[SchoolFinance] Fwd: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)
Shelley Cummings
s.cummings2 at msad17.org
Fri Apr 11 12:08:55 EDT 2025
We are asking for board approval next Thursday
On Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 11:49 AM Sherry Moody <smoody at mcst8.org> wrote:
> We plan to bring this to our Board on 4/30/25 as well.
>
> Sherry
> ----
> Sherry Moody, Business Mgr
> Mid-Coast School of Technology
> 1 Main Street
> Rockland, ME 04841
> (207) 594-2161
> www.mcst8.org
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 10:18 AM Mandy Fitzgerald <
> mandy_fitzgerald at maranacook.com> wrote:
>
>> RSU No 38 is considering it as well and bringing it to our board on
>> 5/7/25.
>> ~Mandy
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 10, 2025 at 11:04 AM Heather Reale <hreale at wocsd.org> wrote:
>>
>>> we are as well.
>>>
>>>
>>> *Heather A. Reale, MBA, Finance*
>>> Director of Finance
>>> Wells-Ogunquit Community School District
>>> hreale at wocsd.org
>>> 207-641-6909
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 1:26 PM Wendy Bradstreet <
>>> wendy.bradstreet at rsu29.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> We are considering all options at this point.
>>>> *Wendy Bradstreet*
>>>> *RSU29 Business Manager*
>>>> *PO Box 190*
>>>> *Houlton ME 04730*
>>>> *(207)538-3137*
>>>> *wendy.bradstreet at rsu29.org <wendy.bradstreet at rsu29.org>*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>> IMPORTANT/CONFIDENTIAL: This e-mail message (and any attachments
>>>>>> accompanying it) may contain confidential information, including
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>>>>>> attachments, if any.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> 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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>>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> [image: photo]
>>
>> Mandy Fitzgerald
>>
>> Finance Director at RSU No. 38
>> "A Caring School Community Dedicated To Excellence"
>>
>> 207-685-3336 x 1210
>>
>>
>> mandy_fitzgerald at maranacook.com
>>
>> 45 Millard Harrison Drive, Readfield, Maine 04355
>>
>> Finance Director at RSU No. 38
>> "A Caring School Community Dedicated To Excellence"
>>
>> 207-685-3336 x 1210
>>
>>
>> mandy_fitzgerald at maranacook.com
>>
>> 45 Millard Harrison Drive, Readfield, Maine 04355
>> This electronic message transmission contains information which may be
>> confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use
>> of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended
>> recipient, be aware that any disclosures, copying, distribution or use of
>> the contents of this information is prohibited.
>>
>> If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify
>> me by telephone (207-685-3336 x.4) or by electronic mail (
>> mandy_fitzgerald at maranacook.com <mandy_fitzgerald at maranacook.org>)
>> immediately.
>>
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