As some of you may know, the County has concluded that it can no longer reasonably sustain another year of self-insurance for 2021. Claims costs have risen dramatically requiring the County to subsidize the Self-Insured Plan from reserves since 2015. The anticipated costs for the 2020 plan year will further deplete reserves. The 2021 self-insured renewal rate received from the County’s benefits consultant in October projects costs which would even further reduce reserves.

In addition, plan demographics have changed significantly as groups left the plan during 2018 and 2019. The smaller group size subjects the plan to more claims volatility and increases excess insurance coverage costs.

WSNA has worked with the County to ensure that a health insurance plan is in place for 2021 that will cause the least disruption possible when it comes to premium costs and benefit levels. The replacement plan will be the WCIF 500 plan, which is explained in the Linked summary documents.

A particular challenge in selecting a suitable replacement plan is the relatively high number of WSNA bargaining unit employees participating in job share agreements. Because of the premium structure of some of the available plans, there would be a drastic increase in premiums for job share employees (or the imposition of a significant premium charge for job share employees that have not been paying premiums).

The good news is that for all current employees including job share employees there will be no increases in premiums for 2021. Also, depending on which plan in which you are currently enrolled, you may find that many of the benefits in the new plan are superior to the ones in your current plan. There are instances where it may not be as generous. But when you look at the plan benefits overall, it is comparable and even better than some of the current plans.

There will be only one plan choice for 2021: the WCIF 500 Plan. Please see the attached documents and contact Hanna Welander if you have any questions.

FSA deadline extended until December 17, 2020!

Because the deadline to submit your FSA contribution rate for 2021 and health benefit information overlapped, the County has agreed to extend the deadline to December 17.

In Solidarity,
Your WSNA Negotiating Team, Erin Schuldt and Julie Rose

For questions, please contact WSNA Nurse Representative, Hanna Welander at hwelander@wsna.org or (206) 575-7979, Ext. 3035.