ARTICLE 11 - INSURANCE

West Warwick School District

Section 1 - Healthcare Insurance: (*)

The Committee shall provide at no cost, except as otherwise indicated below, all members of the bargaining unit with the healthcare insurance benefits/coverages in the form of an individual plan or a family plan, as the case may be. Said plan shall be a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Healthcare Plan, which shall be the standard health insurance plan. A summary of benefits of the standard PPO plan shall be appended hereto under Appendix “A” and incorporated herein. Additionally, a summary description of said PPO plan shall be available through the school district’s Business Office and the Alliance Office.

Section 2 – Election of Healthcare Plan

Each bargaining unit member shall elect one of two healthcare plan options as described in Subsections (a) & (b) herein. Bargaining unit members may change their plan option during an annual enrollment period. The two healthcare plan options shall be as follows:

a) “Traditional” Blue Cross Healthmate Coast to Coast plan (HMCC) with the following employee deductible rates and bargaining unit member cost share amount:

i. The following employee deductibles shall apply to in-patient surgery, out-patient surgery,
child delivery, durable medical equipment and other related services outlined in
Appendix A.

Individual Plan: $500.00

Family Plan: $1,000.00 (maximum employee responsibility)

ii. Employees who elect the “traditional” HMCC shall contribute to defray the cost of said plan on a “pre-tax” basis via biweekly payroll deductions in a total annual amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the plan working rate.

b) Healthmate Coast to Coast Health Savings Account (HSA) High Deductible Plan

i. The HSA plan will include the following deductibles:

Individual Plan: $2,000.00

Family Plan: $4,000.00

ii. The Committee agrees to contribute the following amounts annually to all bargaining unit members using the HSA plan:

Individual Plan: $500.00

Family Plan: $1,000.00

(a) The Committee agrees that the WWPS shall contribute $500.00 to each employee using an HSA plan no later than January 1 of each year. The Committee shall contribute an additional $500.00 to each employee using an HSA family plan no later than July 1 of each year.

(b) If an employee resigns from his/her position during a school year, then he/she shall be responsible to repay, on a pro-rated basis, the portion of that year’s employer HSA contribution as follows: [1/180 of employer contribution per each remaining school day after the employee’s official date of resignation during the given school year].

iii. Each bargaining unit member using an HSA plan shall contribute on a “pre-tax” basis via biweekly payroll deductions at least the following amounts:

Individual Plan: $1,500.00

Family Plan: $3,000.00

The employee contribution is not required when the fund balance exceeds $7,999.99 (or $3,999.99 for an individual plan). Employees may elect to contribute more than the minimum funding amounts outlined herein not to exceed Federal IRS guidelines. The contribution required by the Committee shall continue annually regardless of fund balance.

iv. During the employee’s initial plan year, the Committee agrees to provide an interest free loan to any employee who incurs a significant amount of deductible expense beyond the funds available in his/her HSA account. The Committee will only approve a loan when the amount of money to be paid by the employee, after exhausting all available HSA funds, exceeds $500.00. An employee requesting a loan pursuant to this provision shall sign a re-payment agreement. Any loan made pursuant to this Subsection must be repaid via equal bi-weekly payroll deduction.

Section 3 - Change in Healthcare Insurer:

Following consultation with the Alliance, the Committee may change the healthcare plan provider, provided that the benefits of the plan(s) under consideration is/are as set forth in Appendix “A” pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 hereinabove and that the plan(s) is/are reasonably equivalent or better in terms of providers and participating physicians. Prior to any such change of the healthcare plan provider, the Committee shall afford bargaining unit members a minimum ninety (90) day transition period for the purpose of identifying participating physicians.

Section 4 - Dental Care Insurance: (*)

(a) The Committee shall provide to members of the bargaining unit those dental benefits provided by the Delta Dental Program, Levels I, II and III, for the individual and for the family of the individual, as the case may be, with Delta Dental’s $2,000 per year rider allowing for a maximum benefit of $2,000 per year for each individual.

(b) In addition to the above, the Committee shall provide , to members of the bargaining unit in the family plan, those benefits provided for by the Delta Dental Program, Level IV, to include Delta Dental’s “Orthodontics Benefits for Adults.”

