GPUS Steering Committee: Healthcare for staff

Subject: GPUS Steering Committee: Healthcare for staff
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 16:37:25 -0700

TO: Steering Committee
FROM: Doug Malkan, Asst. Treasurer
RE: Heath insurance for staff

I am making a proposal to the steering committee that we do the following concerning health insurance for the two staff people:

1. Continue with existing Blue Cross COBRA insurance coverage for Jack Uhrich and his wife. The premium is $565 per month. This amount is in-line with rates for regular Blue Cross individual plans for the two of them. Switching to an individual plan for Jack is not desirable because individual plans would exclude pre-existing conditions. Whether the committee pays the whole premium or reimburses a certain amount is a decision the committee needs to make. COBRA coverage can continue for up to 18 months from Nov. 1, 2001.

2. I recommend we cover Dean Meyerson with an individual insurance plan for now, until we have a group plan in place. Mid range plans for Dean will run between $125 to $175 per month for Blue Cross. A budget for his coverage needs to be set by the committee, i.e., an amount needs to be authorized, then Dean can apply for coverage. The differences in price reflect different deductibles, co-pays and the difference between getting an HMO and a PPO. (See detail below in paragraph 4.)

3. Within 18 months we need to change the staff to a group plan, mainly because Jack can only get COBRA for that amount of time. I am exploring several semi-promising leads that may come through. I have several agents that are trying and are sympathetic to our cause.

However, our situation is this – under Wash DC law we do not qualify as a group until we have 51 percent of our employees in DC. Right now we do not qualify. If in the next 18 months we end up with an office manager in DC and obtain the 51 percent ratio, i.e., don’t have more staff outside of DC, we will be able to get group coverage. It is also a possibility that a larger staff would help us get a national group plan even without the 51 percent. If we were a 501c-3 we would get group coverage with the DC NGO’s in a pool, however we don’t qualify as a non-profit because we are not a 501c-3.

4. Detail on possibilities for Dean’s plan, all Blue Cross:

a. Blue Preferred – $125/mo, PPO, $2,500 deductible, $25 office visit (no deductible, PPx $100 deductible, annual out-of-pocket $2,500.

b. Blue Preferred – $155/mo, PPO, $750 deductible, $25 office visit (no deductible, PPx $100 deductible, annual out-of-pocket $3,500.

c. Care First- $163/mo, HMO, no deductible, $20 office visit, PPx $150 deductible, annual out-of-pocket $3,600.

d. Blue Preferred – $168/mo, PPO, $500 deductible, $25 office visit, PPx $100 deductible, annual out-of-pocket $2,500.

*** rates subject to change. Other plans are available for less money, however coverage is not good. Other plans are available for more money with lower deductibles, etc., if a higher budget is approved. These plans for Dean represent the mid-priced plans for his category.

###