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By SHARON KILPATRICK
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
The Rappahannock School Board received information on health insurance coverage available for employees next year, and the news wasn’t good.
Two plans will be available through the state. Interestingly, the less expensive option is called the “comprehensive plan.” Under it premiums for a single subscriber would be $131 per month or $1,572 per year, an increase of 12 percent over the single subscriber rate in the current health insurance plan.
The rate for a subscriber and one minor or spouse would be $262 per month or $3,144 per year, an increase of 50 percent over the current plan, and the rate for a subscriber and family would be $367 per month or $4,404 per year, a 20 percent increase over the current plan.
Superintendent David Gangel told the board at its meeting Tuesday night, “The comprehensive plan is comparable to the plan we currently haVe, but not as good." The cost for the “basic plan,” which he said is “better than the plan we currently have,” would be $166 for a single subscriber, a 30 percent increase, $326 for a subscriber plus one, an increase of 87 percent, and $456 for family coverage, an increase of 49 percent.
Actually, these rates are slightly lower than rates which County Administrator John McCarthy said would be available under the state plan for county employees for the coming year, but for county employees, the rates are lower than those of their current plan.
The county is currently contributing $128.80 per month for employees participating in the health insurance plan. This covers almost 77 percent of their $168 per month single subscriber premium. The school system is paying $77 per month for the employees participating in the health insurance plan, and this covers almost 66 percent of a single subscriber’s premium.
Under the school budget submitted by the School Board to the supervisors, the amount contributed towards employees health insurance is due to rise 10 percent to $84.79 per employee, but with rates rising at least 12 percent for the less expensive plan, the coverage would drop to 64.5 percent of a single subscriber’s cost.
Mr. McCarthy, on the other hand, is requesting thal the county fund 100 percent of the cost of a single subSee
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92.8%