Arkansas teacher insurance

[ms.yt]

Arkansas public school employees are facing a 48% increase in their health insurance rates, the latest in a series of huge increases over the last few years. The really outrageous part is that "state" employees get the exact same plans with the exact same coverage, but the state pays the bulk of their premiums.

The state wants to say that public school employees aren't state employees so they don't have to pay the same contribution, but the state has no problem dictating schools' curriculum, teacher licensure, standardized testing, etc.

There was a public meeting last night, and it was packed with angry teachers and school employees. Members of the state's Employee Benefit Division came to explain why the increase was necessary, but mostly they just ended up making smug comments that made everybody angry.

Are there any Arkansas teachers on here who would like to weigh in on this issue?

I don't know if this is permitted or not, so if it's not, the mods can delete this part of my post. If you'd like to show your support for Arkansas school employees, go to the petition on change.org. http://www.change.org/petitions/arkansas-state-legislature-and-employee-benefits-division-make-public-school-employees-insurance-costs-comparable-to-state-workers-2

 

[cobright]

I was just reading about this. There is normally a buffer of sorts to absorb rate hikes but a series of catastrophic claims in 2012 wiped that out.

It seems like the rate hikes will apply mostly just to the "gold" level plan offered to teachers. Which is the most popular plan.

I've seen the coverage on this plan and while I'm sure it sucks to be told you have to pay more for the same coverage you've always had, keep in mind that you have been paying a very low amount for coverage most Americans can't even dream of receiving.

From everything I'm reading, the state is pumping a fair bit of $$ into education in Arkansas, it looks like everyone has treated this as a difficult situation all around.

 

[ms.yt]

I've been teaching 13 years, and if I had to pay for the gold family plan, it would leave about $600 a month for me to live on. I don't think that's the norm in most parts of the country. Even though cost of living is lower in Arkansas, you still can't make it on $600 a month.

 

[superme80]

I've been teaching 13 years, and if I had to pay for the gold family plan, it would leave about $600 a month for me to live on. I don't think that's the norm in most parts of the country. Even though cost of living is lower in Arkansas, you still can't make it on $600 a month.

That is why many do not have health insurance. Once you pay the premiums you cannot afford to live.

 

[tvguy]

I've been teaching 13 years, and if I had to pay for the gold family plan, it would leave about $600 a month for me to live on. I don't think that's the norm in most parts of the country. Even though cost of living is lower in Arkansas, you still can't make it on $600 a month.

Sad thing is, 14 states pay teachers less than Arkansas.

 

[ironpig70]

Not to push this more political but with the Federal health care plan coming this will be more and more common.

I get the states position on how teachers are not state employees. I am an apprenticed electrician and I cannot tell you all the rules I must follow at the state level but no way I am a state employee.

 

[allison443]

Where I live, the teachers are not state employees-they are employed/paid by the individual city/town board of education. They are licensed by the state though. In Arkansas do your paychecks come from the state? So the state pays all the teachers in each city and town?

How much more a month will the increase cost you? Sorry you are having to deal with this.

 

[tvguy]

Where I live, the teachers are not state employees-they are employed/paid by the individual city/town board of education. They are licensed by the state though. In Arkansas do your paychecks come from the state? So the state pays all the teachers in each city and town?

How much more a month will the increase cost you? Sorry you are having to deal with this.

In California they are employed by the individual district, the individual districts are over seen by the county Board of Education, with the state over seeing the county Board of Education.

 

[allison443]

In California they are employed by the individual district, the individual districts are over seen by the county Board of Education, with the state over seeing the county Board of Education.

Your state sounds like mine-the teachers are employees of the different municipalities, not the state. OP seemed to be saying that Arkansas teachers are direct state employees and shouldn't be treated differently than other state employees.

 

[teacherforhi]

In NC, teachers are state employees. The state funds x number of teaching positions per district. A district can use its own money to fund additional positions if it chooses; however, those people are state employees as well. The base salary for teachers is dictated by the state, although, once again, districts can supplement as they like. My pay (or decrease in pay here) is dictated by the State Legislature. However, at least NC hates all its employees equally; it doesn't just pick on one group.

 

[cabanafrau]

Michigan teachers are also employed by the individual school districts, so are not state employees.

OP, I get the sticker shock, believe me. Personally we have faced unbelievable increases in the private sector for over ten years now. Holding our breath to see if 2014 is the year health insurance surpasses mortage in the budget. The increases have all been on our dime for over a decade now -- and the same insurance has been rejiggered to shift an awful lot of the coverage from the insurance responsibility to co-pays and out-of-pocket deductibles paid by us.

A couple years ago I had to have relatively minor outpatient surgery for a tumble in the basement. Despite $2,500 out of pocket max/$7,500 family max, my share totaled in excess of $9,000! Be watchful of the parts of your policy that require you to pay 80% of X -- which does not count towards either your deductible or your out of pocket by the way. Just as hospital bills have always generated individualized billings from docs, anesthesia, etc., etc. The doctor's practice I was required to go to in order to receive in network rates on my insurance policy generated multiple billings from different "divisions" of the practice as individual entities. Neat way to keep the 80/20 splits and the like in play, on my dime, preventing me from reaching either my individual or family max limits.

Although harsh, I have to say that public sector employees will have to accept that taxpayers are not going to happily pony up for insurance benefits that few in the private sector can afford. It's a new world for everyone.

 

[Southernmiss]

Op what do you pay now for insurance and what's the new rate? Just trying to get an understanding of the issue.

Dh is a state employee and his ins is the same as what's offered to teachers, which is expensive and stinks. But it is what it is.

 

[RitaE]

I Googled last night and found the 2013 rates. The employee portion in 2013 on the top tier plan for self, spouse, and children is around $1000 a month. I assume that the increase is coming on top of what is posted on this chart.

http://portal.arbenefits.org/newsDocuments/08312012_PSE_Active_2013.pdf

The rates do seem high compared to what our family pays. The Gold plan appears to have benefits similar to ours, but our employee contribution rates are much less. I'm really not aware of how much my husband's employer pays into our health plan though. I only know our cost.

There are two lower tier plans available at considerably lower prices. Depending on the health of the family, that may or may not be a viable option. There are probably millions out there that'd love to have access to these lower tier plans though.

The short answer is healthcare is expensive, governments are broke, and hurtful cuts are being made all over. I really can't speak to the fairness here - perhaps the Individual School Districts (who likely ARE the employers) need to pay more.

It wouldn't do any good for me, as an uniformed non-citizen of the State of Arkansas to sign a petition here. I have a feeling that what you are facing is going to be repeated endlessly across the Nation and from many different employers.