HEA - Hesperia Education Association

H.E.A. Newsletter
H.E.A.is here for you because you deserve the best.
Approved for publication by James Pace, HEA President, 5/02/03

Volume 3 - Issue 4 - April/May 2003
HEA/CTA/NEA

Executive Board

Jim Pace
President

Gordon Williamson
Vice-President

Jose Madera
Treasurer

Betsy Patridge
Secretary

Vernon Johns
Secondary Director

Scott Johnson
Elementary Director

Jeanne Triska
Director At Large

Rep Council

Karen Barkley
Steve Brenner
Sandy Brower
Doug Coombs
Pat Cook
Claudia Ethun
Jim Garrett
Darin Grebel
D.J. Gregory
Dorrie Hall
Ralph Heller
Margaret Kennedy
Patty Liggett
Ozzie Maenpaa
Ron Magoun
Jackie Marsh
Terry McGrath
John McHenry
Kathryn Mustain
Linda Picht
Chris Pierce
Sarah Pifer
Diana Pruiett
Marcia Rhodes
Yolette Rios
Cheryl Roberts
Christine Robinson
Cheryl Rutledge
Lee Samuels
Rebekah Swanson
Mike Waterworth

Membership Chair
Barbara Bailey

Grievance Co-Chairs
Jim Garrett
Dick Westerhoff

SCSEBA Labor Rep
Blair Thompson

Newsletter Editor
Fran McCullough

THERE WILL BE CHANGES

Presiden'ts Message
By Jim Pace, H.E.A President

I want to thank all the teachers who came to the May 5 Board of Education meeting. It is obvious that you care deeply about our students and want to let the Board know that you want their decisions to reflect a concern for our student's education.

As you know, HEA's Political Action Team has been very busy interviewing potential candidates for the School Board and soon we will be making an announcement endorsing two of the candidates for the Fall election. The Political Action Team is made up of Michelle Waller, Lee Samuels, and Hardy Black of Sultana H.S. Ralph Heller, Hesperia H.S., Susan Gaus, Ranchero M.S. Jim Pace, Hesperia Jr. H.S., Kathy Mustain, Hollyvale Elem., and Scott Johnson, Mesquite Trails Elem.

HEA has also been working diligently with different insurance brokers and the District Office in order to bring to you a choice of insurance plans. Subsequently, you voted for the High Desert & Inland Employee-Employer Trust.

The High Desert Trust and the District Office have put together a schedule of Open enrollment meetings. You must attend one of these meetings in order to be enrolled in the health care benefits. If for some reason you can't make the one at your site, you can go to another school site. Following is that schedule:

Date	Time	Location
5/6/03	2:00-4:00p.m. 2:00-5:00p.m.	Joshua Circle Mesquite Trails
5/7/03	2:00-4:00p.m. 3:00-500p.m.	Juniper Ranchero Middle School
5/8/03	3:00-5:00 p.m.	Mohave HS/Desert Trails/AEC
5/12/03	2:00-4:00p.m. 2:00-5:00p.m.	Topaz Eucalyptus
5/13/03	2:00-4:30p.m. 2:00-4:30p.m.	Hollyvale Maple
5/14/03	12:00-4:30p.m. 2:00-400p.m.	Mesa Grande Carmel
5/19/03	3:00-5:00p.m.	Hesperia Jr. High
5/20/03	2:00-5:00p.m	Lime
5/21/03	3:00-5:00p.m.	Hesperia High School
5/27/03	3:00-5:00p.m.	Sultana High School
5/28/03	2:00-5:00p.m. 2:00-4:00p.m.	Kingston Cottonwood

UPDATE: Remember to attend the open enrollment meetings at your site. If you can't make the meeting at your site, you should go to one of the meetings held at other schools.
When checking the Newsletter for updates on line, remember to refresh the page each time.

CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
By Vern Johns

Article 10 sets out the District relationship with HEA unit members over issues related to Health Insurance benefits. The Article as printed is no longer accurate as to specifics, but lays out the framework for the District providing health, vision, dental, and life insurance for HEA unit members. For example it says that the unit member's "insurance shall be fully paid by the District" (1996-97) - and that is no longer the case.

Part A5 of Article 10 says that the" District Insurance Committee shall recommend at least two medical programs each year". If the cost of providing insurances is greater than "the amount capped" ($7200), the District shall

"automatically deduct all premium costs that exceed the capped amount … the District shall automatically deduct from unit member's salary". Therein, the amount paid by unit members can vary from year to year.

Section E of this Article describes the duration of benefits for HEA members. Benefits begin with the first date of employment, and continue to subsequent years that the member is employed. Members who are terminated or leave prior to the end of the school year are covered to the end of the month they leave. Members who are terminated are "entitled to benefits according to PL 99-272 (Cobra).">

HIGH DESERT INLAND TRUST GETS THE VOTES
By Blair Thompson, HEA Insurance Representative

The election results for Executive Board,according to Barbara Bailey are as follows: James Pace, President; Gordon Williamson, Vice President; Jose Madera, Treasurer. The new member to the team is Claudia Ethum, from Hesperia Junior High School, as Secretary.

