District 202’s insurance committee presented proposed changes to employee benefit plan rates and carriers at the site and finance meeting on Aug. 20.

Committee materials recommended no increase for life insurance or vision, a 4.8% increase for dental tied to a carrier change from Delta Dental to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (staff cited reduced dental‑provider participation with Delta), and modest increases for medical plans: about 2% for the HMO, 3% for the PPO high‑deductible plan, and 9% for a PPO plan with a $500 deductible. Staff said the larger increase for the PPO $500 plan reflected higher expected utilization among legacy employees and is in part intended to shift enrollment toward lower‑cost plan options.

Committee members discussed plan design and incentives and noted the district’s fund‑balance guideline for the insurance fund: a reserve sufficient to cover approximately four months of claims (about 25% of annual claims). Staff said the district is balancing premium increases and reserve drawdown to avoid repeated 0% increases that would deplete reserves and then force larger spikes.

A separate recommendation moving biosimilar prescription fills and other utilization changes was presented as a cost‑containment idea. The committee did not take a formal board vote at the meeting; items will move to the full board for action if recommended.