Authored by Phil Riley, President and CEO, Bearing Advisors
For city officials, rising health care costs are more than a benefits issue — they are a budget issue. Employer-sponsored health benefit costs are projected to increase 6.7 percent per employee in 2026, driven by catastrophic claims, specialty medications and chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
At the same time, cities are working to recruit and retain employees, support public safety personnel and maintain a healthy, productive workforce — all while protecting taxpayer dollars.
What if cities could address these challenges without increasing their benefits budget or reducing employee take-home pay?
That is the premise behind Prevent+Protect, an endorsed Enterprise Partner Program of the National League of Cities. It is a transformational employee benefits program designed to help cities address three interconnected drivers of cost and workforce risk: physical health, mental health and financial health.
Prevent+Protect complements a city’s existing health plan and wellness programs rather than replacing them.
- Physical health resources focus on prevention and chronic-care management, including telemedicine with no co-pay, biometric screening, preventive care and employee assistance services. The goal is to help employees address health risks earlier — before they become more costly claims.
- Mental health support is particularly important for public safety departments, where untreated mental health challenges can contribute to absenteeism, disability and escalating health care costs. Prevent+Protect incorporates a predictive mental health platform designed for first responders to help employees connect with appropriate care.
- Financial health benefits provide for retirement contributions as well as supplemental insurance protection against expenses associated with critical illness, cancer, accidents, disability and other unexpected medical events.
Prevent+Protect is designed to operate without a new city appropriation or reduction in employee take-home pay. Through its Section 125 Cafeteria Plan and medical reimbursement structure, participating cities can capture up to $50 per enrolled employee per month in payroll tax savings. These are savings they may not currently be realizing, and that can be invested in their most valuable asset — their employees.
The opportunity is straightforward and strategic: to improve employee health and financial security while creating a potential source of savings for the city. All without asking taxpayers or employees to shoulder another cost.
More About Prevent+Protect
City leaders interested in exploring whether this approach could work for their community are invited to attend an Oct. 29 webinar.
Additionally, leaders are invited to join the Prevent+Protect Solution Session at the National League of Cities’ 2026 City Summit conference, Nov. 19–21, in Nashville. While in Nashville, be sure to visit the Bearing Advisors’ Prevent+Protect Booth in the Enterprise Partners Pavillion.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for accounting, tax, legal or other professional advice.
Visit the NLC Strategic Partnerships page to learn more about organizations like Bearing Advisors dedicated to making NLC the premier resource for local governments.
Bring Prevent+Protect to Your City
Prevent+Protect is an endorsed program of the National League of Cities and is offered through NLC’s Enterprise Partner Program. Get more information on how to bring it to your city.
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