Employee Medical Benefits Cost Sharing Models (Fall 2011)
Introduction
In December, 2010 President Bridges asked the Faculty and Staff Fringe Benefits Committees to look at ways the employees of the college might contribute to their health care premiums in light of college budget cuts that were felt to be necessary. Premiums for full time employees are currently paid 100% by the college.
The committees have met several times, looked at what other similar institutions currently offer, and how those costs are distributed between full time employees and employer. The committees have created models of what this might look like at Whitman College and what impact they would have on employees. Models range from a flat 5% of premium to a percentage of salary. (the latter being a “ sliding scale” model that would lessen the impact on the employees at the lower end of the wage scale).
Please take the time to look at the information below, and if you have questions or feedback, please contact anyone on the committee. We need to hear from as many as possible before we make our recommendation to the Administration. Please keep in mind this is not a vote, the committee is simply an advisory body and will sift through and consider the views expressed by any and all who weigh in, and then make a decision as to what we, collectively( as a committee), believe to be the best. The final decision on this matter is left in the hands of the Board of Trustees. Please reply by Monday, October 24 before 5pm. Thank you.
Jeff Donahue
Chair Staff Fringe Benefits Committee
Sonja Aikens (Student/ Residence Life)
Jason Arp (Alumni Relations/Development)
Jeff Donahue (Physical Plant) (Chair)
Jennifer McNeil (Registrar/ Dean of Faculty)
Claudia Ness(Residence Life/Health Center
David Sprunger (WCTS)
Chris Tarvin (Admission)
Debra Wright (Business Office/ Human Resources)
The Models
The five models for consideration below were built based on the current medical insurance rates and salary information from the 2010/11 fiscal year. Additionally, part-time employee salaries are not included in the formulas at this time. Slight changes to all of these numbers are expected once a plan is implemented on current figures.