FILE: EGA
STAFF INSURANCE COVERAGES
NOTE: CPSB is required to follow all appropriate federal and state laws concerning insurance, including certain requirements of the Office of Group Benefits (OGB). Since laws change frequently, any language in this policy that may conflict with these requirements is superseded by related laws, legislation and guidelines established by the appropriate authorities.
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION PLANS: HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE
The Caddo Parish School Board shall contract with a third-party administrator (TPA) and/or insurance carrier to provide voluntary healthcare and life insurance coverage for its eligible School Board members, employees, retirees, and their eligible dependents.
The School Board may pay any portion of an employee's premium it so designates provided the School Board’s portion meets the minimum contribution required by the Louisiana Office of State Group Benefits. Employees and retirees shall be responsible for any portion of the employee’s health care premium not paid by the School Board.
The School Board may also make modifications to the plan benefits, including and not limited to what benefits are covered, out-of-pocket expenses and exclusions, as long as it meets with any related regulations.
For the purpose of determining eligibility for employee insurance, an active employee shall be: (1) any School Board employee whose membership in either the Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System (LSERS) or the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) is mandatory, (2) any School Board employee who elects to participate in another qualified state retirement system in lieu of the LSERS/TRSL or (3) an elected Caddo Parish School Board member. Certain additional provisions of the Affordable Care Act may apply to health care coverage, which are outlined in the plan documents.
Any qualified employee, retiree, School Board member, together with their eligible dependents, are offered to participate in the healthcare coverage and life insurance plans selected by the School Board. Any employee who terminates his/her employment with the School Board shall not be covered by the School Board's health or life insurance plans after the last day of the month that they terminate employment. However, any employee who terminates employment with the School Board may apply for continued health care coverage in accordance with regulations of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). They may also apply to continue life insurance as defined under the conversion provisions of the plan.
The School Board may contribute a portion of an employee's premium of health or life insurance coverage in the following manner:
Active Employees:
The Caddo Parish School Board shall pay a portion of the active employee's portion of the premium for health care and life insurance coverage, as determined by the School Board. It is at the discretion of the School Board to make adjustments in premiums and benefits, as often as needed in order to adequately fund the plans.
Retired Employees:
The Caddo Parish School Board shall pay a portion of the retired employee's premium for health care coverage and life insurance for retirees, as determined by the School Board. It is at the discretion of the School Board to make adjustments in premiums and benefits, as often as needed in order to adequately fund the plans.
To be eligible for the above retiree benefits, an employee's coverage must be in effect immediately prior to retirement. For employees hired on or after April 1, 2022, the subsidy of a retiree's premium is based on the number of years an employee has been employed by the School Board and number of years they have participated in the health plan immediately prior to retirement as determined by the School Board. They must meet all other stipulations as defined by the office of group benefits, including and not limited to being a retiree of the Caddo Parish School Board. Benefits for an employee retiring will continue automatically unless action is taken by the retiree; however, only those benefits applying to retirees will continue
Health Insurance Vesting Schedule for Employees Hired on or after April 1, 2022
Percentage of Parish Subsidy For Retirees
|
Years of Continuous Service Immediately Preceding Retirement* |
Percentage of District Subsidy |
|
Less than 5 years |
0% |
|
5 years or more, but less than 10 years |
25% |
|
10 years or more, but less than 15 years |
50% |
|
15 years or more, but less than 20 years |
75% |
|
20 years or more |
100% |
*Employee/dependents must participate in the health insurance plan 5 years immediately preceding retirement
Life Insurance Vesting Schedule for Employees Hired on or After April 1, 2022
Percentage of Parish Subsidy For Retirees
|
Years of Service* |
Percentage of District Subsidy |
|
Less than 10 years |
0% |
|
10 years or more |
100% |
*Employee/dependents must participate in the life insurance plan 5 years immediately preceding retirement
Employees on Approved Leave:
The employee and employer portion of health and life insurance will remain the same for employees on School Board approved leave with pay.
The employee and employer portion of health and life insurance for employees on School Board approved leave without pay will be modified according to the following schedule.
|
|
CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE RIGHTS ON UNPAID LOA |
|
A. |
Leave of Absence |
|
1. |
Leave of Absence without Pay, With Employer Contributions to Premiums |
|
a. |
An Employee who is granted leave of absence without pay due to a service-related injury may continue coverage and the Employer shall continue to pay its portion of health plan premiums for up to twelve (12) months. |
|
b. |
An Employee who suffers a service-related injury that meets the definition of a total and permanent disability under the worker’s compensation laws of Louisiana may continue coverage and the Employer shall continue to pay its portion of the premium until the Employee becomes gainfully employed or is placed on state disability retirement. |
|
c. |
An Employee who is granted leave of absence without pay in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may continue coverage during the time of such leave and the Employer may continue to pay its portion of premiums. |
|
2. |
Leave of Absence Without Pay No Employer Contributions to Premiums |
|
|
An Employee granted leave of absence without pay for reasons other than those stated in above in paragraph a, may continue to participate in this Benefit Plan for a period up to twelve (12) months upon the Employee's payment of the full premiums due. |
SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE
While all insurance plans with Caddo Parish School Board are voluntary, Caddo does offer supplemental plans where employees pay 100% of the premiums. The same rules of eligibility apply for active employees. Some plans may allow retirees to continue to maintain their insurance.
PREMIUM PAYMENTS
Employees must elect to have all their insurance premiums through payroll deduction.
Retirees and survivors must elect to have their health and life insurance premiums through the retirement system. Special arrangements must be made directly with the carriers of any other plans that allow retirees to maintain their coverage.
Employees, retirees and survivors who are eligible to keep their insurance, but who are not receiving a paycheck or retirement check, must make their monthly payments to the CPSB Insurance Department to cover the cost of the member’s share of the premium via the method of payment determined by the School Board. This also applies to situations where there are inadequate funds to make premium payments in a pay check or retirement check.
The premium is due on the 1st of the month of coverage. Members will be given a grace period of 30 days. Failure to make premium payments will result in termination of coverage. CPSB is not responsible for sending out billing notices or reminders for payment.
PREMIUM REFUNDS
Employees, retirees, and survivors are responsible for notifying the CPSB Insurance Department of life events and Medicare coverage within 30-days. Caddo Parish School Board will refund a maximum of 2-months of premium overpayment due to untimely notification.
| Approved: July 28, 2015 | Revised: August 17, 2021 |
| Revised: January 19, 2021 | Revised: February 15, 2022 |
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:1201, 17:1233, 23:1034, 23:1081, 23:1472, 42:821, 42:851
Israel v. Gray Ins. Co., 720 So.2d 803(98-525 La. App. 3 Cir. 10/28/98)
Board minutes, 3-19-75, 11-27-01, 5-20-03, 7-28-15, 1-19-21, 8-17-21, 2-15-22
Caddo Parish School Board