K-12 Tax & Spending Climate: Walker's claim on health insurance savings for public schools questioned

David Wahlberg:

School districts required to offer health insurance through WEA Trust, a company created by the teachers' union, would save $68 million a year if employees could switch to the state health plan, Gov. Scott Walker said this week, repeating a claim he made last year.

"That's one of the many examples of why it's so critically important to change collective bargaining," Walker said at a news conference Monday before bringing up the issue again in his public address Tuesday.

Madison-based WEA Trust, created by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, disputes the claim. The insurer says it provides lower-cost choices, and districts can already join the state health plan.

"It's been an option for them for some time," said WEA Trust spokesman Steve Lyons.

About 65 percent of the state's school districts contract with WEA Trust, covering about 35 percent of school employees. Several large districts, including Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee, don't offer the plan.

The cost of providing WPS coverage to Madison teachers has long been controversial.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 24, 2011 1:07 AM
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