Elkhart Community Schools bus driver speaks against insurance eligibility change

Oct. 30--ELKHART -- Brian Prugh says he has been treated better in the past two years as a bus driver for Elkhart Community Schools than he ever was in his 23 years on the police force.

But one of the benefits that drew him to the job with the school district could soon be disappearing, and he has asked the Elkhart School Board to think carefully before executing the change.

An insurance committee recommended that the board increase the number of hours an employee must work to be eligible for extended benefits from 20 to 30 hours, a change that would mostly affect bus drivers and food service employees.

The district first offered extended benefits to part-time employees before the Affordable Care Act, when individuals would have had few options to obtain medical insurance apart from an employer group medical benefit plan, said Doug Hasler, executive director of support services. But with the Affordable Care Act, which still requires employers to provide medical benefits to employees who work 30 hours or more weekly, individuals can obtain insurance through health insurance marketplaces.

"An Elkhart Community Schools employee now has the opportunity to obtain guaranteed medical coverage, with plans that are comparable to the benefits available through the ECS benefit program, with the potential that subsidies can reduce the individual's cost of coverage," Hasler wrote in a memo to the board.

Hasler said a statistical analysis revealed the cost of claims from the part-time population is greater than the full-time group. If the part-time employees working between 20 and 30 hours per week were not eligible for employer-provided medical benefits, Hasler estimated the district could save $50,000.

But Prugh asked board members to consider whether that saved money is worth it in the long run.

"I've been told so many times that the days of our students don't start at the first bell, they start the minute kids get on our buses," Prugh told the board at its meeting Tuesday. "These people and these staff are important, too. We are asking you, as a voice of the bus drivers, to strongly consider not removing part-time employees from the plan."

Three other bus drivers attended the meeting to support Prugh, and they patted him on the back when he took his seat.

Board members appeared receptive to Prugh's comments -- so receptive, in fact, that the board tabled the vote. Board Vice President Glenn Duncan said at the meeting that he was not prepared to make a decision on eligibility guidelines, and he proposed that the board reconvene in a few days to allow the board to give more thought to the decision.

A special meeting has been called for 10:30 a.m. Friday at the J.C. Rice Educational Services Center, 2720 California Road.

Although the decision about insurance eligibility was tabled, the board did pledge to switch health benefits to UnitedHealthcare and dental benefits to MetLife.

In the meantime, Elkhart schools' Superintendent Rob Haworth encouraged members to take the additional time to "look at the impact of those souls, both on our plan and in our district."

Although Prugh shared some personal reasons why he is opposed to the eligibility change, he also cautioned the board about the potential adverse effect on the district.

As the economy improves, schools across the county are experiencing a shortage of bus drivers. Many would-be bus drivers instead opt to take year-round jobs with higher pay.

But Prugh said the extended benefits is something that attracts bus drivers and is something they appreciate.

"This school district has gone above and beyond to say, 'Hey, we are going to offer these benefits to part-time employees,'" Prugh said. "But to turn around and take this benefit away, are we going to lose drivers?"

Although it is true that cheaper premiums can be found through the health insurance marketplaces, and although the district would offer the part-time employees an insurance adviser to help them navigate enrollment through the marketplace, Prugh said it would be a bad move for employees.

Prugh, who has shopped for plans through the exchange before, said he had to find a new doctor because his old one did not accept the plans offered through the marketplace.

"Use caution, please, and consider the fact that not just today but five years down the road, a bus driver, or any part-time employee, will suffer," Prugh told the board. "These individuals will suffer."

Insurance Committee recommendations

Follow education reporter Michelle Sokol on Twitter at @michelle_sokol.

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