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Haysville presents new health‑insurance options; employee premiums largely reduced and an employee‑plus‑one tier added
Summary
District staff told the board that a benefits subcommittee and broker negotiated plan changes that add an ‘employee plus one’ option and reduce or hold level monthly premiums for most employees while keeping deductibles unchanged; the district restructured its board contribution schedule to cover the new tier without increasing district cost.
District finance and benefits staff presented an update on the district’s employee health insurance at the July Board of Education meeting, reporting that a benefits committee with the district and broker Brown & Brown negotiated a third coverage tier — employee plus one — and that most premium options will decrease or remain level for employees for the 2025–26 plan year.
Mister Ryan, who presented the insurance overview, said the district’s claims history over the past 12 months freed up additional plan options and allowed the committee to add the employee‑plus‑one tier after modeling. “We were able to include the employee plus one option, which I think is gonna be great for our staff,” Ryan said.
District staff and the broker said plan deductibles, out‑of‑pocket maximums and existing benefit levels remain unchanged for the coming year; staff emphasized that the changes were structured so the district’s total contribution cost would not increase while more employees would see lower monthly premiums.
Key plan changes and numbers shared with the board - New coverage tier: employee plus one (in addition to single and family tiers). Staff said this tier had been a frequent staff request. - Board (district) contribution schedule reworked to cover the new tier without adding district expense: single contribution $500, employee‑plus‑one $600, family $1,150 (staff said these figures roughly equal prior district expenditures under the previous contribution framework). - Overall premiums: staff said eight of nine modeled premium options show a reduced monthly premium for employees; the one option that did not decline increased by “pennies,” per staff. - Deductibles/out‑of‑pocket: staff said these remained the same as in the prior plan year.
Staff described a communication plan: printed booklets, emails with educational materials and a schedule of in‑person enrollment assistance days where Brown & Brown representatives will meet one‑on‑one with employees to complete enrollment and answer detailed questions.
Why it matters: staff framed the change as both a budget management success — the district increased contingency reserves above $1 million during fiscal closeout — and an employee benefit improvement. Board members and staff emphasized that the committee’s collaborative work with the broker and the negotiation team produced the new options.
Board discussion and follow‑up: Board members asked about plan education for employees, the effect on retirees and whether deductibles had changed. Staff said retirees had reported substantial monthly savings in some cases and confirmed that deductibles and out‑of‑pocket maximums remain the same. Staff also said the district will run an education campaign and offer multiple opportunities for employees to get enrollment help in person.
Ending: The changes were presented as part of the district’s enrollment rollout; staff said printed materials and staff support will be available in August and at convocation events. No formal action was needed or taken on the insurance presentation at the July meeting.
