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District Dumps Union Insurance, Saves $450K and Pays 100% of Health Care

Dansville switches from MESSA

… Special Services Association (MESSA), which is an affiliate of … 2012-13. A spokesman for MESSA said he thinks the district … and government relations for MESSA. "This district has taken on … predict they will be back with MESSA soon." However, not everyone … cheapest, best insurance." MESSA has long been the favored insured … more

Dropping Union Health Insurance Saves District $737K

MESSA revenue drops $190 million

… according to the superintendent. MESSA is a third-party administrator … would have paid had it kept MESSA. She said the employees do … visits. Dansville dropped MESSA in 2011-12. Because of a 2011 … schools could spend on it, MESSA has seen its program revenue … documents filed with the IRS. MESSA’s program revenues have dropped … more

In Pontiac, MEA Local Raises $12K For School Supplies While Union Health Insurance Arm Sues District for $7.8 Million

Union affiliated MESSA got $7.8M judgment against Pontiac School District

… Special Services Association (MESSA) is a third-party administrator … according to the Oakland Press. MESSA's trustees all have direct ties … health insurance bill and MESSA has to sue them to get their … getting rid of the top-tier MESSA insurance and finding less … that by dumping a top-tier MESSA program and getting a less … more

Most Michigan Schools Surveyed Still Buying Union’s Costlier Health Insurance

After a five-year pause, costs again on the rise

… Association, a teachers union. MESSA administers insurance benefits … including Blue Cross Blue Shield. MESSA costs districts about 10 to 12 percent more than non-MESSA coverage, according to an analysis … districts buying insurance from MESSA was largely unchanged between … premiums indicates that the non-MESSA individual health plan costs … more

Mackinac Center awarded $77K for reporting that MEA improperly took COVID-19 relief money

MEA and MESSA improperly took $12.5 million in COVID relief money through Paycheck Protection Program

… the MEA or 501(c)(9) nonprofits like MESSA. But both organizations sought and … anyway. In April 2020, the MEA and MESSA both applied for PPP funding. The MEA received $6.4 million while MESSA received $6.1 million, for a total … its action because when the MEA and MESSA took the funds, that denied other … more

Teachers Choose Union Health Plan, Now Pay Up To 37.5 Percent Of Premiums

Dearborn Heights teachers choose MESSA

… to keep the more expensive MESSA health care plan. Bartold said … of their health care costs. MESSA is a third-party administrator … the teachers wanted to keep MESSA and pay the higher contribution … to keep the more expensive MESSA plan and pay between 32.5 and … insurance carriers, Bartold said. MESSA cost taxpayers in the district … more

High Costs Force School District to Drop Union-Connected Health Plan

Ravenna union prez: '[MESSA] had no competition before ... now they are forced to compete and it is good'

… teachers union voted to drop MESSA for a less expensive insurance plan. MESSA, for the first time, began … also reportedly abandoned MESSA, which is affiliated with the … percent of the districts have MESSA, a third-party administrator … insurance business, so to speak. "MESSA had no competition," he continued. … more

School District Saves By Dumping Expensive Union Insurance Plan

Dansville district saved $250,000 after getting rid of MEA-affiliated MESSA plan

… switched from the top-tier MESSA insurance plan to a high deductible plan … by ditching the high-priced MESSA plan that as many as 80 percent … Michigan carried at one time. MESSA is a third-party administrator … percent since it switched from MESSA to a cheaper plan. Alternatively, … chose to pay more to keep MESSA. Other Dearborn Heights employees … more

Teachers Union Health Insurer Paying Big Raises

… over the past few years. MESSA is a not-for-profit third-party … union. Cynthia Williams, MESSA’s executive director, received … information was taken from MESSA’s filings with the Internal … available. Richard Ringstrom, MESSA’s marketing and product development … $208,283 in 2009. Frank Musto, MESSA’s director of field services, … more

MEA Demands Immediate Health Insurance Payment From School District In Serious Debt

Judge ruled Pontiac School District has 10 years to pay off $7.8 million

… is demanding full payment to MESSA. MESSA is a third-party administrator … districts in the state.  MESSA has said it will end its health … Township. But continuing with MESSA, which is considered an expensive … switching from the top-tier MESSA plan to a high-deductible plan … more

Legislators Link Common-Sense Reforms to Tax Hikes

Focus is on state employee benefits

… that essentially deal with MESSA, the health insurance administration … supplies mandatory competition to MESSA, which currently holds health … addition, the bills require MESSA to furnish a district with … aggregate claims history under MESSA insurance plans. Release of … data was bitterly opposed by MESSA and the MEA, but other health … more

Michigan Public School Health Insurance Costs Soar Above National Trends

… employee groups (most often teachers). MESSA's average premium increase this year … pay for 1,800 full-time teachers. MESSA is also sitting on about $260 million … disparity between national trends and MESSA. One is that MESSA only offers districts a choice between … more

Teachers Union Insurer Sells Coverage For Some Nonunion Staff, But Not These Two

‘They are making an example out of us’

… through a subsidiary called MESSA. They say also that the union … superintendent on Aug. 27 that MESSA would not renew their coverage. … nonunion employees were offered MESSA insurance, but they never got … quality health coverage through MESSA. When a group of MEA members … MEA membership, including MESSA coverage.” “No one would expect … more

MEA Ignores Reality In Complaints About Health Care Cost Increases

Union-backed health plan far more expensive than most other plans

… done. Ravenna’s teachers voted to switch from the MESSA Choices II plan to a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan with … insurance for its employees. By switching out of MESSA, the costs for a full-family plan went from $18,000 with MESSA to $14,900 for the new insurance, Van Loon said. … more

Recaps of New Teachers Union Contracts

… expensive plan sold by the MEA union's MESSA arm — to a slightly less generous … to one administered by the union's MESSA arm. For the first time, teachers … change health insurance plans from MESSA to a competitor (HealthPlus) — a move … switched from Physicians Health Plan to MESSA. Teachers will receive a 0.5 percent … more

School District Could Buy Laptop For Every Student If Teachers Paid Private-Sector Average For Health Care

East Grand Rapids technology plan could be funded with help from new state law

… costs for its employees as long as MESSA insurance rates don’t increase higher … amount. In 2011-12, the contract states if MESSA rates increase by 6 percent or more, … insurance services and have received bids. MESSA, considered the Cadillac of health … expensive health care plan other than MESSA, the savings would be even more. … more

Teacher Pay Hikes Happen Despite Expired Union Contract

… district paid $1,325 a month for employees in the MESSA Choices II family plan. A Mackinac Center survey … most popular plan for teachers in district. The MESSA plan is affiliated with the Michigan Education … Family Foundation survey. And for fiscal 2009-10, MESSA premiums increased by 13 percent. “The school … more

Are Teachers Not 'Treated With Respect' by Taxpayers?

… percent of the premium for teachers who choose the MESSA Choices II health care plan. Private-sector employees … percent of the premium for teachers who select the MESSA Choices II health care plan. (The district does … health care premiums for teachers who select the MESSA Choices II health care plan. A teacher with 25 … more

Teacher Pay Hikes Happen Despite Expired Union Contract

… district paid $1,325 a month for employees in the MESSA Choices II family plan. A Mackinac Center survey … most popular plan for teachers in district. The MESSA plan is affiliated with the Michigan Education … Family Foundation survey. And for fiscal 2009-10, MESSA premiums increased by 13 percent. “The school … more