Health Plan Task Force http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/usenate/
Work Plan
Adopted 12/16/99

Background

The University's Health Plan Task Force (HPTF) was constituted in Fall 1997 in response to the loss of Medica Premier as an option. It was originally appointed by FCC, SCFA, and AAUP and charged with studying the long-term solutions to the health benefits crisis.

The University's health benefit package is determined by the State of Minnesota through collective bargaining between the State Department of Employee Relations and the unions representing organized employees. State statute spells out this process and gives the University the option of joining the resulting group insurance program.

The scope of the Task Force's study has gradually expanded to the point of where it is now about to embark upon an intensive investigation into the question of whether, and in what ways, the University would benefit by setting up a separate plan from the State of Minnesota for purchasing health benefits for its employees.

Purpose

The charge of the Task Force is to gather and interpret information and to present options to the University governance system and to the University administration. The Task Force has no formal authority or power, and its final report will not carry any endorsement from University organizations, unions or constituency. The Task Force's formal report, to be issued in Fall 2000, will be widely circulated to interested parties and organizations for endorsement before being sent to the University administration with recommendations.

Membership

The task force seeks to be inclusive in its membership, soliciting the voices of all employee groups and others that could potentially be affected by its recommendations. To that end, it will seek participation from all employee groups, retirees, graduate assistants and undergraduates in this process. It also seeks the active participation from key university offices, such as OHR, General Counsel, etc.

Work Plan

Consultant begins project.			Dec	1999
Consultant works on site with Task Force to conduct surveys, focus groups, and plan design development.			Jan Feb Mar	2000 2000 2000
Consultant conducts health insurance Request for Information (RFI) process.			Apr May  Jun	2000 2000 2000
RFI responses are evaluated and interviews with prospective proposers are conducted.			Jul Aug	2000 2000
Task Force report issued.			Sep	2000
Consultation with University Senate and other affected groups is conducted.			Oct	2000
If a recommendation is made by administration to separate from SEGIP, after consultation with the Task Force, Senate, and other University governance groups, then this issue will be brought to the Board of Regents for information and action. If a recommendation is made to maintain the status quo, the decision will be communicated to the affected groups, and the process will end at this point.			Nov Dec	2000 2000
Prepare communications and make changes to systems and administrative structure.			Dec	2000
	Conduct RFP process for all components of the new employee benefit plan.		Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep	2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001
	Open enrollment.		Oct Nov Dec	2001 2001 2001
Switch to new plan.			Jan	2002