Janesville School Board hears information on options for employee insurance
JANESVILLE--Controversy over the Janesville School District’s process for choosing new employee health plans appears to have blown over.
Insurance consultant Bill Boyd presented new information to the school board at its meeting Tuesday night, and board members appeared satisfied.
Boyd passed out information from requests for proposals from Dean and Mercy Health System and suggested an HMO option could be added to the two other plans already discussed with employee groups.
An HMO would have more limits on the selection of providers than employees would have with the other plans, Boyd said.
Boyd said he would be able to present the net costs of various plans at the board’s Oct. 23 meeting.
The board is looking to replace the current health plan, which is required by union contracts. Those contracts will expire June 30, 2013, and new state law allows the board to impose higher premium costs on employees without negotiations.
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Oct 11, 2012 at 12:45 p.m.
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Can you explain how purchasing an HMO from Mercy or Dean is self-insured?
Oct 11, 2012 at 7:32 a.m.
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I'm no insurance expert, but pretty sure they can remain "self insured" regardless of their plan choice. Maybe a school board member can verify that ???
Oct 10, 2012 at 12:59 p.m.
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It goes without saying that there is big money in selling health insurance. Currently JSD is self-insured; the "profits" from their sale of insurance (income received from premiums less the amount spent on coverage) goes into the Fund 10 balance, which is currently between $20 and 30 million. This money then gets used to cover budget deficits and/or reduce property taxes among other things. Is the School Board really considering going to an HMO that would give all that money from future "profits" to Mercy and/or Dean?
Oct 10, 2012 at 12:34 p.m.
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Ivote....its not for free, they do work.
Oct 10, 2012 at 11:38 a.m.
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Hey I know just keep raising taxes and give them everything for free so I cant afford Sh*t!!
Oct 10, 2012 at 11:12 a.m.
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I don't know anyone that has ever paid 50% of their income to insurance, including myself when I was self employed and got a solo policy even if I would have had a family it wouldn't have been that much. Going to the extreme to make a point doesn't help your argument which is exactly why I posted my absurd response to yours. If I recall you are a big time Obama supporter correct? Isn't Obamacare suppose to lower the cost of healthcare? I guess you are seeing what the rest of never bought in the first place with that BS. Welcome to the club. There is a simple way for these employees to reduce their healthcare costs it is pretty simple, don't get a Cadillac policy.
Oct 10, 2012 at 11 a.m.
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Also, I will pass on your hole idea.
Stop and think about what you just said.
Very disturbing by any standards.
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.
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Is 50% of your income a reasonable amount to pay for health insurance?
Is anyone who asks a question automatically a "victim"?
I am sorry if I disturbed your bubble.
Oct 10, 2012 at 9:45 a.m.
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Wow Gary life just sucks doesn't it, I guess we should just all dig a big hole and jump in. #Iamnotavictim
Oct 10, 2012 at 9:24 a.m.
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Even when the premium is 50% of your income?
Oct 10, 2012 at 9:24 a.m.
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LaborParty - If there have have been so many death diagnoses given at J'ville Hospitals which were reversed and treated at other facilities that you've lost track, then surely you can remember at least on or two of them as examples?
I'm just sayin'...
Oct 10, 2012 at 8:46 a.m.
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I am no insurance expert, my wife is, but there are always options for going out of network in most plans from my understanding. You always have the option to purchase your own plan and go wherever you want.
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