FILE:  EGA

Cf:  BBBE, GBRIB

STAFF INSURANCE COVERAGES

HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall contract with a health care provider for health, hospitalization, and life insurance benefits for its eligible employees, retirees, and/or their spouses and children.  The School Board may pay any portion of an employee, dependent, spouse, or retiree's premium it so designates.

Retiree Eligibility for Health and Life Insurance Coverage

Retirees are eligible for health and life benefits, subject to a vesting period, if the retiree was a covered employee immediately prior to the date of retirement.  Benefits for an employee retiring will continue automatically unless action is taken by the retiree; however, only those benefits applying to retirees will continue.  Retirees may continue coverage for health, vision, dental and dependent life.  Benefits that cannot be continued are supplemental life and voluntary AD&D, short-term and long-term disability and participation in flexible spending accounts.

Retiree Vesting for Health Insurance

Retirees are eligible for health and life benefits subject to a vesting period as provided below.  Benefits for an employee retiring will continue automatically unless action is taken by the retiree; however, only those benefits applying to retirees will continue.  Retirees may continue coverage for health, vision, dental and dependent life.  Benefits that cannot be continued are supplemental life and voluntary AD&D, short-term and long-term disability and participation in flexible spending accounts.

Retiree Vesting for Health Insurance

For all employees hired or rehired after 09/16/04, the vesting policy for retirees would apply.  Any employee hired or rehired after January 1, 2021 (01/01/21) who subsequently retirees with ten (10) or less years of continuous service after 01/01/21 without break with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System would have to pay 100% of the cost of their benefits.  For the tenth through fifteenth years of continuous service after 01/01/21, the school system would pay 30% of the EMPLOYER portion.  For the fifteenth through twentieth years of continuous service after 01/01/21, the school system would pay 60% of the EMPLOYER portion.  For employees with twenty or more years of continuous service after 01/01/21, but less than fifty-five (55) years of age at time of retirement, the school system would pay 80% of the EMPLOYER portion.  For employees with twenty or more years of continuous service after 01/01/21, but are a minimum of fifty-five (55) years of age at time of retirement, the school system would pay 100% of the EMPLOYER portion.  The retiree would be responsible for their regular portion and that part of the employer portion not paid each year.  NO CREDIT IS GIVEN FOR SERVICE PRIOR TO 01/01/21 (for employees hired/re-hired after 01/01/21, and service after 01/01/21 must be continuous without interruption.

Summary:

Special Rule for Retirees Dropping Coverage

A retiree declining coverage under the EBRPSS health plan shall not be allowed to return to the plan at any time in the future.  Careful consideration to possible future circumstances should be given prior to a retiree dropping out of the EBRPSS plan.  A retiree may make changes (add/drop spouse, add/drop dental, vision, dependent life) each year during the annual enrollment or during a Special Enrollment Period (see above).  A retiree dropping out of the EBRPSS plan altogether shall not be allowed back in the plan.

Retiree Vesting for Life Insurance

For any employee hired after September 16, 2004 who subsequently retires from the school system, vesting for life insurance benefits shall apply in accordance with the schedule below.  The School Board shall continue to pay 100% of the premium cost for this plan.

Life Insurance Vesting Schedule:

(All years of service must be continuous without break after 9/16/04).

This vesting schedule only affects those employees hired after September 16, 2004.  NO CREDIT IS GIVEN FOR SERVICE PRIOR TO 9/16/04 (for employees hired/re-hired after 9/16/04), and service after 9/16/04 must be continuous without interruption.  Those retiring with a hire date prior to 9/16/04 will receive the full Basic Life benefit (1.5 times salary at the time of retirement).

Example:

Retiree Salary $35,000

Basic Life Benefit $52,500

Retiring With:

NOTES: The Basic Life benefit is capped at $50,000 for employees hired after 6/30/02; and the vesting schedule will be applied to the basic life benefit in effect.  Also, the life benefit decreases to $7,500 at age 70; and the vesting schedule will be applied to the reduced benefit.

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

The School Board shall use the reimbursing employer method of participating in financing the School Board's share of unemployment compensation as permitted by state law.

AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY INSURANCE

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall require personnel within the school district, who use their own vehicles while on official school business during the course of their employment, to carry automobile liability insurance.  The amount of coverage shall be at least that required by state law or a minimum which may be set by the School Board.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:1201, 17:1233, 23:1034, 23:1081, 23:1472, 32:861, 32:862, 32:863, 32:864, 32:865, 32:900, 42:821, 42:851

Israel v. Gray Ins. Co., 720 So.2d 803 (98-525 La. App. 3 Cir. 10/28/98)

Board minutes, 6-28-01, 9-21-04, 11-21-13, 11-19-20

East Baton Rouge Parish School Board