OPRF employee benefits approved just ahead of open enrollment

Pioneer Press Newspapers (Chicago, IL)

Nov. 07--One day before its open enrollment period was to begin, the Oak Park and River Forest High School board approved a renewal of medical and dental insurance for its employees.

After initially being voted down by school board members on Oct. 26, the board held a special meeting Oct. 31 to approve an amended benefit renewal plan.

Board member Tom Cofsky pulled the item from the consent agenda on Oct. 26 to express concerns about rising insurance costs. After a lengthy discussion, board members voted 4-3 against the renewal, which sent the plan back to the district's insurance committee for further discussion. Those voting against the plan included Cofsky, Fred Arkin, Craig Iseli and Matt Baron.

According to an insurance committee memo, the initial projections pointed to a 7.4 percent increase in premiums, which meant an increase of $584,190. After a variety of plan changes, however, an increase of 5.8 percent is now projected, with the total increase being funded by the district's health insurance fund.

According to OPRF officials, the projected costs for all health plans from Jan. 1, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2018, are expected to be $9,027,745.

"My [initial no vote] was born out of a real frustration that this is the third year in a row we have received insufficient answers and no proactive movement from our broker and committee," Arkin said. "It's not an indictment of the level of benefit or the structure. I hold all of our employees in very high regard and, of course, we have to provide a very comprehensive and competitive health program for all of our employees. At the same time, we need to make sure we are doing our very best to prioritize long-term costs and benefits."

Among Arkin's suggestions for future cost savings include implementing a wellness program to help lower insurance claims, offering incentive programs to employees and changes to prescription drug offerings.

"Although a 5.8 percent increase in today's marketplace is modest, I think we can do better for our employees and the district to maintain the long-term stability of our health benefits program," Arkin said.

According to OPRF officials, the district's health plans are self-funded, which means the district pays Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois to administer medical plans. The district pays the actual cost of claims, as well as administrative fees, while employees share in the premium costs as well as other out-of-pocket expenses.

Among the changes implemented to reduce costs include increases to emergency room copays, increases to specialist office visit copays and the addition of a $50 third-tier prescription copay for non-formulary brand drugs to all plans.

"[This discussion] is about the responsibility of managing the resources of our district and the best interests of our students over the long term," Cofsky said. "I strongly believe that each and every employee of this district should be offered affordable health care benefit options that best fit their individual circumstances, however, this must be balanced with the needs that best support our students within the resources our taxpayers can afford."

According to a district memo, the projected dental plan calls for an increase of 1.5 percent, or a $9,300 increase in funding. No plan changes were recommended at this time.

Board members unanimously approved the renewal of employee dental and medical insurance options at the special meeting.

"Our goal and our hope is to bring the information forward next year at an earlier point in time so the board does have time to take into consideration what we are proposing prior to us having open enrollment and that everyone is on the same page," Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt-Adams said.

sschering@pioneerlocal.com

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