USD 475 discusses new insurance broker

Feb. 01--Insurance is sometimes a hot-button issue these days, and often elicits plenty of discussion.

Unified School District 475 recently embarked on a search for an insurance broker, interviewing several companies before settling on Hays Companies.

The Wichita-based company works with other school districts, but primarily do business in the corporate world.

According to USD 475 Superintendent Corbin Witt at Monday's Board of Education meeting, even if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, the company can still assist the district with insurance issues in many ways by doing things -- such as tracking data, keeping insurance premiums as low as possible, and trying to find ways to save money, among other things.

The company may be able to reduce certain types of claims by pulling some categories of data and analyzing it.

The Board of Education recently discussed educating employees on healthy choices through a program provided by Hays Companies.

"I think one of the trends in healthcare anymore is that you take on some of the load yourself as far as trying to make healthier choices and better decisions," Board of Education President Brian Field said at Monday's meeting. "So we want to make sure that we're providing that opportunity for our employees."

Board member Tom Brungardt felt stress posed a health issue for the district's faculty and staff.

Fees also came up as an area of concern.

Executive Director of Human Resource Services for USD 475 Bridget Seeman explained the fees would be "exactly the same" as they are right now.

Hays Companies uses a flat monthly rate. The rate won't rise or fall depending on the number of claims. The premiums will still rise and fall according to the amount of claims they have, but Hays Companies' rates remain the same.

Seeman thought "it'll be the same amount of money. It won't cost us anything more. In fact, it might save us a little bit of money."

USD 475 would have its own wellness specialist under Hays Companies.

"It seemed to me that they were more personal," board member Ferrell Miller said. "They were into coming down here and working with people, as opposed to sending a pamphlet or a monthly newsletter type of thing."

The Board of Education voted in favor of the switch to Hays Companies as the new broker on an annual contract.

Their current brokerage firm is Group Benefit Specialists, also based in Wichita.

"With the new Affordable Care Act, there are many things that we need to look at -- new laws, new regulations, new things -- that we need to implement," Witt said.

The BOE hopes the new broker can help it navigate those waters, come what may.

___

(c)2016 the Junction City Daily Union (Junction City, Kan.)

Visit the Junction City Daily Union (Junction City, Kan.) at http://www.yourdu.net/

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.