Teachers' insurance targeted for budget

JS Online: Teachers' insurance targeted for budget:

"In general, teachers now have health insurance that is much better than most workers, with many teachers' plans calling for little, if any, out-of-pocket spending and offering wider ranges of coverage than those offered to workers in other occupations.

But backers of the idea of switching teachers to the state health system - which generally costs much less per person - say the state plan is also a good plan, although it is more restrictive and involves more out-of-pocket expense. 'Most people would be tickled pink to have the plan that is offered by the state,' Gard said.

Ken Cole, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, spoke positively of the idea of switching teachers to the state plan, calling it 'a concrete way of saving school districts in the state a lot of money . . . yet it provides solid benefits for teachers, just as it does for legislators and state employees.' Cole said the alternative to such a change would likely be continued reductions in staff, programs and transportation services.

On the other hand, Alan Jacobs, executive director of the Wisconsin Education Association Trust, the union-affiliated health insurance plan that holds contracts for health plans in 78% of the state's school districts, said teachers greatly value the health insurance they have now and often have shown they would trade pay raises to keep such plans."

When teachers start acting like the Professionals they claim they are (and I agree, they should be Professionals, and many are) and openly criticize the union that represents them, they will see more support from taxpayers who are tired of hearing how bad things are for them.

While teachers do not receive the highest annual salary (although it's arguably comparable on a pro-rated basis), the combined compensation package with insurance and pension is very competitive with similar skilled professions. Add to that, the security of union protection which makes it virtually impossible to be fired, and you have a pretty nice job.

With the increases in insurance to private employers making it harder to keep out of pocket costs low for their employees (my employer faces between a 34 & 37% increase this year), it's no wonder teachers are willing to "trade pay raises to keep such plans". After all, no one said teachers were dumb.