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Health Insurance Change Information Hub

Health Insurance Change Information Hub

Welcome to the Health & Welfare Benefit Review Information Hub!

Amador County Unified School District (USD) and Amador County Office of Education (COE) are currently reviewing our Health & Welfare benefit providers and plan options in preparation for a transition this fall. This page serves as your central resource for staying informed about our progress and the vendors we are evaluating.

Below you will find helpful information about the various vendors under consideration. We encourage you to:

  • Provide your valuable feedback: Complete the brief survey to share what is most important to you regarding your health and welfare benefits. Your input will help inform the USD and COE in our decision-making process.
  • Stay involved: Sign up for meeting invitations to participate in future meetings with potential vendors. This is a great opportunity to learn more and ask questions directly.

 

Background and Need for Review:

In October 2023, Amador County USD and COE transitioned the administration of our Health & Welfare benefits from CVT to NewFront. This shift moved us from a traditional insurance pool to a self-insured model, with the goal of achieving greater flexibility and control over our benefit rates, plan design, costs, and the option for employees to opt-out.

However, this self-insured model has also exposed the USD and COE to increased financial risk associated with higher-than-expected medical claims. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, we incurred over $1 million in excess claims, and a similar amount is projected for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Additionally, we experienced a significant 15% premium increase for our Anthem plans, even after NewFront initially proposed a much larger 40% increase.

The combination of rising premium costs and annual excess claims exceeding $1 million has made our current self-insured model financially unsustainable. As a result, the USD and COE are proactively reviewing alternative Health & Welfare benefit providers and plan options to ensure a stable and cost-effective program for our employees moving forward.

What You Can Do:

 

Upcoming & Previous Meeting(s):

Subject: The USD and COE will host an informational meeting for all staff to discuss a potential transition to Alliant from NewFront as our Broker of Record for Dental, Vision, and Voluntary Benefits.
Date: Monday, April 14
Time: 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Conference Room A @ District Office
Meeting Recording
Passcode: wg^2Cj7g

Alliant Links & Information:

Alliant Website
Alliant Presentation

 

Questions? Contact our payroll team!
Email: payroll@acusd.org
Phone: (209) 257-5425

Provider Comparison:

 

Below you will find a detailed comparison of the various Health & Welfare benefit vendors currently under review. This information is organized by key criteria to help you understand the different options being considered and how they align with the needs of Amador County USD and Amador County Office of Education employees.

 

  CVT CalPERS
Size Large – 300k+ Members Extremely Large – 1.5m Members
Meeting w/Units Proposed - May 14th at 3:30 PM - Confirmation TBA Held – February 3rd, 2025 @ 3:45 PM
Additional requested for all staff in May - TBA
Rates

TBD - Expected first week of May/possibly sooner
Kaiser Rates - May increase w/Breakaway Rules
Scaling back plans may help reduce other rates

 2025 Available Now - Northern CA - Region I
2026 Preliminary Rates available in June 2025 – Rates confirmed July 2025
Plan Year 10/1 - 9/30 (Start 10/1/25) - Normal 12-month plan
Amador is currently on

1/1 - 12/31 (3-month plan year - year 1)
We would have a short 3-month plan (10/1 to 12/31). Then we will be on a 12-month plan from 1/1 to 12/31 going forward.
Offer Medical, Dental, Vision Yes Only Medical
Amador would pursue a Dental/Vision plan from other Vendors if we go with CalPERS
Plan Availability Blue Cross / Kaiser / Delta-Dental / VSP
Kaiser limited to Ione/Plymouth, Work/Live in Amador County		 Blue Shield / Kaiser
Kaiser limited to Ione/Plymouth, Work/Live in Amador County
To view plans available where you live visit (link).
Retiree Options Yes
Premiums paid via check/ACH
No hard cost to District		 Yes
Premiums paid by STRS/PERS retirement checks
Hard cost to District
Can Enroll at any time assuming member retired from CalPERS within 120 days of retiring from the District
Tiered v. Composite Both Offered - By Bargaining Unit Decision Only Tiered
Tiered Options 4-Tier Options
New Tier Option - Employee + Children		 3-Tier Options - Standard
Opt Outs Yes, but likely Opt Out Premium
May allow grandfathering of Opt Out % (TBA)		 Yes
Deductible With a move back to CVT on an October 1 effective date, the member would receive credit for PPO only deductible already met from January 1st. This credit is for deductible only, not any additional amounts applied to the out-of-pocket maximum outside of the deductible. Deductible starts over
Renewal Timeline Mid-June LOI for Oct. 1
October 1, 2025 - Doable		 At least 90-Days - Est. closer to 120 days
Requires Board Adoption of Resolutions
October 1, 2025 - Doable

 

2025 CalPERS vs. Current Amador Rate Comparison:

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the available 2025 CalPERS plan rates for Jackson, CA, and our current 2024-25 NewFront rates. To facilitate easy comparison, the most comparable CalPERS plan name is indicated in brackets next to our current plan name. For example, "(Gold)" next to "PPO 9" signifies the comparison to the CalPERS Gold plan.

 

CalPERS Rates for 2025

12-Month Rate Single 2-Party Family Deductible OOPM
PERS Gold $1,013.70 $2,027.40 $2,635.62 1000/2000 3000/6000
PERS Platinum $1,476.10 $2,952.20 $3,837.86 500/1000 2000/4000
Kaiser $1,112.90 $2,225.80 $2,893.54 None 1500/3000
Rates end 12.31.25          

 

NewFront Rates for 2025

Comparable 12-Month Plan Single Employee +1 Employee + Fam Deductible OOPM
PPO 9 (Gold) $ 1,004.00 $ 1,726.00 $ 2,178.00 1000/2000 5000/10000
PPO 6 (Platinum) $ 1,243.00 $ 2,138.00 $ 2,698.00 250/500 2000/4000
PPO 9 (Platinum) $ 1,350.00 $ 2,322.00 $ 2,930.00 100/200 1250/2500
Kaiser HMO 2 (Kaiser) $ 1,331.04 $ 2,289.41 $ 2,888.38 None 1500/3000
Rates end 9.30.25          

California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)

California’s Valued Trust (CVT)

 

Timeline

 

Retiree Information

 

Please note that information regarding retiree benefits is still being developed as Amador County USD (ACUSD) and Amador County Office of Education (ACOE) evaluate potential changes for the upcoming year. We understand this may create uncertainty, and we are committed to providing updates as soon as they become available.

Current & Potential Options:

  • CalPERS & CVT: Both CalPERS and CVT offer retiree health benefit options. CalPERS plan information is listed below, and CVT plan details will be added once available.
  • Retiree's First: We recognize that many retirees have transitioned to Retiree's First and have reported positive experiences with their plans and services. We are currently reviewing the feasibility of continuing this relationship, regardless of the final provider selected by ACUSD and ACOE.
  • Dental & Vision: CVT currently offers a dental plan for retirees. Additionally, the District is exploring options through Alliant to potentially provide dental and vision benefits very similar to the current offerings. This exploration with Alliant may help ensure a smoother transition, particularly as we anticipate an October 1, 2025 adjustment.

Payment Processing:

The process for retiree benefit payments through Allied is likely to change depending on the health and welfare provider ultimately selected by the USD and COE. We will provide updated information regarding payment procedures as soon as decisions are finalized.

As new information regarding retiree benefits becomes available, we will promptly update this page. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to our payroll department if you have any immediate questions or concerns. Thank you for your patience as we navigate this transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs coming soon