[SchoolFinance] Fwd: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)
Joy Duncan
jduncan at sad42.us
Fri Apr 11 14:10:54 EDT 2025
We are going private as well but through United Insurance and using
Guardian as well.
Does anyone know what happens to the $$’s from the first quarter if you opt
for the private plan? Do we just lose that money?
Joy
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
>>>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/49+Community+Drive+%0D%0A+Augusta,+ME%C2%A0+04330?entry=gmail&source=g>*
>>>>>
>>>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/49+Community+Drive+%0D%0A+Augusta,+ME%C2%A0+04330?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>>>>
>>>>> *Augusta, ME 04330
>>>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/49+Community+Drive+%0D%0A+Augusta,+ME%C2%A0+04330?entry=gmail&source=g>*
>>>>>
>>>>> *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
>>>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/49+Community+Drive+%0D%0AAugusta,+ME+04330?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>>>> Augusta, ME 04330
>>>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/49+Community+Drive+%0D%0AAugusta,+ME+04330?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>>>> 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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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> 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
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/45+Millard+Harrison+Drive,+Readfield,+Maine+04355?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> 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
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/45+Millard+Harrison+Drive,+Readfield,+Maine+04355?entry=gmail&source=g>
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