Health Benefits Committee 

The Davis Teachers Association (DTA), California School Employees Association (CSEA) and the District (DJUSD) agree that finding more affordable medical benefit options for DJUSD employees is a shared interest in order to better attract and retain the highest quality employees. DTA, CSEA and DJUSD have formally agreed to form a Health Benefits Committee (HBC) to provide the district and associated bargaining groups with advisory information on cost effective, high quality medical benefit options for DJUSD employees. The committee will serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas and establishment of better communication and education about benefits among the district and its associations. 
In order to have time to carefully consider all options, and to provide the time necessary to educate members, the Health Benefits Committee has decided to delay making a recommendation about whether to stay or leave CalPERS for medical benefits.  
NEXT MEETING WILL BE SCHEDULED IN MAY.
If you have questions about the Health Benefit Committee's work or your insurance, please review the FAQs listed below. 
  DJUSD Active Employee Survey Results
 DJUSD Retiree Survey Results
Purpose
  • To provide a safe and respectful forum for discussing DJUSD’s current health benefit program.
  • To provide opportunities for a collaborative partnership in which all parties work together to establish goals that will meet the needs of all parties.
  • To provide an awareness and understanding of employee benefits programs and encourage development of ideas to assist in reducing health costs by providing education on:
    • Costs and cost drivers
    • Options
    • New products/programs
    • Trends
  • To provide on-going education of employees regarding health and welfare benefit plans, insurance industry trends and any other information that will provide employees with an understanding of their benefits and the cost of those benefits, as well as Retiree Health Benefits.
  • To provide a collaborative environment where all parties are educated about the plan benefits, issues and concerns regarding the plans as well as any possible alternatives that would provide similar coverage at equal to, or less than, the same dollar amount as the current plans, well in advance of the bargaining process.
Goals
  • Mitigate health care costs.
  • Provide increased options that meet the needs of the employees.
  • Provide education for health care terms, products, programs and trends from multi-perspectives.
Membership and Voting

The Committee will consist of representatives from Davis Joint Unified School District and retirees.  Specifically, there will be three to four (3-4) members from DTA, three to four (3-4) members from CSEA, three (3) members from ALT, three (2-3) members from Confidential, and one member from the Superintendent's Cabinet.  In addition, three will be three to four (3-4) members who are District retirees (one each from DTA, CSEA, Confidential and ALT). The retiree committee members will be advisory only and will not be voting members.

The Committee will offer  recommendations based on a consensus of the committee members and time will be allowed for break out caucus sessions when requested.  Committee will report on those items where consensus has or has not been met.  Consensus is achieved by a gradient scale of five (5).  The committee must reach a consensus of voting members present by agreeing to a gradient of three (3) or above. When any member of the committee presents a gradient below three (3), consensus has not been met and additional discussion is needed.  


Gradient Scale

  1. Cannot live with the decision
  2. Maybe can live with the decision
  3. Can live with the decision
  4. Agree with the decision
  5. Fully recommend the decision

After discussion has concluded, and if a final vote is required, DTA, CSEA, and ALT/Confidential/Cabinet will each have one vote for a total of three votes.


Schedule

The Committee shall provide for regular meetings once a month. The date, time, and place at which regular meetings will be held will be agreed upon by the Committee.  The next scheduled date will be confirmed in the prior meeting.  Schedule is subject to change.  Additional meetings can be scheduled upon request. 

Public comment will be allowed at scheduled meetings.  A meeting agenda will be distributed to the appointed benefit committee members within one week prior to the scheduled meeting.  Each chapter will notify their membership accordingly.  Public comments will be limited to a maximum three minutes per person for a total of 15 minutes.  Public comment time may be adjusted as needed based upon the number of public attendees.  Committee members will not respond to public comment. 
Committee meetings are held in the District Office Tech Center from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm unless otherwise noted.
January 25, 2023
February 15, 2023
February 22, 2023
March 22, 2023
April 26, 2023
June 28, 2023  (1-3 pm)
August 11, 2023 (9 am - 12 pm)
August 30, 2023 - District Office Large Conference Room
September 22, 2023 - District Office Large Conference Room
October 4, 2023 - King High School (635 B Street)
October 18, 2023 - District Office Large Conference Room
November 8, 2023
November 29, 2023
December 13, 2023