At the April 21 Insurance Information Meeting, the members were given a presentation by two insurance representatives, SCSEBA and the High Desert Trust. SCSEBA offered two plans, a Blue Shield Plan and the existing Blue Cross Plan (with some minor adjustments in benefits). The High Desert Trust also presented a Blue Shield Plan.

These three plans were outlined and members had an opportunity to vote on ONE plan. The ballots were due back at the HEA office on April 24.

The High Desert Inland Trust's Blue Shield was elected by the teachers as their choice. Of the 683 HEA members elligle to vote 547 voted. This was an 80% turnout! 287 members voted for the Blue Shield plan offered by the High Desert Inland Trust which is a majority vote of 52.5%. The Blue Shield plan offered by SCSEBA came in second with 240 votes, which is 43.8%. The remaining 20 votes, which is 3.7%, went to the existing Blue Cross plan.

DID YOU KNOW?
By Jeanne Triska

OPEN ENROLLMENT Diana Canchola, from the District Office, has sent packets to each site with dates and other information concerning Open Enrollment meetings, which start in May. A representative from Blue Shield or High Desert Trust will be there to answer questions about the new medical plan. We will have a new retail presciption plan and also a new mail order prescription plan. We will continue to have Delta Dental, MES vision, and Pacific Care Behavioral Health for mental health. The new plans will be effective July 1, 2003. Be sure to get your Blue Shield Enrolllment Packet and sign up for your benefits on the sign up date at your site.

PRE-TAXING PREMIUMS If you wish to continue, or want to start, pre-taxing your insurance premium for the upcoming year, you must fill out a form during open enrollment.

Consult with your tax advisor to see if this is right for you.

IRS 125 MEDICAL ACCOUNTS American Fidelity will be at the open enrollment meetings for people who elect to do an IRS 125 Medical or Dependent Care Accounts. These are the accounts in which you designate a certain amount to be set aside each month from your check, before it is taxed, to meet out of pocket medical or dependent care expenses. To use this program, you need to send receipts to American Fidelity to be reimbursed out of your account. Any portion of the amount you designated that is not used during the set period of time is lost.

If you go to www.hesperiateachers.com you can link to our new providers by going to our insurance page and selecting the company icon.

BLUE SHIELD PPO PLAN OVERVIEW
By Fran McCullough

The table below is an overview of the High Desert Inland Trust Blue Shield (PPO) plan that was approved by the members. Consult the Blue Shield Evidence of Coverage and plan contract for a detailed description of coverage benefits, limitations and exclusions. Should you have any questions or problems you should contact Lisa Stanson, High Desert Inland Trust at (877) 924-4494 or email her at lisa@cebins.com

Benefit (High Desert Inland Trust)Blue Shield	Preferred Providers	Non-Preferred Providers
Physician Services - Office vsits and consultations, Specialists visits, Laboratory and X-rays, Mammogram & Pap test, Allergy testing or treatment, Diagnostic testing	$10/visit	30%
Preventive Care - Annual physical exam, Mammogram and pap, Laboratory and X-rays, immunizations	$10/visit	Not covered
Well Baby Care - Office visits and consultaions, Laboratory and X-rays	$10/visit	not covered
Outpatient Services - Outpatient surgery, outpatient treatment and renal dialysis	10%	30%
Hospitalization Services - Inpatient visits and consultations, surgeons and assistants, anesthesiologists, pathologists, radiologists, Semi-private room and board, medically necessary services and supplies	10%	30% (restrictions apply)
Emergency Health Coverage - Facility services (waived if admitted)	$50	$50
Emergency Health Coverage - Emergency room physician consultation	10%	10%
Retail Prescriptions - If your Dr. writes a prescription for a brand name, he must indicate (DAW) "dispense as written" in order to avoid a substitution to a generic, if one is avalilable. Diabetic testing supplies are covered under prescriptions.	$10/Generic, $15/Formulary Brand $30/Non-Formulary Brand	Member pays 25% of allowed charge plus copayment of $10/Generic, $15/Formulary Brand, $30/Non-Formulary Brand
Mail Order Prescription up to 90-day supply	$10/Generic, $20/Formulary, $45/Non-Formulary	Not Covered
Diabetes Care - Equipment, devices and non-testing supplies	10%	30%
Alternative Care - Chiropractic services (up to 20 visits per calendar yr.)	10%	30%
Physical Medicine - Office visits and related services (unlimited physical therapy)	$10/visit	30%
DEDUCTIBLES - Some co-payments are not subject to the calendar year medical deductible. ie. Office visits, prescriptions (see your booklet)	$200 Individual $400 Family	$200 Individual $400 Family
CALENDAR YEAR COPAYMENT MAXIMUM - Some copayments for services do not count toward the copayment maximum and continue to be charged after it is reached. ie. physician's copay and prescriptions copay (see your booklet)	$1500 Individual $2500 Family	$2000 Individual $4000 Family
LIFETIME MAXIMUM	$6,000,000	$6,000,000