The Homewood-Flossmoor District 233 school board selected Mesirow Insurance Services, Inc. hoping for reduced costs and compliance with the federal Affordable Care Act.
The board awarded a one year $38,000 contract to Mesirow for life, accident, death, dismemberment, vision, long term disability, flex insurance plans, COPRA and prescriptions. District 233 is self-insured for health and dental insurance.
Mesirow was selected after the district’s business staff reviewed proposals from seven insurance brokers and rated them based on costs, services and other useful information. H-F Business Manager Ken Parchem said the district will be working with Mesirow’s educational institutions division.
Board members said they want to avoid a possible $300,000 “Cadillac tax” under the Affordable Care Act. The Cadillac tax is an excise tax on employer-sponsored health policies that are not considered part of the compensation package and not taxed as wages. This allows employees to enroll in the more expensive plans that cover more of the medical care costs.
Brian B. Tyrrell, managing director with Mesirow, said he will be assessing existing costs and customizing each provision of H-F’s package “to make sure it is in compliance with all legislation.”
Tyrrell said Mesirow will be able to access certain Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) discounts and reduce claim costs. He will work with the district to use PPO network providers, which “should be able to find significant savings.”
In other business, the board accepted the resignation effective in June of Erica Desaulniers, chair of the Fine Arts Department, who has received a fellowship to complete a doctorate degree in music education at Northwestern University where she will be doing research.
The board also accepted the resignation effective in June of Valentine Manada, a PE and health teacher, football and wrestling coach, who is moving to the Seattle area.
The board took action to remove four students immediately because they were found, after extensive investigations, not to be legal residents of District 233.
Contact Marilyn Thomas at [email protected]
