employees and their dependents, with proposals due July 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time and coverage effective January 1, 2027. Good Faith Effort regarding MBE/WBE participation is required unless otherwise specified in solicitation documents; both HUB-certified and non-HUB vendors are eligible.

The scope covers new hospital indemnity benefit coverage with guarantee-issue enrollment (no evidence of insurability required regardless of medical history) and maternity/delivery benefits with no pre-existing condition waiting period during initial rollout. Central Health seeks proposals for low and high plan options across four coverage tiers: Employee Only, Employee + Spouse, Employee + Child(ren), and Employee + Family. The carrier must accept electronic eligibility file feeds weekly at no cost, maintain compatibility with UKG benefits administration without requiring a deduction file, and offer summary/self-billing as a payment option. Carriers should specify credits, funds, or subsidies for technology and communication costs related to open enrollment, file feed setup, and product development. Implementation plans must include detailed accountability assignments, completion timelines, claims processes, online portal capabilities, and benchmarking data comparing plan design and costs against similar organizations.

The initial contract term is one year with four optional one-year renewal periods at Central Health's discretion. Carriers must commit to annual renewal delivery by April 1 (provided data is submitted and approved) and provide 120 days written notice for termination. All team member contributions are 100% employee-funded with no carrier commissions. Pricing must be submitted net of commissions with all fees and administrative costs itemized on the provided Pricing Sheet. Carriers must accept 60-day payment terms and waive all "actively at work" provisions.

Evaluation uses weighted criteria: Account Management (10%), Customer Service and Support (20%), Claims Administration (20%), Utilization and Reporting Capabilities (10%), Implementation Plan (10%), Fee Structure (20%), and Underwriting and Renewal Process (10%), plus potential interview/demonstration scores (20%). Central Health will conduct a two-step process: written proposal evaluation followed by potential interviews of short-listed finalists. Mandatory requirements include completion of Exhibit A-2 Questionnaire, Acknowledgement of Receipt Form, HUB certification documentation, conflict of interest disclosures, insurance coverage documentation, and acceptance of sample contract terms and Business Associate Agreement. Proposals must be submitted electronically via Bidnet (preferred) or as sealed printed copies to the Central Health Purchasing Office at CHPurchasingDL@centralhealth.net or 512-978-8047. Austin and Travis County living wage requirements apply.