[SchoolFinance] Fwd: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)

[Ida Simmons]

Is anyone considering this plan?

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: MSMA <MSMA at msmaweb.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Subject: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from
the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)
To:


*Maine School Management Association*

*49 Community Drive*

*Augusta, ME  04330*

*800-660-8484*





*TO:                        Superintendents of Schools and Business
Managers*



*FROM:                 Steven Bailey, Executive Director*



*DATE:                  April 1, 2025*



*RE:                        IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA:  Private Maine
PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT)   (OTHER
DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)*



*As the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) communicated in the fall of 2024,
MSMA GIT launched a project to sponsor a private Paid Family and Medical
Leave (PFML) plan to be made available to Maine public school districts.
Unfortunately, the project was delayed for almost two months due to
restrictions imposed on the insurance carriers by the Maine Bureau of
Insurance.*



*After undergoing a full RFP process including finalist interviews, the
trustees for the MSMA GIT have selected the Guardian as the carrier to
offer a private Maine PFML plan to Maine’s public school districts
sponsored by MSMA GIT.   *



*Due to the PFML regulations released by the Maine DOL, MSMA GIT is unable
to be named the policyholder of a private Maine PFML plan but is able to
secure competitive pricing based on a block purchase.   As a result, each
school district would have their own private PFML policy with the Guardian
but still receive all of the advantages of being affiliated with the MSMA
GIT.*



*The advantages of a private PFML plan through the MSMA GIT include:*

   - *Rate below the State rate**
   - *No requirement to have another line of insurance coverage with MSMA
   GIT  *
   - *Guardian national account team for all MSMA participating districts*
   - *Access to resources at MSMA including the superb support of Wendy
   Douglas, Client Services Manager at MSMA, to help with any issues that
   arise.   Wendy will be supporting the new PFML plan as she does now for the
   current GIT dental, life, and disability plans.*



*This is in addition to the potential for savings of 13 months of
contributions to the State plan**.   Here is a **link*
<https://5il.co/3c8kc>* to a calculator to estimate the potential savings,
assuming an exemption from contributions to the State is effective April 1,
2025.*



*After receiving your census in November, MSMA was informed that school
districts who share an FEIN with a municipality cannot separately choose to
participate in a private PFML plan as all employees under the same FEIN
must be covered under the same plan, either the State plan or a private
PFML plan.   Since municipalities are not eligible to participate in MSMA’s
GIT plans and we didn’t know if your district had a separate FEIN, your
census was not included with the RFP sent in November to the insurance
carriers.*



*Assuming there is no Material and Substantial differences in the risk from
other districts as represented by your district’s census, the Guardian is
offering a rate of .88% or .98% for* *a private PFML plan through MSMA GIT
for Maine’s public school districts.   *



*If your district has a separate FEIN from your municipality and you would
like to know if your district is eligible for the .88% or .98% rate**,
please contact Wendy Douglas at **WDouglas at msmaweb.com*
<WDouglas at msmaweb.com>*.   The rate will be guaranteed until April 1, 2028,
assuming no Material and Substantial change in the risk, which is standard
language in insurance proposals.*



*Additional information:*

   - *MSMA will be offering a webinar at 9 am on April 9, 2025** to provide
   additional information about the plan, its implementation, and answer
   participants’ questions.    A separate communication with webinar details
   will be forthcoming.*
   - *May 31, 2025 is the deadline for filing an application online with
   the DOL for a private plan substitution in order to be exempted from paying
   into the State program effective April 1, 2025.*
   - *The Guardian has a very simple process for providing the
   documentation needed to submit an application for a private plan
   substitution with the DOL.*



** Please note, for districts with less than 15 employees under one FEIN,
the Guardian rate will be higher than the State rate so the State plan will
likely be a preferable option.*







Maine School Management Association
49 Community Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
Direct Line 207-622-3473
Fax 207-626-2968
www.msmaweb.com

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-- 
Ida Simmons
Finance Specialist
Winthrop Public Schools
207-377-2296 x 2003

*Please note my new work schedule effective September 6, 2024:*
*Monday - Thursday Office Hours 6am - 2pm*
*Friday - Remote 6am - 2pm*
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