C.V. Educator

November 2004

Newsletter Archive

WEA/PAC CANDIDATES WIN

Despite a $4 million pro-charter school campaign funded by billionaire businessmen Washington voters have rejected charter schools in the state for the third time in the last ten years. This time the margin was by a landslide 59%. Voters recognized that draining more money from the public school budget to fund unregulated charter schools is not the way to improve achievement. Many thanks to everyone who worked in the Reject R-55 campaign.
In the legislative races, most of the pro-education candidates that WEA members supported were elected including Sen. Rosemary McAuliff, one of public education’s staunchest allies, who it appears will chair the Senate Education Committee. It appears that six of the seven candidates running in WEA-PAC’s priority races were victorious. These are candidates who pledged to support the restoration of I-732. While Judith Billings was defeated in her bid to return to the Superintendent of Public Instruction post and at press time the governor’s race is still too close to call, this has been a positive election for public educators in Washington state.
Once again it is time for the annual WEA-PAC membership drive.
This election, the budget crisis currently being faced in Washington and recent actions by the legislature regarding teacher salaries, medical benefits and testing illustrate how important politics are to public education and why the WEA-PAC drive is so important.
WEA-PAC is a political action committee that is only involved in candidate issues, not levies, not bonds, not initiatives, only political races from school board to state offices. It is a separate organization with a separate staff, funding and bylaws. They interview and question candidates to help members understand the candidates’ views. Republican or Democrat is not an issue. WEA-PAC supports any candidate that is a friend of public education regardless of party affiliation. It has an 80% success rate on political races.
State law prevents payroll deduction for WEA-PAC. To support WEA-PAC you will have to contribute each year by check, cash or automatic deduction from your checking account. Yearly dues are $20.00. This is a $1.67 per month investment in your future. Your building rep will have a meeting to urge all members to join. Please give it consideration. Remember, as long as politicians are involved in education-- educators should be involved in politics. Your professional well being may depend on it

BARGAINING TEAM VACANCIES

The Association has begun preparations for bargaining a new contract with the district. We are currently in the second year of a two year contract that expires on August 31, 2005. Before bargaining begins next spring we will need to fill six vacancies on the bargaining team. CVEA bylaws stipulate that we will have a team of twelve. Six of the positions are filled by the executive board and six are filled from the general membership. Please consider serving. Applications are available from your building rep. If interested please fill one out and return to the CVEA office via the courier by Friday, December 3.

HEALTH CARE COSTS ESCALATE

(OR WHERE DID MY RAISE GO?) WHAT RAISE?

If it seems like every time the state benefit allocation goes up, the increase in premiums goes right up with it, well, of course it does. Here are some reasons why. (Statistics provided by WEA)

Large claims continue to increase. Last year 143 participants had claims that exceeded $100,000, up from 99 the previous year. Three participants had claims over $500,000.

Comparing the last 3 plan years:

* The annual large claims cost per enrollee has increased by 114%.
* The number of large claims has increased by 113%.
* The actual dollars spent on claims that exceeded $100,000 has more than doubled.

Over the past 3 years:

* The average number of claims per participant increased by 30%.
* The average monthly claims cost per participant increased 31%.
Increasing costs and utilization of prescription drugs continue to be a concern. There are several factors contributing to these increases: an aging population, direct-to-consumer advertising, extended patent life, and research and development costs of high cost new drugs.

For the past three years:
* The number of prescription drug claims per enrollee has increase by 14.7%.
* The cost per prescription per enrollee has increased by 36.2%.
* The cost per prescription drug claim has increased by 18.7%.

The categories of highest prescription utilization on the WEA plan are:

Mental Health/Anti-Depressant---10.2%
Allergies/Asthma---------------------7.1%
Cholesterol lowering drugs---------7.0%
Gastrointestinal-----------------------5.6%
Arthritis/Osteoarthritis---------------4.4%
Migraines------------------------------1.9%

What can you do about it?
If appropriate, ask your doctor or healthcare provider to prescribe a generic drug. Generics are equivalent to a brand-name drug in safety, strength, quality, how the drug works, and what it’s used to treat and they cost much less.
Check out the Home Delivery Service on the Premera website at www. .pmera.com/wea. For medication you will take for several months or on a long term basis you can save money and enjoy the convenience of delivery to your home.
Consider the higher cost share/lower premium WEA options (i.e.
Plan 2,3,4 and Foundation). Employee-only purchasers can save over $690 and families can save over$1,650 per year by moving from Plan 1 to Plan 2, with similar savings when moving from Plan 2 to Plan 3.
Who makes decisions on plans and rates?
The WEA Benefit Services Advisory Board (BSAB) is comprised of 12 educators from throughout the state. The group functions like a group of trustees, meeting throughout the plan year to evaluate WEA’s benefit plans, research renewal alternatives, direct any plan bids, and hear claim appeals. Based on this work, the BSAB makes recommendations on rates, benefit modifications,etc., to the full WEA Board, which has final approval and decision making authority.

$SAVE MONEY$

The “Section 125 Flexible Spending Account” will enable district employees to increase your take home pay by lowering your income tax and Social Security deductions each month. You can save money if you spend out of pocket for any of the items listed below.
*Daycare expenses
*Prescription drug copays
*Office visit copays
*Medical Ins. deductibles
*Orthodontia
*Dental Care or eye exams
*Contact lenses or glasses
*Chiropractors
*Hearing aids or batteries
*Insulin
*Physical Therapy
*Psychiatrists
*Medical equipment
*Some over the counter medications
To establish a “125” account you will have to make an estimate of the above expenses you will spend for the calendar year 2005. Divide the total by 12 and notify the payroll department to withhold that amount each month from your paycheck. The money will be deducted from your gross pay before taxes. This will lower your taxable income and you will pay less income tax and social security tax.
The monthly amount deducted will be deposited in a flexible spending account for you to make withdrawals from during the year. This money can be used to pay for any unreimbursed qualifying expenses tax free.
For example, if you spend $50 every month on prescription drug copays, you can have the $50 taken from your paycheck before taxes. Then when you spend money on the copays, simply send in the receipts and the money will be sent back to reimburse you, again, tax free.
It is important, however, not to overestimate your expenses. The IRS requires a “use it or lose
it” policy. Therefore, you must use up your entire Flexible Spending Account by December 31 or forfeit the balance. If you have questions regarding this program please call Jeff Gilson in payroll at 228-5462. (LWEA Newsletter)

CALENDAR

November 17-24, Elementary Conferences

November 25-26, Thanksgiving Break

December 3, End of 1st Trimester

Monday, December 6, District Inservice Day

Tuesday, December 7, CVEA Executive Board, 3:30PM

Wednesday, December 8, Eastern Washington UniServ Council Meeting, 5:30PM

Tuesday, December 14, CVEA Rep Council Meeting, Players and Spectators, 4:00PM

December 20-31, Winter Break

CVEA

Street address: 12202 E. Main,
Mailing: PO. Box 14065 Spokane, WA 99214
Phone: 926-0201
Fax: 891-9183
Cell: 990-3206
email: CVEA@aol.com