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Niles schools insurance statements incorrect

DEAR EDITOR:

I have read several misstatements in the Tribune Chronicle and on social media regarding Niles City School Anthem Blue Cross health plan.

I am a proud graduate of Niles City Schools and president / broker of the Association Group Insurance Agency Inc. Our agency was the agent of record for the Niles City Schools Anthem Blue Cross plan May 1, 2004, through Sept. 21, 2018, with the exception of one year in that time span.

I have read with great bewilderment how the current Niles school administration can state that the Anthem Blue Cross plan has not been shopped in the marketplace of insurance carriers in over five years. That is a false statement. Our office has shopped the Niles City Schools Anthem plan many times over the years; the latest was for the May 1, 2017, to April 30, 2018, renewal period. We have shopped the plan with Aetna, Medical Mutual of Ohio and United Healthcare. We also have discussed spousal language for the last 10 years.

United Healthcare came back to the table with the at least $310,000 savings off the Anthem Blue Cross Renewal proposal. The administration, at that time, asked our office to ask Anthem Blue Cross if they would be willing to match United Healthcare’s offer to remain with Anthem Blue Cross for another year. The feeling was it would be better for the employees of Niles City Schools to remain with Anthem Blue Cross, preventing disruption of PPO Network doctors, hospitals, providers, prescription formulary drug list, etc.

Anthem agreed to United Healthcare’s proposal and Niles City Schools remained with Anthem Blue Cross for another contract year.

Secondly, the current administration is quoted saying that Anthem Blue Cross will not offer Niles City Schools with a 4-tier premium system (i.e., employee, employee / spouse, employee / child or children and family — premium pricing schedule). This is another misstatement.

Our agency, along with Anthem Blue Cross, has provided Niles City Schools with this important information in the May 1, 2017, renewal period.

Our local agency has been in the health insurance / employee benefits profession for 35 years, since 1984. We feel what is happening at Niles City Schools lacks transparency to employees of Niles City Schools and most of all, to the taxpayers of the city of Niles.

JOHN RUBERTO

Niles

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