UA Health Care Task Force Recommendations - IMMEDIATE STAFF FEEDBACK NEEDED!

This summer a special Health Care Task Force composed of staff representatives from across the UA system met to research and propose possible solutions to offset increasing health care costs. They were charged with thinking of out-of-the-box solutions for cost containment. Their proposals were recently summarized and shared with the Joint Health Care Committee (JHCC). The JHCC will be meeting in Anchorage next week to discuss these recommendations. You may review the document here:http://www.alaska.edu/files/governance/HCTF-final-report.pdf

The current staff members on the Joint Health Care Committee are Melodee Monson from UAA (anmam@uaa.alaska.edu) and Gwenna Richardson from UAS (gjrichardson@uas.alaska.edu). If you want to provide them with feedback before the JHCC meeting in Anchorage next week I strongly encourage you to do so.

Please keep in mind that these are suggestions alone and do not represent any final decisions regarding our health plan or benefits. This is your opportunity to use the governance system to make your opinion heard. I strongly encourage all of you to review this document and weigh in on the discussion. 

For more information on the JHCC or SHCC there was an excellent article in the August Statewide Voice (http://www.alaska.edu/voice/2012/august-issue-69/system-news/health-care-1/) that I encourage you to read.

Thank you! Here's to your health!

Staff Council

Staff Health Care Committee: August 2012 Highlights (A MUST READ)

FY14 Health Care Design Plan Considerations

1. Remove the ability to waive coverage (opt out). This would bring about 500 employees back on the plan and recover anywhere between $217,000 - $600,000 in health care charges paid by employees, depending on their plan and dependent enrollment.
2. Drop the 500 Plan. There are currently less than 5% of UA employees utilizing the plan.

3. Establish a tier system for families, so families with more children (probably up to 3) would pay more. This would also apply to the employee + child(ren) rate, which currently is the same regardless of how many children are enrolled.
4. Develop a new High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), while maintaining the existing one, that will qualify for a Health Savings Account (HSA). Items to consider:

1. Any individual that is covered under another medical plan (Military, Alaska Native, etc.) is not eligible to participate in the HSA.
2. If spouse participates in Flexible Spending Account (FSA), the HSA is not available through UA.
3. HDHP with HSA in which the plan covers more than the employee, the plan automatically moves to the family deductible.
4. The funds roll over from year to year.
5. When employment ends the employee keeps the account.
6. Monies are only available as they are deposited into the HSA
7. Employee is solely responsible for ensuring federal guidelines are met.

For more information visit the following links:

Statewide Voice
Joint Health Care Committee (JHCC)

Staff Health Care Committee (SHCC) meetings are open to all UA staff. The next meeting of SHCC will be held August 28, 2012 at 9:00 am. You may call in at 800-893-8850 and the pin is 4236369. When calling in please put your phone on mute.

You may also provide your feedback, concerns, questions or comments to any SHCC member via email. See committee members and email addresses below.

Staff Health Care Committee Members:
Melodee Monson (UAA) – mamonson@uaa.alaska.edu
Constance Dennis (UAA) – cmdennis@uaa.alaska.edu
Carolyn Simmons (UAF) – clsimmons2@alaska.edu
Catherine Williams (UAF) – cat.williams@alaska.edu
Mary Sue Dates (UAF) – marysue@alaska.edu
Maria Russell (UAF) – mtrussell@alaska.edu
Gwenna Richardson (UAS) – gjrichardson@alaska.edu
Elizabeth Williams (UAS) – eawilliams2@alaska.edu
Mae Delcastillo (UAS) – madelcastillo@uas.alaska.edu
Ivan Leibbrandt (Statewide Administration Assembly - SAA) – Ivan.leibbrandt@alaska.edu
Heather Arana (Statewide Administration Assembly - SAA) – hrarana@alaska.edu
Monique Musick (Statewide Administration Assembly - SAA) – mmusick@alaska.edu