Mequon - School officials in the Mequon-Thiensville district have approved new health and dental insurance carriers for the foreseeable future in a move touted by administrators as a cost-savings measure.
The School Board on Monday approved offering health insurance through the Wisconsin Counties Association's Group Health Trust. Dental coverage will be provided through Delta Dental. Both changes take effect Sept. 1.
The new carriers will replace the Wisconsin Education Association Trust, which had been providing health and dental coverage to most district employees.
The district commissioned The Horton Group, a firm specializing in employee benefit analysis, to examine providers and recommend the best options in both categories. Rae Ann Beaudry, executive vice president of Horton's benefit solutions division, said the changes were being implemented two months into the district's budget cycle because of actions in Madison.
"With the uncertainty of the budget bill and how this would impact the district, it was determined that it would be unrealistic to make a change with an effective date of July 1, as it would not allow adequate time to properly communicate the change," Beaudry said.
Prior to presenting the board with final recommendations, The Horton Group had reviewed a number of providers in both categories and invited select firms to submit requests for proposal in an ever changing climate.
"The volatility in the health insurance marketplace has seen a new high," Beaudry said.
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