Sacramento City Unified School District Provides Updated Negotiations Frequently Asked Questions – March 31

Press release

Sacramento, CA – The following are answers to frequently asked questions about the current labor negotiations between the Sacramento City Unified School District () and the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA).

PROVIDING 100% PAID HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR SCTA-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES THAT THE DISTRICT CAN AFFORD

Q. What change is the district proposing for employee health care coverage?

A: The district has proposed to continue to cover 100% of the cost of the Kaiser health care premium for SCTA-represented staff and their families, and to pay up to the Kaiser premium level for those employees on the HeathNet plan. In addition, for the 2022-23 school year, the district will provide a stipend to cover 100% of the cost difference between the Kaiser health plan premium and the HealthNet health plan premium. For the 2023-24 school year the district will pay 50% of the cost difference between the Kaiser health plan premium and the HealthNet health plan premium. The district has also proposed to provide a $3,000 stipend to employees that switch from HealthNet to Kaiser by June 30, 2022.

Here is an overview of the district’s proposal on health care:

 ENHANCED PROPOSAL TO SCTA ON HEALTH BENEFITS District will pay up to the Kaiser plan premium cost regardless of health plan. Kaiser and HealthNet coverage will remain available to all SCTA employees. H” Health Net KAISER PERMANENTE For 2022-23 school year the district will pay 100% of the cost difference for health plan premium For 2023-24 school year the district will pay 50% of the cost difference for health plan premium 2024-25 and beyond Health Net will continue as option Cost of Health Net Plan EMPLOYEE PAYS District will cover 100% of the cost for health plan premium for staff and their families DISTRICT PAYS EMPLOYEE PAYS Cost of Kaiser Plan DISTRICT PAYS District will pay up to Kaiser level District will pay up to Kaiser level District will pay up to Kaiser level HT Sacramento City UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Sacramento City UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Sacramento City UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Sacramento City UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT KAISER PERMANENTE Health Net $3,000 stipend to switch to Kaiser plan by June 30, 2022 AS OF MARCH 30, 2022 Sacramento Cly Sacramento City UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Q: Is the district ending HealthNet coverage?

A:  No. SCTA-represented employees may still choose to keep the HealthNet plan.

Q:  Is the district forcing all SCTA-represented employees to switch to Kaiser?

A:  No. District employees do not have to switch to Kaiser. They can stay with HealthNet if that is their choice. For the next two years, the District will provide a stipend for SCTA-represented employees that have HealthNet so they don’t have to pay the full difference between the cost of the Kaiser plan and the cost of the HealthNet plan. In the  2022-23 school year, the District will cover 100% of the difference between the Kaiser and HealthNet health plan premium cost difference, and in the 2023-24 school year, the district will cover 50% of the health plan premium cost difference.

Q: Will employees who choose to stay with HealthNet have to pay the extra premium costs beyond the Kaiser rate right away?

A:  No. There will be no additional cost for employees who stay with HealthNet next year. The district is proposing three ways to help SCTA-represented employees with the transition to the Kaiser plan rate.

  1. The district has offered to pay for 100% of the difference between the Kaiser and HealthNet rates for 2022-23, and 50% of the difference for 2023-24. Starting in 2024-25 and beyond, employees choosing to stay with HealthNet will cover the cost difference themselves.
  2. As an incentive to encourage employees to switch to the Kaiser plan, the District will provide a $3,000 one-time stipend to employees who switch from HealthNet to Kaiser by June 30, 2022.
  3. Employees who have coverage under another health plan through their spouse or partner can receive a $250 per month “in lieu” of health care coverage through  . Annually this will total $3,000.

Q: Is the district taking away employee health coverage?

A:  Absolutely not! will continue to offer health care coverage for employees and their family through Kaiser with no plan premium cost to SCTA-represented employees. Employees also have the option to stay with HealthNet if they prefer.

Q: Is the District proposing a hard cap on the amount it pays for Kaiser family coverage?

A:  No.  The District is proposing a “floating cap” that adjusts to the premium rate charged by Kaiser. If the rate goes up, the district will continue to cover 100% of the Kaiser premium cost. 

Q: What is the current cost to the district for HealthNet and for Kaiser?

A:  The table below shows that the costs to the district for the HealthNet plan are substantially higher than the cost of the  Kaiser plan.

District Costs for SCTA Health Benefits Plans Kaiser Employee Only HN Employee Only Difference Kaiser Employee +1 HN Employee + 1 Difference Kaiser Family HN Family Difference 12-month rate ($) $8,075.64 $12,365.52 $4,289.88 $16,151.28 $24,730.80 $8,579.52 $22,854.24 $34,994.16 $12,139.92

Q. How do health care benefits for SCTA-represented employees compare to benefits offered by other local government agencies?

A: Here is how health care benefits offered by compare to benefits offered by the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County, and the State of California.

Comparison Medical Dental Vision Benefits MEDICAL | DENTAL VISION EMPLOYER ENROLLMENT PREMIUM EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE PREMIUM EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE PREMIUM EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE /SCTA Employee 672.97 672.97 65.25 65.25 20.56 20.56 Kaiser EE+1 1345.94 1345.94 129.97 129.97 13.65 13.65 EE+Family 1908.52 1908.52 173.95 173.95 13.65 13.65 /SCTA Employee 1030.46 1030.46 65.25 65.25 20.56 20.56 Healthnet EE+1 2060.9 2060.9 129.97 129.97 13.65 13.65 EE+Family 2916.18 2916.18 173.95 173.95 13.65 13.65 /SEIU Employee 827.4 827.4 58.9 58.9 5.8 5.8 Kaiser EE+1 1654.8 1654.8 117.79 117.79 11.59 11.59 EE+Family 23.41.55 23.41.55 166.67 166.67 19.31 19.31 State of CA Employee 804.67 561 561 153.67 50.83 38.12 12.71 16.73 8.27 8.46 EE+1 1609.34 1302 307.34 1609.34 1302 307.34 1609.34 1302 307.34 EE+Family 2092.14 1686 406.14 128.28 96.21 32.07 35.51 8.27 27.24 city of Sacramento Employee 778.82 829.46 62.06 62.06 13.02 13.02 EE+1 1557.64 1318.38 239.26 117.86 117.86 18.68 18.68 EE+Family 2071.66 1758 313.66 156.92 156.92 33.44 33.44 Sacramento County Employee 948.88 642.86 306.02 62.06 62.06 5.16 5.16 EE+Family 2426.46 1645.78 780.68 156.92 156.92 o 13.22 13, 220 13.22 State of California Most bargaining units: The State covers 80/80 of the avg. enrollment of highest plans Some bargaining units: The State cover 85/80 of the avg. enrollment of highest plans Reference Links City of Sacramento 2022 Rates https://www.cityofsacramento.org/-/ media/Corporate/Files/HR/Divisions/Benefits/2022-0E/2022-Active-Employee-Rates.pdf?la=en County of Sacramento - Pg. 10 https://personnel.saccounty.net/Benefits/Documents/2022%20Active%20Summary%20with%20all%20edits%209-10-2021.pdf#page=10 Sacramento City UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Q: How many employees are in HealthNet versus Kaiser?

A:  There are 941 certificated staff enrolled in HealthNet. This represents about 43% of SCTA unit members.

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