Insurance Update - BTA Bellflower Teachers Association

HEALTH INSURANCE NEWS
June 1, 2015
Insurance Committee Update
Preparations underway for our
move to CalPERS
BTA’s move to
CalPERS has been a
At the Insurance Committee meeting on May 28, the District’s broker provided the
renewal rates for next years insurance plans. The PPO plan premium is projected
to increase by 25% and the HMO plan by 8%. Obviously, these rate increases are
unaffordable and will likely result in the District being Kaiser-only. So it is a huge
relief to know we will be able to purchase our insurance through CalPERS where
at least two plans currently cost less than the District’s contribution. Plans at no
cost! When did we last see that?
long struggle. We have
If you want to stay with Kaiser, you can.
announce the District has
CalPERS offers Kaiser. You will notice something different, though. The deductibles and co-pays are LESS than what you are paying now. The Kaiser premium
will cost more each month but that increase will be off-set by the lower co-pays
and deductibles.
listened to your input
about your need for plan
choice at affordable rates.
We are very happy to
agreed to facilitate our
move to CalPERS.
- Shelley Allyn & Lynn Tindula
BTA Insurance Committee reps
Comparable PPO and HMO plans are LESS
CalPERS offers many different plans. Blue Shield Access compares closest to our
current HMO. PERS Choice is comparable to our PPO. What’s different under
CalPERS? The price! There are many plans to choose from that will cost a lot less
than what we are currently paying. We will have more precise information for
everyone in two weeks when CalPERS rates for 2016 are announced.
Turn the page
We’re looking forward to health insurance options that will be within reach.

Some facts about
CalPERS

Important dates

Plan information

What about current
retirees?

What’s next?
Important
dates
BTA members working together made this happen.
Why CalPERS?
June 1: CalPERS representative
meets with District
June 3: BTA bargaining with
District on move to CalPERS
June 4: Special meeting of
School Board
CalPERS is the largest purchaser of public employee health benefits in California,
and the second largest public purchaser in the nation after the federal government. Their program provides benefits to more than 1.3 million public employees,
retirees, and their families. We will benefit from the CalPERS purchasing power
and stability. CalPERS offers a large number of plan choices so each of us will be
able to choose the plan that ensures we receive the health benefits, access to
doctors, hospitals, and services that best suit us and our families.
If we don’t make this change, we will lose a
PPO and HMO option
Because the price of our current PPO is going to skyrocket, we will end up with so
few people taking the PPO that the provider will stop offering the plan. The same
holds true for the HMO. We have heard loud and clear that many of us want to
either stay with their PPO or HMO, or want to move out of Kaiser and into a PPO
or HMO. So we had to act. CalPERS gets us comparable plans with better copays and deductibles, more choice and better prices.
How does this move effect current retirees?
Current retirees who buy their health insurance through the District will be notified
about the change. CalPERS will send them a packet with the information and
forms they need to sign up during the initial enrollment period. Retirees between
ages 55—65 will find plans through CalPERS that are much more affordable than
their current rates.
What’s next?
It is important that BTA has your personal email address so we can send you updates and more information. Please send your address to your site rep or Colin
Davis. Be on the lookout for more updates like this from the Insurance Committee.
For information about CalPERS plans
Visit the CalPERS website at www.calpers.ca.gov. You can also contact Shelley
Allyn, Lynn Tindula, Colin Davis, or Michaela O’Neill at the union office.
June 16: School Board meets to
review District contract with
CalPERS
Mid-June: CalPERS premium
rates published
Summer: BTA/BUSD bargaining
continues if necessary.
Summer: Contract with BUSD
and CalPERS completed. Notice
to current retirees about switch to
CalPERS
September: Open enrollment
and CalPERS workshops
October: Coverage under
CalPERS begins
January 1, 2016: Passive enrollment into CalPERS regular plan
year. If you have no changes to
make, you are re-enrolled automatically.
Member resigning from the District
at the end of the year—your health
insurance through the District will
continue until September 30.
BTA union office address & phone:
17434 Studebaker Road, Cerritos
90703
562-924-9311