Amounts are monthly contributions.
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CLICK HERE to see the SASD schedule of benefits (PDF)
CLICK HERE to see the SASD Aetna HMO plan design (PDF)

By Dan Sokil
Staff Writer

Last month, a group of Souderton Area School District employees were voted raises by the district's school board during its Sept. 25 public meeting.

In response to a "Right to Know" request from The Reporter, the school district has provided the following information on the health benefits those employees received in the 2007-08 school year and will receive in the 2008-09 school year.

Eligible employees from the administrative, professional, custodial, secretarial and food service groups can pick their medical insurance from one of four choices: Green, Red, Blue or Aetna/HMO plans.

Under the Green Plan, for example, 100 percent of in-network and out-of-network charges are paid for by AmeriHealth, the coverage provider, for facility charges, home health care, surgery and anesthesia.

Under the Red Plan, those same costs are covered for 100 percent of cost for services provided by in-network providers, but only 80 percent of cost for out-of-network providers.

Under the Blue Plan, 90 percent of in-network costs and 70 percent of out-of-network costs are covered for those same services.

For services pertaining to mental health or substance abuse issues, 85 percent of expenses are covered under the Green Plan; 80 percent of expenses are covered under the Red Plan and 70 percent are covered under the Blue Plan.

A complete schedule of benefits, as provided by the school district, is available online at www.TheReporterOnline.com.

Of the 32 employees whose benefits were approved at the Sept. 25 meeting, 19 have chosen the Green Plan, nine have chosen the Red Plan, one has chosen the Blue Plan and one has chosen the Aetna Plan. One has chosen no plan and one has not yet started to receive benefits, according to school district data.