IPBC Newsletter | May 2026

Employment Opening - Coming Soon!

Stay tuned for information about an IPBC Member Services Consultant position that will open soon. This is part of the July 1, 2026 contract with Risk Program Administrators (RPA).

The IPBC Needs Your Help!

Maintaining accurate contact lists is essential for the IPBC to reach Plan Administrators and others involved in benefit administration with timely news and information.

Please check your member pages to ensure all your contacts are correct: you can make updates using this form. Thank you in advance!

Click the video preview (below) for a recap of information provided in this Enewsletter - so you can prioritize!

Benchmarking Survey Deadline: This Friday, May 8

The deadline to complete the IPBC and Alera Group Healthcare and Employee benefits Benchmarking Survey is this coming Friday, May 8. Your input helps other member groups better understand how plans compare across the Cooperative. Those who participate will get a copy of the aggregate data.

If your group completed the survey last year, click here. If this is your group's first year, click here.

Open Enrollment Deadlines!

Friday, May 8: Member testing to be completed

Friday, May 15: Data Rollover; all pending transactions must be completed or terminated prior to this date. Otherwise, employee data will not rollover into the next plan year. Once data rolls over, dual enrollment will be required for any life events during the time period between the rollover date and the end of the current plan year (**you will need to enter an enrollment for 2025/26 plan year and then repeat that for the 2026/27 plan year**).

Monday, May 18 - Friday, May 29: Open Enrollment for employees

Monday, May 18 - Wednesday, June 3: The admin review/processing window will be open

Thursday, May 28: The last EDI file with 2025-26 plan year data will be sent. Please note: There will be a blackout period from this date, until the start of the new plan year. Any enrollments, terminations, adding of dependents, or other changes must be completed in PlanSource and via Haste Enrollment with the carriers. Directions for Haste enrollment are available on the applicable carrier page on the IPBC website.

Prescription Drug Farxiga: Starting July 1,

Save Hundreds by Using Generic Version

Express Scripts (ESI) by Evernorth will be reaching out to plan participants (via letter or email) to let them know that starting July 1, 2026, the prescription drug Farxiga - an SGLT2 inhibitor commonly used for diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease - will be excluded from the IPBC’s National Preferred Formulary, due to the availability of generic dapagliflozin. The generic version offers the same clinical benefit as Farxiga but at a much lower cost, while the average price for a 30-day supply of brand Farxiga is about $350, the generic dapagliflozin is available for about $5. Please read more about this change here.

Monthly Financial Reports

The March Monthly Financial Report is now available on the IPBC website and you can find it - and previous reports for 2025-2026 - at this link.

Unfiltered You - from the Alera Group Mental Wellness Team.....

Mental health challenges are rising, with nearly a quarter of adults affected, highlighting how today’s instability is deepening the need for more meaningful support beyond surface-level solutions.

This moment calls for organizations to foster a true culture of care grounded in empathy and psychological safety. The 2026 Mental Health Awareness Toolkit offers practical strategies to help leaders create lasting, impactful change. Learn more here.

Wellness Incentive Deadline

Here's your reminder about the upcoming wellness incentive deadline. You can review the wellness incentive packages and checklist here.

All submissions must be received no later than June 15. The submission should be sent to your IPBC Service Team Benefit Consultant. Thank you!

Retirement Message from Joyce Janu.....

As I look back nearly 16 years, I remember my first day working with IPBC Members. It was at the IGFOA Conference in Champaign. Many of the people that I met that day are still Members, and they are also good friends.

This organization has meant so much to me, and I truly cherish the time that I have had to help all of you with strategy, problem solving and even claim issues. I won’t forget you, that is for sure. Thanks for your support during all of our time together.

The IPBC is truly grateful to Joyce, her contributions to our team, and to the services she has been a part of providing to our Members over the last 16 years. We all wish her a wonderful and well-deserved retirement!

Upcoming Meetings

Tuesday, May 19

1-1:45pm

(via Microsoft Teams)

Ask IPBC

ComPsych

Thursday,

May 14

9:30am

(via Microsoft Teams)

Executive Board Meeting

Click this link to view the agenda and meeting information.

*Agenda is provided a few days prior to the meeting.

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The IPBC Monthly Newsletter is geared towards IPBC member groups HR, Administrative and Finance Staff who are responsible for management of their IPBC benefit plans.

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