[SchoolFinance] Fwd: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)
Heather Reale
hreale at wocsd.org
Fri Apr 11 16:55:25 EDT 2025
So you did not go with MSMA? What made you go a different route?
*Heather A. Reale, MBA, Finance*
Director of Finance
Wells-Ogunquit Community School District
hreale at wocsd.org
207-641-6909
On Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM Zak Harding <
zachary_harding at yarmouthschools.org> wrote:
> Hi,
> Yarmouth provided an initial census nto MSMA but we are municipal and
> share an EIN with the Town. We have sent in our application with the Town
> for a private plan with The Standard.
>
> Zak
>
> 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
>>>>>>> information protected by client privilege. The information is intended only
>>>>>>> for the use of the intended recipients(s). Delivery of this message to
>>>>>>> anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is not intended to waive any
>>>>>>> privilege or otherwise detract from the confidentiality of the message. If
>>>>>>> you are not the intended recipient, or if this message has been addressed
>>>>>>> to you in error, do not read, disclose, reproduce, distribute, disseminate
>>>>>>> or otherwise use this transmission, rather, please promptly notify the
>>>>>>> sender by reply e-mail, and then destroy all copies of the message and its
>>>>>>> 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*
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> SchoolFinance mailing list
>>>>>>> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
>>>>>>> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> SchoolFinance mailing list
>>>>>> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
>>>>>> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> SchoolFinance mailing list
>>>>> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
>>>>> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> SchoolFinance mailing list
>>>> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
>>>> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> [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.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> SchoolFinance mailing list
>>> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
>>> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> SchoolFinance mailing list
>> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
>> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
>
>
>
> --
> Zak Harding
> Director of Business Services
> Yarmouth School Department
> zak_harding at yarmouthschools.org
> 207-846-5586
> _______________________________________________
> SchoolFinance mailing list
> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://maillist.informe.org/pipermail/schoolfinance/attachments/20250411/59ced5c0/attachment-0001.htm>
More information about the SchoolFinance
mailing list