Healthcare Provider Swap Saves Shorewood Schools $537,000

School officials dropped Wisconsin Education Association Trust as its employee health care provider Tuesday, saving Shorewood schools an estimated $537,000 in the 2012-13 school year.

A one-year contract with Wisconsin Counties Association Group Health Trust goes into effect on July 1. WCA was chosen from among four other providers.

WCA Trust is a subsidiary of an association with the same name, that provides local governments coverage from reputable private sector companies, according to its website.

Business Manager Mark Boehlke said district employees will not see any changes in their plans other than the amount they pay per month. Annual premiums will fall by $114 for single coverage and $206 for family coverage.

"It's the same plan design, it's the same network," Boehlke said.

The district did stick with WEA Trust for dental coverage. The district's premium decreases 4.1 percent, or $8,858, from this year. Employees will also see a reduction in their premiums under the new plan on July 1.

WEA is a nonprofit insurance organization created by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union.

In December, , which helped the district navigate the market and recommended the providers the officials approved on Tuesday.

Boehlke said while the district only approved one-year contracts with the two insurance providers, WCA guaranteed the rate wouldn't increase more than 7.5 percent and WEA agreed rates wouldn’t exceed a 6 percent increase if the district decided to contract for a second year.

Shorewood signed on with Horton for a two years, so the consultant will be available when the district decides whether to continue with these providers, Boehlke said.