Springfield school district employees to have choice of insurance plans as costs rise
School District 186 Superintendent Jennifer Gill insisted it wasn't the district that was responsible for increased health insurance rates for employees who take the plan.
That came from the carrier, Cigna, because of high claimants in the district and the overall spiraling costs of health care in the country, she said.
Springfield Education Association President Aaron Graves countered that district employees can't continue to shoulder the financial burden reflected in premium hikes of 32% over the next two years.
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The union, he added, would attempt to "claw back" at the bargaining table any increases passed along to employees.
In the end, the passage of the health insurance plan at Monday's Board of Education meeting came with the hike and a wrinkle.
Employees now will have a second plan, or "silver" plan to choose from that would mean lower premiums on the front end, but more out of pocket expenses down the road if the plan is used.
Gill said the district put $250,000 more into that plan to make it more attractive. Under both plans, the district pays 95.5% of the monthly costs, she added.
The new plan kicks in June 1 with open enrollment beginning soon.
Also approved Monday were new employee dental and vision plans.
This is the last year of Cigna's three-year contract with the district, which picked up the carrier in part because it covered Springfield Clinic in-network.
About two-thirds of the district's nearly 2,700 employees carry its plan.
Steve Miller, the director of business services, said the district has an aggressive public relations campaign ready to roll out.
Graves said his concern is that employees will feel "boxed in," and will take the silver plan, which he likened to "a crapshoot." When they use it, they will feel the cost shift, he added.
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"The silver plan is more like aluminum," Graves said.
The union leader also hypothesized that escalating insurance rates are affecting recruiting and retention of teachers.
"Benefits matter," he said.
Gill said the increases weren't meant to be put on the backs of employees.
"If (the district wasn't) looking at a budget deficit, we would definitely want to support our employees at an even greater rate," Gill said. "This is not something we're against thinking out-of-the-box about. However, this is the reality this year.
"This was the best of the plans, and we went 100% with what that committee of union representation voted on."
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield school employees to have choice of insurance plans
