Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health Insurance Renewal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee recommends renewing BlueCross BlueShield plans despite double-digit increases
Summary
The Rankin School District #98 Health Insurance Committee recommended renewing the district's BlueCross BlueShield plans for Jan. 1, 2026, noting a roughly 13.96% PPO increase and an 11.68% HMO increase; the committee considered supplemental secondary coverage but did not endorse it for this renewal.
Dr. Matt Gordon, chair of the District Health Insurance Committee, said the committee will recommend that the Board of Education renew the district's BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) health plans for an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026. Kepple Healthcare Consulting's Jessica Sierer reported that market bids were not competitive with BCBS and that "the increases across the board are significant for their school districts," but that Rankin received comparatively favorable renewal terms from BCBS.
Kepple presented renewal figures showing approximately a 13.96% increase for the PPO option and approximately an 11.68% increase for the HMO option. The committee reviewed a single-coverage snapshot for the PPO option: single medical rising from $833.95 to $950.40; single dental unchanged at $25.78; total cost moving from $859.73 to $976.18; approximate board contribution per month rising from $773.76 to $878.56; and approximate employee cost per month from $85.97 to $97.62 (per paycheck $42.99 to $48.81). Those numbers were presented by Jessica Sierer of Kepple Healthcare Consulting.
Committee members discussed a supplemental secondary insurance option that Kepple described as a way to reduce premium increases but that would increase employees' maximum out-of-pocket exposure. The committee opted not to recommend adding supplemental insurance for the 2026 renewal but left it as a potential future option if district finances worsen. The committee's recommendation to the BOE is conditional: if the Board approves the recommendation at its Nov. 17, 2025, regular meeting, an open enrollment period would run Nov. 18'025 through Nov. 25'025 and Kepple will be on site Nov. 18 at 7:50 a.m. to meet with staff who have questions.
No formal Board vote occurred at this meeting; the committee's action was a recommendation to the Board of Education. The committee also noted that dental and vision premiums did not change and recommended renewing those coverages.
