WSU/UAW Negotiations 1/10/2024
Health Care focused discussions
WSU maintained it January 3rd wage proposal. While it has been claimed that graduate assistants may have fallen behind with respect to other employee type increases, since 2015 graduate assistant general salary increases have been the same percentage as faculty, and slightly more than administrative professional staff. The majority of today’s discussions revolved around the WSU student health insurance plan.
Student Health Insurance
The majority of today’s discussions revolved around the WSU student health insurance plan. WSU currently provides student health insurance at no cost to the Graduate Assistants. The university pays for the annual $2,850 cost of health, dental and vision insurance for these employees. The cost to the university is estimated to be approximately $4.2 million dollars for this fiscal year.
In looking at modifications to our current plan WSU has communicated the concerns several times in bargaining, that any modifications we make to the current plan which increases the cost of the plan, impacts others who must self-pay premiums. In the next plan year it is estimated that over 30% of plan participants must self-pay premiums. These individuals include international students, professional and graduate health sciences students and J1 scholars not covered as employees.
It is also important to recognize the WSU student health insurance plan has multiple components and processes outside of WSU’s immediate control.
While we have requested and are on accelerated timelines for the current plan year, (University’s student health insurance broker Brown & Brown solicited proposals in November 2023), WSU is unable to reasonably make an informed decision about carrier choice and thus associated benefits, without final quotes from all carriers.
Our current carrier has confirmed Washington state office of Insurance Commissioner requires the WSU Student Plan be renewed with experience (claims data) for the same time period each year. The plan carrier’s timeline for establishing official renewal rates is in February, which requires usage of claims data through end of January.
While WSU waits for final estimates from insurance carriers we continue to discuss options with the UAW, including offering to increase WSU’s per person spend for ASE’s premiums. Today’s proposal included the possibility of increasing the university’s premium contribution to $3,135 in 2024-2025 plan year.
Before exact benefits are determined:
- Carriers must review experience data and complete their required processes
- Carriers are to provide a final bid to the university
- The university determines carrier choice based on available options
- The university make reasonable decisions on what if any modifications to our current student health plan may be made
Below is example of health care bidding and/or renewal process as outlined by Brown & Brown.
The teams agreed to connect for additional time this coming Friday, the 12th.
Reached tentative agreement Title IX and Summer Session