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Board approves benefit design and 2025-26 insurance rates after debate on member costs
Summary
The board approved proposed health plan design changes and the 2025-26 insurance rates after discussion about increased out‑of‑pocket exposure for employees; several members voted no or abstained on some items.
The Green Bay Area Public School District Board of Education on March 17 approved changes to employee medical plan design and the district’s 2025‑26 health insurance rates for active employees and retirees, following questions about increased out‑of‑pocket exposure for participants.
Board members approved the recommended medical plan design change (motion carried) after staff reported median participant out‑of‑pocket costs under the existing $1,500 HRA plan and the high‑deductible plan, and explained the proposed new maximums. The district reported the median participant out‑of‑pocket cost last year on the $1,500 HRA plan was $2,316.08, and the median under the high deductible plan was $537.74. The proposed maximum out‑of‑pocket for single coverage would be $1,000 higher and family maximum $2,000 higher than the current plan.
Several board members said they were reluctant but understood the action was intended to keep the benefits program solvent. Board member Becker voted against one of the actions; Mills abstained on multiple votes. The formal recorded votes for the medical plan change were Becker: no; McCoy: yes; Lyerly: yes; Mills: abstained; Gerlach: yes; Crossen: yes.
The board also approved the 2025‑26 active employee health insurance rates for the $1,500 deductible plan with a health reimbursement account and the minimum essential plan, and approved retiree prescription and retiree plan rate actions as presented. Vote results on those combined items matched the same pattern: several yes votes, at least one no and at least one abstention on some packaged items.
District staff said the design changes and rate adjustments are meant to maintain plan solvency while preserving coverage; board members asked staff to publish clear, median out‑of‑pocket estimates for single and family coverage so employees can understand typical exposure, not just worst‑case limits.
The motions were approved at the March 17 meeting and are effective for plan year 2025‑26.
