Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for April 20, 2006 DEJA BLUE

As you should have heard by now, the CSD #1 Insurance Committee met with Kenny Johnson on Tuesday afternoon to review the District's group health insurance plan and explore options.

Our current carrier (Principal) has proposed rate increases for the coming year...which does not come as a surprise, since there seems to be no limit to rising healthcare costs. Knowing our previous positive relationship with BlueCross BlueShield of IL, Kenny has kept in contact...and solicited a bid. BCBS made a proposal that was lower for the employee/single rate - lower than what the District pays, so that the employee would pay nothing. (With the new proposed rate for Principal, the employee would have had to begin paying a small amount per paycheck.) The BCBS bid was higher in the other three categories.

So...a decsion was made to put the question of remaining with Principal or switching back to BCBS to the group membership, as required by contract. No general membership meeting was held because the benefits are almost identical and most participants have previous experience with both carriers, making the decision dependent upon a simple comparison of current rates with proposed rates.

If the switch in carriers is made, new application forms will have to be completed...by this Friday. (Don't panic...for "employee only" members, it will take you maybe two minutes to complete the form!) That timeline will allow BCBS to do the paperwork required to have the plan in place by June 1, 2006.

The District Insurance Committee wants to thank everyone in advance for your cooperation in this process!