School district employee insurance rates going up

Oct. 04--Group insurance rates for Sarasota County school district employees will increase by almost 2 percent in 2018, based on a School Board vote Tuesday evening.

Depending on the individual plan and how many people are insured through it, district employees will pay between about $4 and $30 more a month for additional members of their family, such as a spouse or children. The district pays for its employees' coverage.

In 2018, the district is projected to contribute $52.8 million toward premiums, whereas the more than 7,000 employees, retirees and dependents estimated to be enrolled in 2018 in the insurance plans will likely pay $6.1 million, combined.

This is the lowest rate increase the school district has had in 5 years, according to Mitsi Corcoran, the district's chief financial officer.

Although the rate increase was initially met with disagreement by School Board member Eric Robinson, he voted for the increase Tuesday. The board voted unanimously for the measure.

At the same time as insurance rates increased, board members looked at the financial feasibility of creating health clinics for those insured by the district. Their hope is that having low cost and accessible health care will increase employees' willingness to go to the doctor, eventually lessening the severity of insurance claims before conditions become serious.

"We have a large portion of our population who I believe don't ever go to the doctor," Corcoran said. "We will see greater claims (with clinics), but the hope is that it isn't the catastrophic claims."

Currently, the district offers between $50 and $100 to employees who participate in a wellness program, including attending a physical exam and an additional wellness initiative. Corcoran said only 20 percent of employees participate in that program.

Any increase "is something we take seriously, but if you look at the trajectory and comparison of other companies and public entities with what the rates they're facing, I think we're in very, very good shape," said School Board member Bridget Ziegler.

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