Insurance committee recommends plan changes to limit premium spike; labor votes to follow

Treasurer TJ Cusick told the Worthington Schools Board of Education that the district's insurance committee met Aug. 12 and recommended a plan design change that increases employee deductibles and adds a 15% coinsurance beyond the deductible up to the out-of-pocket maximum. The committee's modeling reduced a projected premium increase of roughly 20% down to an estimated 8% under the recommended option.

Cusick said the district's consultant has met with labor unions and that union votes on the proposed changes are expected in September; if the unions ratify the change, the item will come to the board the following Monday. He described the committee's work as a balance between increasing employee responsibility and capping maximum exposure for employees who meet their deductible.

Discussion vs. decision: the committee recommended a plan design change; labor union votes are pending and the board has not yet taken action. Direction: the consultant will continue negotiations with unions and will return to the board with any ratified agreement.

Why it matters: changes affect employee out-of-pocket costs and district premium exposure and could change plan affordability for staff and budget projections for the district.