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Bullhead City School District board approves new carrier for employee medical, dental and vision plans
Summary
The Bullhead City School District board voted unanimously March 27 to move employee medical, pharmacy, vision and dental coverage to the ASBADE trust (Aetna) for the 2025–26 school year, following committee recommendations citing lower rates and broader provider networks.
The Bullhead City School District board voted unanimously March 27 to switch its employee medical, pharmacy, vision and dental coverage to the ASBADE insurance trust, whose carrier is Aetna, for the 2025–26 school year.
District staff told the board the move follows recommendations from the district’s meet-and-confer committee, which compared rates and provider networks from the district’s current carrier, Kairos, and ASBADE. The committee also recommended consolidating dental and vision coverage under ASBADE instead of continuing with Ameritas for vision and dental.
The committee presentation showed the district’s current employer contribution for the co-pay plan at about $1,035.20 per month; staff said the ASBADE offer would reduce that to about $1,009 per month. Staff also said the lowest high-deductible health plan (HDHP) available through ASBADE carries a $2,600 deductible. Staff reported that a quote from the district’s current provider showed a roughly 20% premium increase for next year.
A district staff member who presented the comparison told the board that Aetna has expanded its local provider network since the district last used ASBADE and that employees’ specific providers – including Mayo Clinic where asked about – appeared on the new provider lists. “Aetna has stepped up in terms of increasing providers in the area,” the staff member said.
Board members discussed employee disappointment over a previously advertised vision benefit with Ameritas that staff said had not been delivered. The move to ASBADE would place medical, pharmacy, vision and dental in a single package, and staff said it would simplify billing for the business office because it would require one monthly premium payment instead of multiple checks.
The motion to approve the new carrier passed on a roll-call vote with all five board members present voting yes. The board also adopted the meeting agenda and later adjourned by unanimous vote.
Board members discussed scheduling a school-finance workshop with ASBA presenter Julie Bacon and asked staff to contact her about in-person and virtual options. A possible fee of $600 per person for the workshop was mentioned during that discussion.
The board set a workshop for April 17, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.; the regular meeting would follow at 6 p.m.
