Karen Kilgarin
Lincoln, NE – The Educators Health Alliance (EHA) Board of Directors has approved a new health insurance option for some early retirees and other members in the Direct Bill plan. The EHA is a consortium of three statewide public school groups that manages the medical and dental insurance plans used by nearly every Nebraska school district.
Currently, EHA’s lowest deductible plan for early retirees provides a $1,050 deductible. Come Sept. 1, 2024, members may select a plan with a $400 deductible packaged with one of the two alternate networks in the regions of Nebraska where they are available. The two networks are Premier Select BlueChoice and Blueprint Health.
“The EHA Board continues to look for cost-savings for its members, and we are pleased to be able to offer these alternate network options with lower out-of-pocket costs to our retired members,” said Board Chair Trish Guinan.
Earlier this fall, the EHA Board of Directors voted to limit the 2024 rate increase for its medical and dental plans to only 1.99%. The rate increase takes effect Sept. 1, 2024, and there will be no benefit changes made to any of the plan designs.
“Given the rate of inflation, we are pleased we’ve been able to maintain our streak of more than 20 years without a double-digit increase in rates and to average an increase of 4.45% for the last decade,” said Beth Kernes Krause, EHA Vice Chair and Auburn Public Schools Board of Education member.
“This rate increase is well below the national average,” said Mike Dulaney, executive director of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. “Our goal is to continue to provide a quality, affordable health insurance plan well into the future.”
“The EHA Board understands the financial concerns of our members as well as the fiscal constraints facing school districts,” said Colby Coash, associate executive director of the Nebraska Association of School Boards. “With 80,000 members in the plan, EHA has the largest risk pool in the state, which allows more predictability and stability in rates. This benefits both districts and individuals and their families.”