District presents optional high‑deductible health plan with HSA contributions for staff
Summary
Ft. Zumwalt staff described a proposed optional high‑deductible health plan (HDHP) with employer HSA contributions and lower premiums; no board vote was recorded—the plan will be finalized over the summer before open enrollment.
District finance staff presented an optional high‑deductible health plan (HDHP) designed to give employees a second plan choice and to place employer savings into employee health savings accounts (HSAs).
Brian Netwell (finance) described the proposal as a companion option to the district’s existing traditional PPO plan. Netwell said the HDHP would carry a $5,500 individual deductible. A family deductible figure was mentioned in the presentation but not clearly stated in the transcript; staff said final deductible and premium amounts will be set when insurers provide rates this summer.
Netwell said the HDHP option is expected to lower premiums by roughly 15 percent and that a family enrolling in the HDHP could save roughly $100 per pay period in premiums compared with current family premiums. The district proposed using part of the employer premium savings to deposit money into employees’ HSAs—Netwell said employees would receive roughly $1,400–$1,500 annually moved into their HSA from district funds under the proposed approach, and staff would continue to treat the district’s $800 per month employer health insurance contribution consistently for all employees.
Netwell emphasized that staff would provide clear education so employees understand the higher out‑of‑pocket risk associated with a higher deductible and recommended employees consider saving the deductible amount in their HSA before relying on lower premium savings. Final premium and deductible numbers were not set; staff said they expect final figures by summer and plan voluntary summer open enrollment and additional explanation sessions before the school‑year open enrollment period.
Board members asked clarifying questions about whether employer HSA deposits apply per employee only (Netwell said the employer deposit discussed was per covered employee) and about education and timing; those questions were answered in the presentation. No formal board action on the HDHP option was recorded in the transcript.
