District reports health-plan shifts, lower premiums and new wellness services for employees

Okaloosa County School District staff reported changes to employee health coverage that shifted members to a new co-pay plan, reduced premiums for some employees and introduced wellness programs, presenters said.

Caitlin Kato (benefits) and the districts Benefits Oversight Group presented results of a recent open-enrollment cycle. Kato said 612 members moved from the base and buy-up plans into the co-pay plan; 31 of those were new dependents (children or spouses) added to the plans. Kato characterized that as a sign the new plan made coverage more affordable for some employees.

The district launched a "Wellness Wednesday" initiative and health fairs to bring vetted vendors to the central complex for employee screenings and services. Kato described recent events: free B12 injections offered by an aesthetic health vendor and a dermatology team that ran free skin-cancer screenings; she said one screening identified a cancerous lesion that was later removed.

Kato said the district will roll out a Digbi microbiome testing program in February (described as a holistic wellness offering) and continues to vet vendors for future health fairs.

Board members praised the benefits changes and credited the Benefits Oversight Group and district leadership for making more affordable and accessible coverage an employee recruitment and retention tool. Kato also clarified dependent rules: under the Affordable Care Act dependents may remain on a parents plan until age 26; Florida law allows districts that opt in to offer coverage up to age 30 but with conditions (the dependent may not be married or have dependents of their own in the state-opted portion).

No formal vote was recorded at the workshop on benefit changes; staff said the program changes were implemented after board approval of plan design earlier in the year.