[SchoolFinance] Fwd: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)
Dhyana Blanchard
dblanchard at rsu20.org
Wed Apr 2 13:29:33 EDT 2025
RSU 20 will be bringing the option to the school board on 4/8/25
Dhyana Blanchard
On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM Field, Stacie <sfield at rsu16.org> wrote:
> Yes, we are. I am bringing options to the Board on 4/14.
>
> Stacie Field
> Business Manager
> RSU 16 - Poland, Mechanic Falls, Minot
> 207.998.2727 ext 102
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 11:50 AM Ida Simmons <isimmons at winthropschools.org>
> wrote:
>
>> 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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--
Dhyana Blanchard
Business Manager
207/548-2318 (direct dial)
207/930-0837 (cell)
RSU 20 Searsport/Stockton Springs
6 Mortland Road
Searsport, ME 04874
*"To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work." Mary Oliver*
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