Public School Employees Insurance Rates Differ From Other State Employees

JONESBORO - Tiffany Riggs does not like the health insurance options offered by Westside School District, so she opts for private insurance.

"There is no savings even though insurance companies are supposed to offer better deals to groups," she said about the health insurance her district provides to her and her fellow teachers.

She said she thinks people need to be aware of that fact.

Riggs, the 14-year English teacher, has her insurance and her husband's insurance through Arkansas' Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

"He is a farmer, so we just purchase it," she said.

Riggs has never purchased the insurance her district provides.

She looked at the plans when she was hired and came to the conclusion the insurance was too expensive.

Riggs said a misconception about teachers is since they are state employees, they must get high-quality insurance options for less.

Laura McFarlin, payroll clerk at Nettleton School District, said all public schools provide insurance through Arkansas Benefits. She said there are no other options.

Why are the insurance rates for school employees high when they are technically state employees?

"They don't consider us state employees as far as insurance goes," said Sharon Parks, assistant bookkeeper for 23 years at Westside Consolidated School District.

There are the three insurance plans through Arkansas Benefits - Premium, Classic and Basic. Plan rates range from $833.44 per month for the Premium family plan, to $275.62 per month for the Basic plan.

To qualify for the insurance, the school employee has to complete a physical test through either a clinic hosted at the school or through his or her doctor. If the employee chooses not to go through the tests, there is a $75 charge added to the premium. The employee must also fill-out an online health risk survey.

"It is not a pass-fail on the screening," Parks said. "They just want the data collected."

Afterwards, the employee meets with the nurse practitioner at the clinic and they discuss the results.

Parks said no new hire has to worry about pre-existing conditions.

"They are not denied health insurance for any ailments," she said.

Parks said she has never seen the line drawn where anyone was denied health insurance.

Parks said she has not discussed the pros and cons with teachers in her district. But she, who gets her insurance through the district, had a positive opinion about it.

"I think we have a pretty good choice," she said. "The rates are high but the private rates are high, too. We see it from both ways. People tell me about private rates and they are high too."