District 6 board approves employee benefits renewal with Aetna; district keeps two-plan structure
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Summary
The board voted 5-0 to renew employee health and related benefits with Aetna and partners, eliminating a third plan option to save roughly $1 million and maintaining a self-funded structure and employee access to NICE Healthcare.
The Greeley-Evans School District 6 board voted unanimously on March 24 to approve the district’s annual employee benefits renewal, continuing a self-funded medical plan administered with Aetna and maintaining supplemental offerings including NICE Healthcare, dental, vision and voluntary benefits.
Human resources presenter Miss Sponsler recommended two health plan options for employees: a high-deductible plan with a health savings account and a copay plan. The district will eliminate a third plan option that had been used by about 70 employees; Sponsler said 99% of claims on that plan would have been covered by the remaining two options and that removing the plan will save the district roughly $1 million.
Other details the board heard: NICE Healthcare (a telehealth/retail-care option) will increase $1 per month per employee; dental coverage will continue with Aetna with no rate change; vision coverage will renew with EyeMed and the glasses allowance will increase from $130 to $150; life and accidental death insurance will continue with The Hartford under a multi-year rate guarantee; voluntary accident and hospital indemnity products will remain available and optional. Sponsler said the district’s move to a self-funded plan last year contributed to lower-than-expected claim costs, producing savings that the district is using to build reserves.
Why it matters: employee insurance affects staff retention, district liabilities and the operating budget. Board discussion was limited; Director Mash asked about the effect of self-funding and Sponsler described the savings and the district’s plan to maintain a reserve for future claims volatility.
Motion and vote: the board approved the renewal by roll call (Director Azari: Aye; Director Bentley: Aye; Director Mash: Aye; Director Matthews: Aye; Director Norwood: Aye). The motion authorized officers to sign any necessary contracts.
