Combing Contracts: Teacher co-pay fight

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Chances are you pay more than a one percent co-pay for your health insurance. That is, unless you're a teacher in one Rhode Island town.

According to state officials, health insurance for public education workers costs taxpayers $225 million per year. To shave this price tag, the governor wants teachers to pay a 25 percent co-share across the board.

However, the Target 12 Investigators found every Rhode Island community currently falls short of that goal.

Those who work in the private sector may be surprised to learn how low co-shares are for many teachers. Not one of them reaches the governor's 25 percent co-pay proposal, and the vast majority aren't even close.

Teacher contract battles have reached the boiling point in some communities. Next to salaries, the 800 pound gorilla in the bargaining room is health insurance co-shares.

With the cost of health care rising every year, school committees want to teachers to chip in more. However, Governor Donald Carcieri has a different plan - take it off the table entirely.

His plan would create a statewide unified health care contract for teachers, requiring them to pay 25 percent of their health care premium. State number crunchers said it could save taxpayers nearly $17 million a year.

"The time at the negotiating table could be shortened and everyone can be focused on teaching and learning," said David Abbot of the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Abbot said he also feels something has to give.

"We just can't afford the level of benefits and services that we've had," he added.

A Target 12 analysis of teacher contracts shows current deals are no where near the governor's proposal. In fact, 24 out of 36 school districts have co-pays of 10 percent or less.

The most generous:

-Narragansett teachers pay only one percent of their salaries toward healthcare.

-Warwick teachers pay a flat $572 a year.

-South Kingstown teachers pay between three percent and six percent, depending on salary.

-The state's largest district, Providence, has an annual rate of $1,400 per family plan and $500 for individual plans.

Only four school districts require teachers to pay 20 percent; Barrington, Chariho, Glocester and East Providence.

The East Providence teachers' union is fighting the current contract in court. Under the old agreement, Townie teachers didn't have to pay any share if they stayed "in-network."

"Unfortunately, [the governor] used the budget crisis as an opportunity to reduce teacher rights and that’s something we absolutely oppose," said James Parisi of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers.

Parisi also said the governor's plan would hurt teachers who negotiated lower salaries in exchange for lower co-shares.

"I think each negotiation has a history that needs to be recognized and is not recognized with the governor's proposal," he said.

That was the case in Central Falls, a state-run school district that just negotiated a new contract. Even the state, though, fell far short of the 25 percent co-share deal trumpeted by the governor.

When asked how the state can demand a 25 percent co-pay when it can’t even get it in Central Falls, Abbott responded, "Central Falls, like any district, you have to look at that last negotiation and how much movement there was."

Abbott said the latest contract more than doubles the teachers co-pay from the previous deal; nine percent now, and 15 percent three years down the road.

Timothy Duffy of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees said, "Obviously anything that saves local districts money is something that we're interested in."

Duffy also said Central Falls is an example of just how difficult a fight it will be to achieve a 25 percent co-share.

"I kind of think that we probably should mirror what the state does. I think that there probably should be a sliding scale based on income," Duffy said.

The governor's plan would also mean teachers would all have the same health insurance provider. Right now, it varies by district. According to the Department of Education, buying-in-bulk would be part of the savings.

If you want to compare your school district to others, the Target 12 Investigators have combed through all the data. From salaries to sabbaticals, you can find the complete numbers break-down by clicking here .