SCTA union says teachers are ‘forced’ to pay an extra $12,000
Sacramento City Unified students are out of the classroom for an eighth day Friday as the teachers’ strike continues. Health care is a major sticking point between the district and the Sacramento City Teachers Association. KCRA 3 Investigates dug into the district and union claims. Currently, the district offers to cover 100% of the cost of Kaiser Permanente healthcare coverage. For employees who choose to retain HealthNet coverage, the district will pay up to the Kaiser premium level. Previously, the district paid 100% of HealthNet’s costs. This means that for teachers who choose to keep the plan, they could end up paying more in the future if they don’t make the switch. “Bottom line, we simply cannot accept that a teacher right now in this shortage is being forced to pay up to $12,000 more than in the past,” said SCTA President David Fisher, to KCRA 3. the two regimes? Fisher told KCRA that some employees are hesitant to switch to Kaiser because the system doesn’t have as many specialists. We checked with the California Office of the Patient Advocate. The agency assesses health plans and medical groups for Californians. In its health report card for 2021-2022, Kaiser scored higher or equal for overall quality of medical care, as well as care for asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart, maternity, health behavioral and mental. HealthNet scored higher for how patients rated the overall experience. See Kaiser’s newsletter hereSee HealthNet’s newsletter here What is the cost difference between HealthNet and Kaiser? The cost difference to the district between the HealthNet plan and a Kaiser plan for one family is $12,139.92, according to SCUSD. As part of its negotiations, SCUSD is now offering to pay 100% of the difference between Kaiser and HealthNet rates for 2022-23. This would increase to 50% of the difference for the 2023-24 school year. SCUSD is also offering a $3,000 stipend to employees moving from HealthNet to Kaiser. And again, SCUSD will pay 100% of the Kaiser plan. How many employees are there on HealthNet today? The district reports that 941 certified staff members are currently registered with HealthNet, representing approximately 43% of SCTA members. Asked why this has been a big sticking point when the majority of union members aren’t participating in the HealthNet plan, Fisher said other teachers “are not going to sell the other 43 percent.” | RELATED | Fact check: City of Sacramento Unified Teachers aren’t the highest paid, but health benefits top the list – Daniel Macht contributed to this story.
Sacramento City Unified students are out of the classroom for an eighth day Friday as the teachers’ strike continues.
Health care is a major sticking point between the district and the Sacramento City Teachers Association. KCRA 3 Investigates dug into the district and union claims.
Currently, the district offers to cover 100% of the cost of Kaiser Permanente healthcare coverage. For employees who choose to retain HealthNet coverage, the district will pay up to the Kaiser premium level.
Previously, the district paid 100% of HealthNet’s costs. This means that for teachers who choose to keep the plan, they could end up paying more in the future if they don’t make the switch.
“At the end of the day, we simply cannot accept that a teacher right now in this shortage will be forced to pay up to $12,000 more than in the past,” said SCTA President David Fisher at KCRA 3.
How does the California Office of Patient Advocate rate the two plans?
Fisher told KCRA that some employees are hesitant to switch to Kaiser because the system doesn’t have as many specialists.
We checked with the California Office of the Patient Advocate. The agency assesses health plans and medical groups for Californians.
In its health report card for 2021-2022, Kaiser scored higher or equal for overall quality of medical care, as well as care for asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart, maternity, health behavioral and mental. HealthNet scored higher for how patients rated the overall experience.
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What is the cost difference between HealthNet and Kaiser?
The cost difference to the district between the HealthNet plan and a Kaiser plan for one family is $12,139.92, according to SCUSD.
As part of its negotiations, SCUSD is now offering to pay 100% of the difference between Kaiser and HealthNet rates for 2022-23. This would increase to 50% of the difference for the 2023-24 school year.
SCUSD is also offering a $3,000 stipend to employees moving from HealthNet to Kaiser.
And again, SCUSD will pay 100% of the Kaiser plan.
How many employees are there on HealthNet now?
The district reports that 941 certified staff members are currently registered with HealthNet, representing approximately 43% of SCTA members.
Asked why this has been a big sticking point when the majority of union members aren’t participating in the HealthNet plan, Fisher said other teachers “are not going to sell the other 43 percent.”
| RELATED | Fact check: City of Sacramento’s unified teachers aren’t the highest paid, but health benefits top the list
–Daniel Macht contributed to this story.