City of Las Vegas

Four years ago, facing annual premium increases of 20 percent in employee health benefits, the City of Las Vegas realized something big had to change. The answer seemed deceptively simple: put the ownership of health back in the hands of the city’s 2,000 employees. But it wouldn’t be easy. Success would require union and management agreement, plus across-the-board employee buy in. HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES Las Vegas would be the first U.S. municipality to attempt such a plan. Could the city and benefits broker Lockton pull this off? Vicki Robinson, Manager of Insurance Services for Las Vegas, says, "We joined hands and jumped off the cliff together." Communication with employees would be key to their acceptance of this new health paradigm. The first $1,000 of healthcare was reimbursed 100 percent. Employees were given the option of "bankrolling" it for future needs, even into retirement. SEND IN THE COACHES Las Vegas and Lockton enlarged the program two years ago, adding coaches from Wellness Coaches USA who personally encourage employees each month. Programs like Tooty Fruity Tuesdays (fresh fruit for everyone), Walk Nevada and the Biggest Loser add a healthy spirit of competition and camaraderie.	Vicki Robinson, Manager of Insurance Services   Steve Miller, Benefits Administrator
	Lockton helped create a consumer-driven health plan for the City of Las Vegas' 2,000 employees.
Today, Vicki and Steve Miller, the city’s Benefits Administrator frequently share the Las Vegas success story with cities across the nation. She acknowledges, "Lockton team polices the program and holds third party administrator’s feet to the fire. The end result is that the city and the taxpayers save money while the employees enjoy better health."