(c) In addition to the above, family plan coverage provided in this Section shall include the Dental Sealant Rider (#10096).

(d) Bargaining unit members shall contribute to defray the cost of the dental care insurance plan on a “pre-tax” basis via biweekly payroll deductions in a total annual amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the plan working rate.
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(*Footnotes to Article 11, Sections 1 and 4)

1) If spouses are both employed by the West Warwick School Department and the date of appointment by the West Warwick School Committee for each was prior to August 31, 2006, then only one (1) of the spouses shall be eligible for family plan coverage(s) under these Sections, and the other spouse shall be reimbursed in the same manner as a bargaining unit member who may elect to refuse coverage(s) under footnote (2) immediately below. There is no refusal/reimbursement provision for such a spouse not appointed by the West Warwick School Committee prior to August 31, 2006, however, in lieu of family plan coverage(s), both such spouses may elect to have individual coverage(s), the time of the initiation of their employment with the West Warwick School Department notwithstanding.

2) Active bargaining unit members may elect, on an annual basis, to refuse the benefits/coverages set forth under Sections 1, 2 and/or 4 of this Article, in which case, the Committee shall compensate such individuals the following total amounts divided into twenty six (26) bi-weekly payments:

Healthcare Delta Dental

Retired employees shall not be eligible for compensation for the refusal of healthcare or dental benefits.

3) Employees, who are not covered by plans in their own name pursuant to footnotes (1) and (2) immediately above, on the family or individual healthcare plans set forth under Section 1 and 2 of this Article and/or on the family or individual dental care plan set forth under Section 4 of this Article shall not be required to contribute to defray the costs of said plans.

4) For the purpose of this Article and of Articles 4 and 15, a declared domestic partner (or a surviving domestic partner) shall be eligible for and entitled to the same standing, treatment and benefits afforded a spouse (or a surviving spouse). Domestic partner healthcare coverage may require the submission of an affidavit of domestic partnership if such is required by the healthcare provider.

Section 5 - Term Life Insurance:

(a) The Committee shall provide each member of the bargaining unit, at no cost to members of the bargaining unit, a term life insurance policy with accidental death benefit (double indemnity) in an amount equal to:

2018-19 through 2022-23: Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00)

In addition, members shall be given the opportunity to purchase either a matching amount or a double matching amount of group term life insurance as provided for in the above schedule at the group rate and shall reimburse the School Department for the entire cost thereof through a payroll deduction.

(b) However, the entire cost thereof shall include any incremental costs that are unavoidable in connection with the purchase of the second (2nd) matching amount, but not with the first (1st) matching amount. All present and prospective retirees shall be afforded the privilege of paying the proper amount to the School Department to remain participants in the term life insurance group. The death benefit of this insurance plan will be reduced by fifty percent (50%) upon the subscriber’s attainment of age seventy-five (75).

(c) The phrase “matching amount or double matching amount of group term life insurance” (matching insurance) shall refer to the amount of insurance coverage but not the rate of premium to purchase the insurance coverage.

(d) The rate applied to bargaining unit members who elect to purchase matching insurance, including accidental death & disability, shall never exceed one hundred twelve percent (112%) of the rate that the district pays to purchase the first, base amount of insurance as a benefit provided in Section 5(a) directly hereinabove.

(e) Bargaining unit members may elect to purchase matching insurance upon initial employment absent an application/medical screening process or after initial employment subject to an application/medical screening process.

(f) The WWPS will consult with the Alliance prior to initiating any future changes to the rate structure related to the term life insurance benefit.

Section 6 - Workers’ Compensation Insurance:

(a) Workers’ Compensation Insurance shall be provided for all certified personnel of the bargaining unit.

(b) Bargaining unit members who qualify for Workers’ Compensation Insurance shall receive their full salary for a period of one (1) year from the date of initial incapacity for each individual injury with pay reduced by the total amount received under Workers' Compensation Insurance.

(c) At the conclusion of one (1) full year the coverage prescribed in Subsections (a) and (b) hereinabove shall continue, however, the employee must then draw upon accumulated sick leave, on a pro-rata basis, to supplement Workers' Compensation Insurance.