CalPERS Withdrawal Rules
  1. CalPERS Break-away Policy:
    • District must submit a signed Board resolution to terminate CalPERS within 60 days of the release of CalPERS’ final renewal rates (July)
    • Rescissions are not allowed
    • Termination is effective January 1
  2. Exiting agencies cannot leave retirees in CalPERS.
  3. If entered CalPERS by bargaining group, must exit by bargaining group.
  4. Participating carriers within CalPERS are unable to provide the District with a proposal until the official exit resolution has been received by CalPERS
  5. 5-year waiting period to return to CalPERS.
  6. If the District leaves CalPERS medical plan:
    • Employees will not lose their pension benefits.
    • District can continue retiree medical benefits through other programs.
    • District can choose to continue a similar plan design.
    • An analysis of the medical provider network would be provided to the District to limit provider disruption.
  7. Kaiser Break-away Policy:
    • For breakaway rates, Kaiser requires a final termination letter to CalPERS.
    • Breakaway rates are requested within the 60-day timeframe from when final rates are released from the CalPERS Board.
    • Breakaway rates (first year rates after exiting CalPERS) are the CalPERS rates (adjusted for benefit changes/commissions).
Active Employee FAQ
Why is the district looking at options to CalPERS medical?
The Davis Teachers Association (DTA), California School Employees Association (CSEA) and the District (DJUSD) agree that finding more affordable health benefits options for DJUSD employees is a shared interest in order to better attract and retain the highest quality employees. The Health and Benefits Committee (HBC) was formed to provide the district and associated bargaining groups with advisory information on cost effective, high quality benefit options for DJUSD employees if we left the CalPERS benefit pool.

If a change is made, when will it be effective?
If a change is made it will have a January 1, 2025 effective date.

Will I have to change doctors?
Our intent is to have members maintain their current providers.

What happens to my pension through CalPERS?
Your CalPERS pension is not disrupted if the district withdraws from CalPERS for medical benefits.

Will my district contribution change?
The district contribution is subject to change only through the normal negotiation process.

Will new plan options be similar to CalPERS?
We will request a CalPERS look-a-like plan option as a potential option.

Will the plan benefits change?
Yes, however, the intent is to offer additional plans for the employee to choose from.  For example, instead of offering only one Kaiser plan, we would offer three different plans. One would be very similar to the current plan and the other two plans would have lower premiums but potentially higher copays and/or deductibles.

How will my premiums be affected?
Potentially. We are hoping to find financial options that will offer a savings in premium cost.

Will we see new medical networks?
This will be determined by the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Who is part of the committee overseeing this transition?
The committee is composed 12-15 employees from active CSEA, DTA, Confidential, and Administration staff as well as retirees.

Who is Keenan?
Keenan is an employee benefit consulting firm located throughout the State of California. Keenan has been in business for 50 years serving K12 school districts. Keenan was chosen by a district panel comprised of CSEA, DTA, and administration staff to assist with this process.

DJUSD Retiree FAQ
Why is the district looking at options to CalPERS medical?
The Davis Teachers Association (DTA), California School Employees Association (CSEA) and the District (DJUSD) agree that finding more affordable health benefits options for DJUSD employees and retirees is a shared interest in order to better attract and retain the highest quality employees. The Health and Benefits Committee (HBC) was formed to provide the district and associated bargaining groups with advisory information on cost effective, high quality benefit options for DJUSD employees and retirees if we left the CalPERS benefit pool.

If a change is made, when will it be effective?
If a change is made it will be effective January 1, 2025.

Will I have to change doctors?
Our intent is to have members maintain their current providers.

What happens to my pension through CalPERS?
Your CalPERS pension is not disrupted if the district withdraws from CalPERS for medical benefits.

Will my district contribution change?
The district contribution is subject to change only through the normal Associations negotiation process.

Will new plan options be similar to CalPERS?
We will request a CalPERS look-a-like plan as a potential option.

Will the current plan offerings change?
Yes, however, the intent is to offer additional plans for the employee to choose from.

How will my premiums be affected?
Our intent is to offer a similar cost plan option.

Will we see new medical networks?
This will be determined by the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Who is part of the committee overseeing this transition?
The committee is comprised of DTA, CSEA, Administrative, Confidential staff and three retiree representatives.

Who is Keenan?
Keenan is an employee benefit consulting firm located throughout the State of California. Keenan has been in business for 50 years serving K12 school districts. Keenan was chosen by a district panel to assist with this process.


Important Documents