Health Benefits
Our mission is to use our expertise and buying power to provide the best available employee health benefits programs to member districts and their employees. Partnering with ASCIP keeps administrative costs down, reduces cost fluctuations over time and makes benefits budgeting more manageable.
At ASCIP, we understand the challenges California schools face providing comprehensive health coverage to their employees. In response, we have developed a unique funding approach that can provide significant financial benefits to our member districts. The unique feature of the ASCIP self-funded program is its ability to set minimum and maximum rate changes each year based on the experience of all participating groups combined. Initial rates for member groups entering the pool are based on the unique risk characteristics of their employee population. Renewals in subsequent years are based on each district’s claims trends blended with the trends of the ASCIP pool in total, and will fall within the minimum and maximum rate changes set by ASCIP. ASCIP’s shared-risk underwriting model is unique in the industry. While many purchasing pools offer one-size-fits-all rates that do not allow the sharing of claims information, ASCIP believes in rewarding districts whose claims trends are below predicted levels, as well as in sharing claims information that can be used to shop and price compare as necessary.
Plans Offered:
ASCIP offers a variety of plan and carrier options in the following areas:
- Medical Plans
- Dental Plans
- Vision Plans
- Life & Disability Plans
- Long Term Care
- Social Security Alternative Plans
Medical Plans
ASCIP offers Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) medical plans, each of which feature a variety of plan design options. The PPO plans allow districts to take advantage of ASCIP’s unique pricing features and provide employees with the greatest choice in medical care providers. The HMO plans allow districts to offer employees a health plan option with lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs, but with less flexibility in choosing a provider.
Plan OfferingsDental Plans
ASCIP offers both Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO) plans, each of which feature a number of plan design options. The PPO plans allow districts to take advantage of ASCIP’s unique pricing features while providing employees with the greatest choice in dental care providers. The DMO plans allow districts to offer employees a dental plan option with lower out-of-pocket costs but with less flexibility in choosing providers.
Vision Plans
ASCIP offers member districts vision coverage through a top rated carrier with a large network of vision care providers. Multiple plans are available to allow member groups to choose the most appropriate balance of benefits and cost. While plan participants can access services via any licensed eye care professional, using network providers will typically reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Life & Disability Plans
ASCIP offers employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance through top rated insurance providers that are evaluated on a regular basis to ensure the best plans available are being offered. As with the other benefit offerings, ASCIP’s life and AD&D programs are negotiated and renewed by leveraging the buying power of all member groups combined, resulting in lower administrative costs and greater premium stability. Evidence of good health is required for coverage amounts in excess of the standard offering, as outlined on the tabs located in the back pocket of this brochure.
Several levels of employee-paid supplemental life insurance are available to member districts interested in offering additional coverage. Rates are based on the age of the covered individual, and evidence of good health may be required for higher amounts.
Long Term Care
Long Term Care (LTC) insurance allows employees to protect their savings and other assets in the event that they require nursing home or home health care. Covered individuals qualify for benefits when they need assistance with two or more activities of daily living or have cognitive impairment. Once qualified, there is never a need to submit a record of expenses; benefits can be used to pay for any expenses the family decides are most important. Home care is provided by a professional caregiver through a home health care agency. Employees also have the option to elect a home care benefit which covers informal care by immediate family members, along with community based care.
Social Security Alternative Plans
ASCIP offers two alternative retirement program options to districts for part-time, temporary and seasonal (PTS) employees who are not eligible for PERS or STRS. Member districts may choose between a defined contribution plan and a defined benefit plan. Both plans are designed to meet the 1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA 1990) changes requiring employers provide to PTS employees access to either Social Security or an approved alternative plan.
COBRA & Retiree Billing
We’re happy to announce the addition of COBRA and Retiree Billing administration to the suite of products and services offered through ASCIP. As you may know, COBRA and Retiree Billing administration is complex and cumbersome, and accidental non-compliance can result in substantial penalties. In response, ASCIP has negotiated reduced fees with a highly regarded third party administrator who’s an expert in these areas. The fees are discounted further based on your district’s participation in ASCIP’s Health Benefits programs.
Interested in reducing the burden on your benefits staff? Simply contact ASCIP Health Benefits at (562) 404-8029 for details.
Additional Services
Claims Concierge Services
ASCIP offers a unique service to help medical care consumers access the information needed to make educated and informed decisions about their medical care.
How does it work? Simply call the number on the wallet card provided and an assigned Health Pro will determine how much a medication or medical service will cost before any treatment has been rendered. Since provider charges can vary significantly from one facility to another for the same medical care and quality, this service provides you cost options before the treatment is rendered, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars. This program makes your health plan work better in other ways too:
Go to great doctors with a personalized recommendation. Your assigned Health Pro will research your area and network to find the best doctors and office staff based on rigorous quality metrics and your personal preferences. Take the guesswork out of finding a physician.
Get faster answers about your health insurance coverage. Your Health Pro is an expert on the ins and outs of your health insurance –they can help with things like explaining insurance paperwork, finding and resolving billing errors, and explaining how your share of cost was calculated. A few minutes with them could save you hours of phone calls and frustration. This program is discounted or free based on your participation in ASCIP’s medical plans. Contact ASCIP Health Benefits at (562) 404-8029 or hb_info@ascip.org for more information.
Carrier Websites
Rate Change History
Plan Type | Carrier(s) | Rate Change Range - Effective 10/1/2014 | Rate Change Range - Effective 10/1/2015 | Rate Change Range - Effective 10/1/2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical PPO | Anthem & Blue Shield | 2% to 6% | 0% to 6% | -2% to 6% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 9%* | 6.1% | 4.9% | |
| Medical HMO | Anthem & Blue Shield | 2% to 6% | 0% to 6% | -2% to 6% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 9%* | 6.1% | 4.9% | |
| Kaiser | 1.4% | 3% | 3.2% | |
| Dental PPO | Delta Dental | 0% to 6% | -3% to 2% | -3% to 3% |
| Dental HMO | DeltaCare | 0.6% | 0% | 0% |
| Vision PPO | VSP | 0% to 4% | -2% to 2% | -2% to 3% |
| Life | VOYA | 0% | 0% | 0% |