Another Hike For Elmhurst D205 Insurance

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 on Tuesday signed off on another increase in health and dental insurance premiums.

The latest hike is 8 percent, which follows the 5 percent and 37 percent increases in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

According to a district memo, Tuesday's increase is below the industry trend of 11 percent.

At a school board meeting, members unanimously approved a new health and dental insurance agreement. Member Courtenae Trautmann was absent.

Before the meeting, members of the district's insurance committee, consisting of officials and employee representatives, all supported the plan.

The agreement eliminates coverage of GLP-1, an increasingly popular weight-loss drug, for certain insurance plans. Last year, officials said the drug was fueling insurance cost increases. Many school systems don't cover it.

The pact also removes future mandatory wellness screenings, ends retiree dental benefits for those eligible for state plans and increases deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for a particular plan.

Dental premium costs are slated to rise 12 percent for a second year.

Board President Athena Arvanitis, an insurance committee member, said she was "super pleased" with the outcome. The goal, she said, was to maintain attractive benefits.

Benefits make up 13 percent of the district's budget.