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Excelsior Springs board approves rejoining MUHP, pays assessment to limit 2025 premium increase
Summary
The Excelsior Springs 40 School District board voted 5-0 to rejoin the Missouri Unified Health Plan and authorize a one‑time payment that reduces a planned premium increase to about 4.98%; the district will front roughly $177,000 to buy a 10% discount, board and staff said.
The Excelsior Springs 40 School District board on March 20 voted 5-0 to rejoin the Missouri Unified Health Plan (MUHP) and to make a one‑time upfront payment to reduce the consortium's assessment and limit next year’s premium increase.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas told the board the consortium assessed districts after a year of high claims and that Excelsior Springs' share was roughly $197,000. He said an early, full payment would secure about a 10% discount, reducing the district’s outlay to about $177,000. Dr. Thomas said MUHP’s alternative would have been a much larger across‑the‑board premium increase for individual employees.
“Instead of a 20% to 25% increase in health insurance, by paying the assessment we’re holding the increase to about 4.98%,” Dr. Thomas said during the discussion.
Board members asked whether the one‑time payment must be recorded in the current fiscal year; Dr. Thomas confirmed it would land on this year’s books and said the district has room in the budget to accommodate it. He also noted the district likely would pass at least part of the limited premium increase to employees under the current budgeting scenario.
Board member Kayla moved to approve rejoining MUHP and to authorize the upfront payment; Board member Jill seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 5‑0.
The board’s action authorizes the superintendent and business staff to complete the payment and enrollment steps with MUHP. Dr. Thomas told the board staff had sought alternative insurance vendors but received no competitive bids because the district’s recent loss ratio made it unattractive to private carriers.
Board members and staff said the decision was made to limit the immediate premium shock for employees while covering the district’s short‑term exposure from last year’s high claim activity.
The district will include the $177,000 assessment amount on this fiscal year’s financial statements; staff said they intend to monitor MUHP’s performance next year and revisit options if the district posts healthier experience.
