Brian Doyle with Gallagher Insurance reminded the Mount Vernon School Board that he doesn’t usually get to share positive news like Mount Vernon is seeing this year.
With 81 people enlisted in Mount Vernon School’s health insurance program this year, the district was able to bolster the school into a larger health insurance pool for Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.
“That has helped to bring down our co-pays, which helps to make the insurance plans much more competitive,” Doyle said.
Those co-pays went from $40 for an office visit and $100 for a specialist down to $20 for an office visit and $50 for a specialist visit. Drug co-pays were reduced as well.
Doyle also said he was able to add levels in between single and family rates, to address the types of health care packages employees may be looking for with the bid this year.
“Hopefully, that will attract more people to the insurance plan,” Doyle said.
While Mount Vernon saw increased enrollment in the insurance options last year, the district is slightly under the 60 percent for the plan.
Superintendent Matthew Leeman said the district will be communicating with employees during the open enrollment period about these changes and rough estimates of costs so employees will know what they will be getting in the plans.
Dental had additional options added and vision changed to a provider that is accepted out at Mount Vernon Eye Clinic.
Doyle also said that for one year, employees will have a chance to sign up for life insurance this year as well if they haven’t previously.
Board member Jermey Kunz said that reducing co-pays, costs and volunteer life insurance this year is a great job for the district.
Leeman said the district is also looking to possibly join a new consortium for property insurance if it becomes a reality this summer. The cost would mean that schools would need to come up with 1 percent deductibles for building damages for any repairs to buildings or property damaged by a storm.
The 28E agreement and consortium would let districts pool money into a fund that would accrue interest and payout only if there were damages due to severe storms.
“It would be a huge win for us if this was in place, as it would provide more coverage than we could ever have on our own if we were to see damages in severe storms,” Leeman said.