Insurance Committee                                                                          September 25, 2003

 

Attendees:

 

            Tina Byford                                                    Neta Fernandez

            Diana Quintana                                               Lynford Ames

            Quentin Ford                                                  Jacky Ryberg

            Mike Levine                                                    Linda Rael

            Hilda Moya                                                    Janet May

            Joy Watkins                                                    Steve Chreist

            Anthony Moya                     

 

  1. Minutes were approved from last month.

 

  1. Discussed the NMSU Executive Summary report from Blue Cross Blue Shield which shows a 15-20% increase for retirees and a 10% increase for active NMSU employees.  The average Per Member Per Month (PMPM) claims cost through paid claims at 6/3/2003 is $147.73 (this number excludes RX).

 

  1. Discussed that health care in Las Cruces is higher than Albuquerque because we are considered a rural area.  In general, Memorial General Hospital is more expensive the Mountainview Hospital.

 

  1. Although premiums increased from $485 to $587, based on current trends, Steve Chreist predicts that the increase is going to stabilize in the future.

 

  1. Pursuing another dental plan for retirees and hope to have the plan defined for proposal by January 2004.   We did not get Delta dental because they would not offer dental insurance only Ð they required that the dental be tied to medical insurance.

 

  1. We need to continue to encourage ACAP to pursue the cost of transferring the retiree health care to the Retiree  Health Care Authority. 

 

  1. At the September ACAP meeting, they voted to pursue the implementation of a Domestic PartnersÕ policy for fringe benefits.  The University of New Mexico currently has such a policy in place.  Early estimates are that this will result in a 1% increase.  If approved, the projected effective date is in July 2004.

 

  1. Our insurance will cover dependents up to the age of 25 even if the dependent is not a student.  Blue Cross Blue Shield will notify the employee that the insurance will be canceled one month before the dependent turns 25.

 

  1. Spring 2004, we will begin evaluating vendors for new dental insurance.   NMSU        medical insurance will stay the same until 2005.