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District staff brief trustees on nearly 13% average insurance increase and open-enrollment plans
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Romero Guerrero told the board Imperial Valley insurance rates rose about 12–15% this year and previewed a mandatory open-enrollment in August and new preventive-care PPO options; trustees asked for plan comparison tools to share with employees.
Romero Guerrero, assistant superintendent of human resources and risk management, briefed the Calexico Unified board on rising employee insurance costs and upcoming enrollment steps.
Guerrero said insurance rates in the Imperial Valley rose between roughly 12% and 15% this year and that the district’s PPO increased by about 12.98%, while the SIMSA HMO rose about 3.89%. He attributed increases to inflation, greater utilization, higher-cost prescriptions and new treatment options, and to service-provider contract cost increases. "We have 8 prescriptions that account for 7.2% of the total amount of prescriptions," Guerrero said, and he flagged growth in high-cost items such as continuous glucose monitors and new oncology treatments.
He described value-added benefits the district will promote to encourage preventive care, including telehealth through Sentivo (no co-pay), maternity supports and second-opinion services. Guerrero said SIS offers a one-page comparison tool for employees and that the insurance committee shares details with union representatives. He also said the open-enrollment window will be mandatory in August for all employees to select plans and that virtual information sessions will be offered.
Trustees asked how the 12–13% increase breaks down and how the district will communicate choices; Guerrero confirmed materials and union outreach will be used. The board discussed payroll-deduction options including plans with zero payroll deduction versus plans with higher employee contributions.
