Hello SWAN Board reps-
On Wednesday this week LIMRiCC members received this notice (pasted below) from the board chair that the benefit provider will be switched from BCBS to Aetna.
I suggested to Ted that we schedule a Personnel Committee meeting to discuss that benefit change and to gauge your thoughts on this provider change. I will be attending with Ginny the LIMRiCC meeting on 9/15 so I suggest if we have a committee meeting that maybe we plan one after the Friday 9/18 SWAN Board meeting.
The reps for our Personnel Committee are Jane and Jennifer. If you two can reply to me if you are available, I can schedule that meeting for maybe around 11am on 9/18. For reference, here are the committee assignments:
https://support.swanlibraries.net/system/files/Public/SWAN-Board-Committees…
I recognize the window to make any changes to remain with BCBS is fairly short considering open enrollment will start at the end of October, so I am doing some initial research with Ginny on what our options are.
Aaron Skog
Executive Director
aaron(a)swanlibraries.net<mailto:aaron@swanlibraries.net> * 630-326-7022
My pronouns: he/him/his
SWAN Library Services
800 Quail Ridge Drive, Westmont, IL 60559
swanlibraries.net<https://swanlibraries.net/> * catalog.swanlibraries.net<https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/>
From: Jennie Mills <jmills(a)shorewoodtroylibrary.org<mailto:jmills@shorewoodtroylibrary.org>>
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 2:03 PM
Subject: PLEASE READ - LIMRiCC Change in Health Insurance Providers, effective January 21, 2021
August 26, 2020
TO: Participants in the LIMRiCC-PHIP Health Insurance Pool
FROM: Jennifer Cisna Mills, LIMRiCC Board Chair
RE: Change in Health Insurance Carriers, effective January 1, 2021
In advance of our Full Membership meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, September 15th, I wanted to be the first to inform you that the Board of LIMRICC voted, 5-0, on August 25th to end our relationship with Blue Cross Blue Shield at this time and move to Aetna.
This was not a decision that the LIMRiCC Board took lightly. We know that Blue Cross Blue Shield has been our health insurance carrier for over 20 years. We are aware that selecting a new insurance carrier will bring with it some concerns and questions from both employees and employers. We want you to know that both the staff of LIMRiCC and the staff of Assurance, our insurance broker, are committed to making this change as easy as possible.
Why did we make this change? This decision was driven primarily by cost considerations. Due to several large claims this year, including a claim that has exceeded $1 million, Blue Cross Blue Shield was not able to be as competitive in cost as other carriers. HMO rates would have increased by 4%, but PPO rates would have increased by 14%. In this difficult financial climate, where rising health costs can be a cost burden for both employees and employers, the Board felt it best to look at other carriers. We obtained quotes from both Aetna and United Health Care.
Why did we select Aetna? We made the choice to move to Aetna health care for several reasons:
* Competitive rates - Rates for both the HMO and PPO will be a 5% increase, versus the 14% increase for the PPO through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
* Plans remain the same, with the same coverage amounts. There will still be an HMO provided, $750 deductible PPO plan, a $1500 deductible PPO plan, and an HSA plan.
* Good coverage for existing doctors already utilized by members. 96.78% of doctors currently utilized will also accept Aetna's insurance. The doctor's website will often display the types of insurance covered or you may search for your doctor here: https://www.aetna.com/individuals-families/find-a-doctor.html to check for coverage.
* Due to the way that Aetna's HMO is structured, libraries will no longer have to act as "large employers" to offer the HMO. The HMO can be offered by all libraries now. Additionally, Aetna HMO does not require a designated Primary Care Physician, nor does it require a referral to see specialized health providers.
* Telemedicine is offered on all plans, including the HMO.
* There is no copay to use CVS mini-clinics, for the treatment of minor conditions.
Is anything else changing? Yes, please see below.
* Life insurance will be moving from Unicare to Hartford Insurance. There will be no change in the amount billed per member, but the employer-provided life insurance will increase from $20,000 provided to $30,000 provided.
* Dental coverage will be moving from Delta Dental to Aetna for dental. Premiums will remain the same.
* VSP will continue to be the vision insurance provided, at the same rates.
We know that this will be a transition for employers AND employees. We encourage every library to send a representative to the September 15th membership meeting, held via Zoom, to have your questions answered. Representatives from both Aetna and Assurance will be there to answer questions and concerns. All members of the LIMRiCC board will be present as well. We look forward to your attendance and participation at the meeting.
--
************************************
Jennifer Cisna Mills, Director
Shorewood-Troy Public Library
650 Deerwood Drive
Shorewood, IL 60404
815.725.1715
SWAN Board,
I announced in the SWAN newsletter today that the 9/3 SWAN Quarterly agenda was posted, but I wanted to make sure I let you all know to take a look at it.
https://support.swanlibraries.net/sites/default/files/meeting/20_09_03/6691…
The Aspen Discovery project will be presented likely for the first time to the majority of directors and I wanted to let you all know what I will recommend as a timeline and next steps. The short: is this project is going very, very well and I think you will all be very excited to see it live and working!
Background
April 2020: SWAN contracted with ByWater Solutions to build Aspen Discovery server hosted by SWAN for $12,275 (complete)
May - June: ByWater built Aspen against SWAN's live catalog, create 4 library profiles, develop integration with EDS, Axis 360 e-books (complete)
July 2020: DUX tests SWAN's Aspen in comparison with SWAN's Enterprise, relevancy report released (complete)
Next Steps
Sept 3, 2020: SWAN quarterly membership presentation on Aspen Discovery project to-date
Sept 18, 2020: SWAN board discusses the Aspen project and decides if all 100 library profiles should be created, approval of additional $12,275 with ByWater
November - January: SWAN arranges pilots Aspen with selected member libraries
March 2020: SWAN quarterly meeting Aspen Discovery presentation with final recommendation and decision to begin switch away from Enterprise to Aspen. This will have some tie-in with the FY22 budget approval.
There will be information in the 9/3 Quarterly meeting packet next week and then some additional information for you at the 9/18 SWAN Board meeting. I spoke with Ted this week about all this and we can outline some of the approach the board should take and how SWAN staff should handle the next phase.
Again, no reply-all to this email. If you would like to begin looking at some of the Aspen Project details online, we have this page going for our DUX group who has been involved throughout this project.
https://support.swanlibraries.net/documentation/78234
Regards,
Aaron
Aaron Skog
Executive Director
aaron(a)swanlibraries.net<mailto:aaron@swanlibraries.net> * 630-326-7022
My pronouns: he/him/his
SWAN Library Services
800 Quail Ridge Drive, Westmont, IL 60559
swanlibraries.net<https://swanlibraries.net/> * catalog.swanlibraries.net<https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/>
