Unalaska’s school board is pushing back against a proposed bill in the Alaska Legislature that would require them to give up their current health care plan and take part in a state-run plan. 

Right now, Unalaska’s teachers are in a health insurance pool with city employees. In a presentation to the board, a representative for that current health insurance pool said a state-run plan for educators would likely cost the district more, and provide fewer benefits. The district would not have any control over the cost or design of health plans.

Unalaska’s board is a part of the Alaska Association of School Boards. And the AASB is the body that’s asked the state legislature to look at insurance pools for teachers and staff. So the local board passed a resolution last night, asking the AASB to soften their stance. The resolution asks the AASB to make the state-run pool an option, instead of an across-the-board switch. Board member Dan Masoni introduced the resolution.

"We know we like what we’ve got," said Masoni. "In the 40 years I’ve been in public administration, I’ve never ever found a good way to compare insurance policies. It’s of of those things it’s one of those nuts that’s so wrapped up in legalese, and in complexity that it’s very very hard to compare apples and apples."

To that end, the board passed a second resolution asking for a study about the federal Affordable Care Act’s impact on statewide insurance pools, like the one legislature is considering.