Mayor: Aetna healthcare deal will save Miami-Dade $40 million | Opinion

As mayor of Miami-Dade County, representing almost three million residents, I take my responsibility to steward public resources as one of my chief obligations.

In light of the daunting $402 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2025–26, our administration has taken decisive action to protect essential services without raising our property tax millage for families.

My team and I have done the important work of evaluating all areas of county government to achieve greater efficiencies and deliver true cost savings.

Although Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez recently offered theories on cost savings — including in an opinion article published in the Miami Herald — my administration has delivered results.

Earlier this month, I was proud to announce $40 million in recurring savings that will also improve healthcare access for our 20,000 employees, their families and retirees who rely on the county for essential medical and preventive services.

Healthcare benefits are among the most significant costs in any public-sector budget.

In Miami-Dade, we’ve worked to control spending while maintaining high-quality coverage. As the region’s second-largest employer, we know access to high-quality care supports stronger families and a more prosperous community.

After a rigorous review, we recommended Aetna as our healthcare partner — a nationally recognized insurer offering economies of scale and innovative care-management tools. Their network includes hundreds of local providers and clinics, ensuring our employees receive care where they live and work.

Here’s how the savings are being achieved: Leveraging scale and negotiated rates: Aetna’s large provider network enables lower rates, which directly reduce the county’s annual claims expenses.

Enhanced care management and engagement: Aetna’s programs — such as disease management, wellness incentives and telehealth — keep employees healthier at no added cost to them.

Administrative efficiency: Streamlined platforms and next-generation claims administration lower administrative costs while improving service quality.

Independent actuarial analysis confirms the $40 million reduction in health plan costs will recur annually under the proposed plan.

At the Board of County Commissioners’ request, a second consultant verified the savings. Aon’s findings supported the same result.

Partnering with Aetna means not only financial savings for the county but better healthcare access and quality for our workforce.

Combined with structural reforms — including department consolidations, a leaner executive team and asset optimization — we are directly addressing the budget gap.

This is not theory. It is what accountable government looks like under pressure. We innovate, negotiate and invest in long-term efficiency.

And we’re not done.

Over the coming months, we will continue reviewing systems, infrastructure and shared services agreements to find more cost-saving opportunities.

Switching to Aetna — delivering tens of millions in verified annual savings — shows what responsible fiscal leadership can do. It protects services, shields taxpayers and fulfills our promise to run county government efficiently.

Miami-Dade faces extraordinary challenges, but with smart reforms and competitive procurement, we’re closing the gap and building stronger, healthier communities.

Daniella Levine Cava is the mayor of Miami-Dade.

This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 7:01 PM.