Center For Collaborative Solutions - CECHCR Success Stories

CECHCR's Second Opinion Success Stories

El Rancho Unified School District

Years of escalating health care costs and an approaching member renewal deadline prompted the El Rancho Unified School District to seek solutions to their fiscal challenges and reduce insurance costs. When Beverly Johnson, a labor representative from the California School Employees Association (CSEA), suggested during contract negotiations they invite representatives from CECHCR to conduct health benefits trainings for the group, new leadership at the district responded with enthusiasm. Read more.

Ukiah Unified School District

In 2012, the Ukiah Unified School District (UUSD), mirroring the state’s health care crisis, faced rising costs. As a self-insured district, it found itself under-reserved and concerned about not having enough money to pay its claims. With the guidance and assistance of the California Education Coalition for Health Care Reform (CECHCR), Ukiah Unified succeeded in eliminating a $1 million fund shortage, generated a $600,000 surplus, and moved in a better direction to avoid future risk and costs. Employees benefited through richer benefits and smaller premiums. Read more.

Newhall School District

Thanks to recent changes at Newhall School District (NSD), most employees will be paying about $1,500 less in health insurance costs this coming year. This is part of the health savings NSD achieved after teaming up with CECHCR. When NSD turned to CECHCR’s Second Opinion Program to evaluate its health benefits, it discovered that the district was paying too much for its broker-managed health insurance. CECHCR helped stop the district from overpaying by identifying immediate and sustainable solutions, and guided their move to a better program. Read more.

Moreno Valley Unified School District

Over the last several years, school districts like Moreno Valley Unified, weighed down by skyrocketing healthcare costs and the state budget crisis, found it increasingly difficult to maintain financial stability. In 2009 and 2010, the situation quickly got worse when MVUSD’s premium increased 16 and 21 percent. Despite these premium increases, due to excessive claims experience, the self-insured district depleted their reserve and employees were left to absorb the extra costs through additional furlough days.
Through enlisting the help of the CECHCR Second Opinion Program, today MVUSD has weathered the impact of rising costs, eliminated risk and achieved long-term savings and financial stability through planning, collaboration and significantly decreased health care costs. Read more.

Greenfield Union School District

In 2012, mirroring rising healthcare costs across the state’s education sector, Greenfield Union School District of Monterey County was faced with a 17 percent increase in their healthcare premiums. At the same time, the district was not getting the service they wanted from their healthcare program.
By enlisting the help of CECHCR's Second Opinion Program and being committed to finding a better solution, Greenfield Union School District and its employees saved approximately $840,000 in healthcare costs and found a program that offered better benefits at a lower cost. Read more.

Montebello Unified School District

When the Montebello Unified School District was faced with a 30 percent increase to their health insurance plan, CECHCR Consultants John Glynn and Mark Lowenthal of J. Glynn & Co. assisted their insurance committee through a “second opinion” process—funded by CTA and CSEA—that helped avert the crisis and move members to a new plan. Described as a “tide turn” for the District, this joint effort between management and labor—promoted by CECHCR—resulted in a combined savings of approximately $11.5 million for 2010, now up to $14 million in 2011. Implementing the change for 3,000 employees quickly due to an approaching member renewal deadline presented a challenge that required a true team effort. Read More.

Oakley Union Elementary School District

Many districts, after negotiating and completing their health insurance broker contracts, file the contracts away and leave them to collect dust. One Northern California school district realized significant cost savings by revisiting its contact and utilizing tips and strategies provided by a series of Health Benefits Trainings, offered free to districts by the California Education Coalition for Health Care Reform. Read more.