(d) When all sick leave is exhausted, the bargaining unit member will no longer receive supplemental salary from the School Department but will retain all funds from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance carrier.

(e) After two (2) full years, sick leave shall not accrue while absence due to an on-the-job injury continues.

(f) Any bargaining unit member absent from employment as a result of injury sustained during an assault upon said teacher that occurred while the teacher was discharging his/her duties within the scope of his/her employment shall continue to receive his/her full salary with pay reduced by the total amount received under Workers' Compensation Insurance for the full duration of the absence related to the on-the-job injury and shall not be required to apply his/her accumulated sick leave days to supplement his/her salary, Subsection (c) hereinabove notwithstanding. Bargaining unit members who sustain on-the-job injuries as stated herein shall receive continuing health and dental insurance coverage, pursuant to Sections 1, 2 and 4 hereinabove, for the duration of the injury.

(g) Nothing contained herein shall result in the duplication of wages or benefits.

Section 7 - Retirees Benefits: (*)

(a) The Committee shall provide the individual plan for each of the current members of the bargaining unit with fifteen (15) or more years of actual service in West Warwick who is eligible to retire as a member of the Employees’ Retirement System and who resigns and retires and shall provide the individual plan for his/her spouse (or surviving spouse) for each of the medical benefits/coverages inherent under Section 1 and 2 of this Article, for four (4) years or up to the minimum age of eligibility for federal Medicare coverage, whichever occurs first.

(b) Furthermore, the Committee shall provide the individual plan for each of the current members of the bargaining unit with twenty-five (25) or more years of actual service in West Warwick who is eligible to retire as a member of the Employees’ Retirement System and who resigns and retires and shall provide the individual plan for his/her spouse (or surviving spouse) up to the minimum age of eligibility for federal Medicare coverage, as the case may be, for each of the medical benefits/coverages inherent under Section 1 and 2 of this Article.

(c) Furthermore, the Committee shall provide the individual plan for each of the current members of the bargaining unit with twenty-eight (28) or more years of actual service in West Warwick who is eligible to retire as a member of the Employees’ Retirement System and who resigns and retires and shall provide the individual plan for his/her spouse (or surviving spouse) up to the minimum age of eligibility for federal Medicare coverage, as the case may be, for each of the medical and dental benefits/coverages inherent under Sections 1, 2 and 4 of this Article.

(d) Finally, a retired bargaining unit member who becomes eligible for the paid benefits/coverages and who retires as a member of the Employees’ Retirement System and/or his/her spouse (or surviving spouse) shall be bound by all future changes to the co-share cost of active bargaining unit members pursuant to Sections 1, 2 and 4.

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(*Footnotes to Article 11, Section 7)

1. The family plan shall be provided to those retirees and/or their spouses (or surviving spouses) who have unmarried children up to age nineteen (19) pursuant to the healthcare plan carrier’s and dental care plan carrier’s rules and/or eligible dependent children in order to provide the student benefit up to age twenty-six (26). All other retirees and their spouses (or surviving spouses) shall have separate individual plans as provided in Section 5 hereinabove, unless, however, the cost of two (2) individual plans should ever exceed the cost of a family plan.

2. All current retirees who are not eligible and all current members who retire and who are not eligible for the paid benefit coverage in Section 5 above shall be afforded the privilege of reimbursing the School Department the full amount under Section 1 of this Article and/or to remain a participant, up to the extent it is permissible, in other group plan coverages and/or other insurance plans provided teachers.

3. All current members eligible for the paid benefit coverage in Section 5 above shall have the privilege of reimbursing the Committee the full amount of the cost to remain a participant, up to the extent it is permissible, under any or all other group plan coverages and/or other insurance plans provided to teachers.

4. The surviving spouse of a deceased member of the bargaining unit or of a deceased retiree, not eligible for paid insurance benefits under Article 11, Section 5, shall have the privilege of reimbursing the Committee the full amount of the cost to remain a participant, up to the extent it is permissible, under any or all insurance group(s) or plan(s) under this Article.

5. Retirees who are eligible for paid insurance benefits and/or for the privilege of paying the proper amount to continue insurance benefits shall be bound by future amendments or changes to any benefits pursuant to Article 11.