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Prepared for Fernhill Manufacturing Northgate Book the review

October 21, 2026Re: your 2027 group benefits renewal

Dear Dana,

Your carrier asked for $342 a person each month to renew. We found your people a better plan for $304.

Over six weeks we walked both shifts, read three years of claims, and took Fernhill back to market. The Select PPO lowers every deductible, puts all six hospitals near the plant in network, and keeps $187,872 in 2027 premium at Fernhill, $150,298 of it in the company’s share.

What follows is what we heard, the options side by side, and what changes on a paycheck. One decision is needed from you.

With thanks,

Claire Hollis

Account Lead, Employer Benefits, Northgate Benefits

I.

What we heard from you

Three things your team said in September, and what each one changed in our work.

“Nobody on second shift should drive past three hospitals to find one that’s in network.”
Line supervisor, at the plant walk

What we didEvery hospital within 20 miles of the plant is in the recommended network.

“Whatever we pick, nobody takes home less in January.”
Dana, Director of People

What we didAt your current split, every tier pays less per paycheck than on the renewal.

“Give me one number I can take to the board.”
Controller, on our first call

What we did$150,298 a year off the company’s share. Move the inputs yourself below.

II.

Where your people live

Most of your 412 enrolled live within a short drive of the plant, so we built the network around the clinics they already pass on the way to work.

  • 6 of 6hospitals within 20 miles of the plant, in network
  • 3 statesone plan, no separate contracts for Indiana or Kentucky
  • 13remote staff, covered by the national partner network

Enrolled, by home state

Tap a state

III.

Three ways to cover 2027

Your carrier’s renewal, the plan we recommend, and a lower-premium alternative. Same people, same start date.

Today’s carrierRenewal as offered We recommendSelect PPO AlternativeSaver HSA
Per employee, per month $342 $304 $266
Premium for the year, all enrolled $1,690,848 $1,502,976 $1,315,104
Deductible, single / family $2,000 / $4,000 $1,500 / $3,000 $3,200 / $6,400
Out-of-pocket limit, single $6,500 $5,000 $6,900
Primary care visit $35 $25 After deductible
Generic prescriptions $15 $10 After deductible
Hospitals within 20 miles, in network 3 of 6 6 of 6 6 of 6
Company seed to each HSA None None $400 a year
Our read Higher price for a narrower network. Lower cost and lower deductibles for everyone. The right fit for a plant workforce. Lowest premium, but people pay more at the doctor, and the HSA seed brings the company cost back up.

IV.

What Fernhill pays, at your numbers

Set the headcount and the share of premium the company covers. Every figure on this page follows.

Blended premium per employee per month: renewal $342, Select PPO $304, Saver HSA $266 plus the $400 HSA seed.

Fernhill’s share in 2027, Select PPO

$1,202,381

$150,298 less than the renewal, about $12,525 a month. Employees keep another $37,574.

Renewal as offered $1,352,678
Select PPO $1,202,381
Saver HSA $1,216,883

Brass is what each plan saves against the renewal.

The Saver HSA costs the company $14,502 more than the Select PPO once the HSA seed is in.

V.

What changes on a paycheck

Three examples on the Select PPO, at the 20% employee share set above, over 26 paychecks a year.

Example one · Employee only

A second-shift machinist, covering herself

Per paycheck, renewal
$18.94
Per paycheck, Select PPO
$16.84

Her deductible drops from $2,000 to $1,500, and a clinic visit from $35 to $25. She keeps $55 more a year before she sees a doctor.

Example two · Employee and spouse

A shipping lead and his wife, in Richmond

Per paycheck, renewal
$41.04
Per paycheck, Select PPO
$36.48

Their hospital in Indiana is in network for the first time. They keep $119 more a year, and their family deductible falls by $1,000.

Example three · Family

A maintenance tech with two kids

Per paycheck, renewal
$59.98
Per paycheck, Select PPO
$53.32

Generic prescriptions go from $15 to $10, which adds up with two kids. The family keeps $173 more a year in premium alone.

Examples only. Tier rates are illustrative shares of the blended rate; final rates by tier come with the carrier’s contract.

VI.

From this letter to January 1

Ten weeks, one decision. We run the carrier paperwork and the enrollment sessions; your team approves and shows up.

  1. This proposal

    Sent to Dana and the finance team.

  2. Review call

    Twenty minutes with Claire. Bring the questions the board will ask.

  3. Your decision

    Picking a plan and the company share is the only date on this list that is yours.

  4. Carrier paperwork filed

    We submit the census and the signed application.

  5. Open enrollment

    Sessions at the plant on both shifts, in English and Spanish, plus a phone line.

  6. ID cards arrive at home

    Mailed to every enrolled employee before the holiday shutdown.

  7. Coverage starts

    Everyone covered from the first day of the year, no gap.

VII.

Questions you may be asked

The ones that came up on our calls, answered plainly.

Will people have to change doctors?

Very few. We matched last year’s claims against the new network: the doctors your people actually saw are in it, and the three hospitals the renewal dropped are back.

Is the $304 rate locked?

Yes, for twelve months from January 1, as long as enrollment stays within a tenth of today’s 412. The cost calculator above shows what other headcounts do.

What does Northgate Benefits charge?

Nothing on top. Our commission is paid by the carrier and is already inside the rates on this page, the same way it is on your current renewal. We will show you the number in writing.

Can we offer both plans?

Yes. Many plants offer the Select PPO with the Saver HSA as an option for younger, healthier employees. The cost lands between the two columns above; we can model your mix on the review call.

What if we just accept the renewal?

Nothing breaks. Coverage continues at $342, with the narrower network. You would be paying $187,872 more for the year than you need to.

Who handles employee questions in January?

We do. Every employee gets our service line and a named person at Northgate Benefits for claims and billing problems, so they don’t land on your desk.

A closing note

Dana, the hard part is done. What’s left is one call and one decision by November 15.

If the Select PPO is right for Fernhill, we will have your people enrolled and carded before the holiday shutdown. If it isn’t, tell us what would make it right and we will go back to market.

Book the twenty-minute review Claire Hollis Account Lead, Employer Benefits

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