Chairman says employees are struggling to support plans

The University of Idaho Faculty Senate took a break Tuesday from its ongoing discussions of institutional efficiency to address a number of concerns faculty members have about their university-provided health insurance.

The university switched its health insurance offerings in 2008 to let employees choose from three coverage plans, called A, B and H, which are administered by Blue Cross of Idaho.

Plans A and B are preferred-provider plans with higher upfront costs but significantly lower deductibles than Plan H, which gives employees a health savings account that allows them to contribute pre-tax money from their paychecks to cover medical expenses.

Jana Stotler, the UI's associate vice president for strategic budget and finance, said the UI Health Benefits Advisory Group had recently received questions from faculty members about the plans, spurring Tuesday's discussion.

The advisory group takes feedback about health insurance benefits from UI employees and relays it to administrators.

Faculty Senate Chairman Jack Miller said many university employees who are paid relatively low salaries are having trouble paying for their health care under Plan H.

"I have the impression ... that anyone that is a lesser-earning or lower-earning person in our university is faced with a rather draconian or difficult choice of either dramatically reducing their (paycheck) compensation to fund their (health savings account) or not funding their HSA," he said. "And my impression is a number of them have not funded their HSAs, or at least not funded them very well."

Mark McGuire, an animal and veterinary science faculty member in the advisory group, said more than 95 percent of Plan H participants have some funding in their HSAs, but it's difficult to determine why or how many people are choosing not to seek medical treatment.

"The great majority of employees have a balance in their HSAs ... (and know) that they can at least pay for a visit if they need to go," he said.

Sen. Jim Murphy said even under the UI's previous insurance plan, which was tiered so higher-paid employees spent more on premiums to subsidize lower-paid employees, it would be hard to tell who was foregoing health care because of the costs.

McGuire said the advisory group is concerned about employee wellness and said health-care costs go down when fewer people put off care until a catastrophic or chronic condition emerges.

"If you're sick, go to the doctor. That's why there is wellness included, to prevent major expenses," he said, adding that Plan H employees can receive an annual physical at no cost.

Sen. Dale Graden asked if the advisory group had discussed using a tiered plan in the UI-provided insurance.

Holly Wichman, a biology professor with experience in the advisory group, said the group couldn't tell at that time how many employees would choose each plan, so determining progressive costs was "virtually impossible."

Stotler said now is the time to look at options and rates for the plans because the university has had a couple of years to get used to the new system. She asked senators to consider Tuesday's discussion and get back to her with their suggestions.

"I would really like to know what you want us to take forward and what we need to do here," she said.

Miller said the senate will continue to discuss the benefits plans at future meetings.

In other business:

Miller had prepared a motion to oppose a proposed rule change by the Idaho Board of Education that would have given university presidents increased powers to alter employee contracts. The board was scheduled to discuss the proposal at its meeting Thursday in Lewiston.

However, Miller said UI President Duane Nellis contacted the board and other presidents to attempt to withdraw the proposal from consideration to give time for additional discussion at the university level.

The item was removed from the board's agenda Tuesday.

Miller said he believes the item would not have been removed from the agenda if it were not for Nellis' initiative.

"I think we owe him a vote of thanks and appreciation for that action on his part," he said.

For the second week in a row, the senate tabled a motion to make recommendations to Nellis regarding the management of faculty Y-accounts.