To view more information about DSST benefits update go to https://tinyurl.com/DSST-Benefits

DSST Team--

I am reaching out to share information around DSST benefits offerings for the 2019-2020 school year. As you may know, DSST negotiates our health care coverage on an annual basis.  Unfortunately, again this year, we were faced with significant increases in cost to maintain our current carrier, Kaiser. On top of that, we had quite a bit of negative feedback on Kaiser overall throughout this past year.  Facing a terrible choice to either increase the cost of health care premiums or ask team members to switch providers for a second year in a row, we decided to seek input from you.

I want to thank all of the employees that responded to our request for feedback around how our current benefits are meeting their needs & the needs of their families. From that feedback, we heard the following:

• The importance of keeping costs low;
• The need for increased flexibility so DSST team members can choose the doctor/specialist they or their loved one needs (nearly half of respondents said Kaiser was not meeting their/their families needs);
• Praise for some of the benefits of the Kaiser model (online tools, ability to message your doctor, accessibility, and integrated care) that work for our community; and
• Concerns about disruption caused by ongoing changes.

I recognize that the prospect of switching health care providers again this year is incredibly difficult--and asking a lot.  We know that so many of you spent considerable time and energy last year learning new Kaiser systems, finding doctors, and moving your prescriptions. There is no question that switching providers is, at the least, inconvenient for everyone.  

However, for some members of our team, the concerns went well beyond convenience. Some of our team members simply did not ever find the level of care they needed with Kaiser. Continuing with medical coverage that does not meet the needs of our entire team is unacceptable--and just not who we are as a DSST community.  After reviewing the feedback, we believe we can better meet the needs of our team with an improved Aetna plan.

DSST will transition our medical, dental, and vision benefits back to Aetna beginning July 1, 2019. Please accept, in advance, our sincere apologies for the incredible disruption and inconvenience this change may cause you and your family.  

We are deeply committed to providing individualized support in hopes of reducing the burden of this change. We are particularly focused on personally supporting any team member who has an upcoming procedure, treatment or hospitalization in the next five months.  We are already working with Kaiser to ensure the extension of coverage in these circumstances. Please schedule, at your convenience, a one-on-one discussion to provide you and your family with personalized support (click here to sign up for a time). (We heard your feedback from last year that scheduling specific appointment times is easier than standing in line during office hours.)

We are also working with Aetna to provide the type of supports that employees told us they most valued under the Kaiser model, including robust electronic communication with medical professionals, access to medical facilities with an integrated care model, and a robust web platform. You will see new features in the Aetna plan that includes Teladoc, a 24/7 Nurse Line and a concierge service, all designed to specifically meet the needs of educators who have limited daytime flexibility.

We are also pleased to introduce a handful of new and improved benefits this year including financial wellness support, increased dental benefits, increased EAP support and increased life insurance coverage.  And, for the fifth year in a row, we are pleased to say that your cost for health insurance will remain unchanged--and in some cases, decrease slightly.

All employees will be asked to participate in our benefits open enrollment between May 6th and May 31st (new benefits will begin on July 1, 2019).  All of the details for this transition are on our new DSST Benefits Website.

Last, I want you to know that DSST is finished with this annual health care roller coaster. Our team is planning long term for a fundamentally different health insurance funding model that will not leave us at the mercy of health care providers--but instead, will allow us to stay in the driver’s seat to manage both affordability and consistency of care.  

Again, we know that this transition will not be easy but we are here to support you every step of the way.  

Thank you for your extraordinary patience.

Christine