WMUR’S ALANNA FLOOD IS LIVE IN STUDIO WITH A LOOK AT HOW THIS IS IMPACING TEACHERS — AND DISTRICTS. MIKE – WE HEARD FROM CONCORD AND LEBANON. CONCORD SAYS THEY HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST TWO MILLION DOLLARS AND LEBANON – MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS. ALMOST 90 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TOWNS WILL BE ASKED TO PAY MORE MONEY NOW THAT SCHOOLCARE – A NON PROFIT THAT PROVIDES EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS – FINDS ITS RESERVES RUNNING LOW. THE CONCORD SCHOOL DISTRICT ESTIMATES THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 2 MILLION DOLLARS. WHILE THE LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SAID THEIR ASSESSMENT IS ONE MILLION… THIRTY THREE THOUSAND.. TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN DOLLARS. PAMELA WALSH – PRESIDENT OF THE CONCORD BOARD OF EDUCATION SAID THEY LEARNED OF THE EXPENSE LAST WEEK. IN A STATEMENT, SCHOOLCARE SAID DISTRICTS WILL BE ASKED FOR MORE MONEY TO QUOTE: ….TO ADDRESS A SHORTFALL IN RESERVES CAUSED BY HIGHER-THAN- EXPECTED MEDICAL AND PHARMACY CLAIMS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND PROJECTED TO CONTINUE IN 2026. LEBANON SAYS THEY PLAN TO PAY WITH A COMBINATION OF FUNDS FROM THE CURRENT BUDGET AND THE DISTRICT’S BALANCE. THE DISTRICT ADDS THAT IT WILL QUOTE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE STATE TO FULFILL ITS CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SCHOOL FUNDING. FOR CONCERNED EMPLOYEES… THE LEBANON DISTRICT ASSURES EMPLOYEES COVERED UNDER A SCHOOLCARE PLAN WILL NOT EXPERIENCE ISSUES COVERAGE DURING THIS PROCESS. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE MANCESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT – THE STATE’S LARGEST. A BOARD MEMBER SAID THEY DIDN’T USE SCHOOLCARE. WE DID REACH OUT TO SOME PEOPLE FROM SCHOOLCARE – AND HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK. MEANWHILE… CONCORD WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSU

Advertisement School districts being asked to pay more to cover employee health care costs Editorial Standards ⓘ

Dozens of school districts across the Granite State are being asked to pay more money in order to cover the costs for employee health care.SchoolCare is a New Hampshire-based nonprofit, formed in response to issues of providing employee health care to schools across the state. Now, schools are coming forward to say they’ve been asked to help close that deficit gap. News 9 reached out to the Concord School District, which estimates that it will be responsible for at least $2 million. Pamela Walsh, the president of the Concord Board of Education, said they only learned of this expense last week.”It’s a big surprise,” Walsh said. “My understanding is that it’s equivalent to a month and a half of premiums, which is a lot of money coming a quarter of the way through the fiscal year.”The Lebanon School District said its assessment is roughly $1,033,216. The school district said it plans to pay with a combination of funds from the current budget and the district’s balance. Concerned employees are told to be assured that those who are covered under a SchoolCare plan will not experience coverage issues during this process.News 9 reached out to the Manchester School District, the state’s largest. A board member confirmed that the district didn’t use SchoolCare.Both Concord and Lebanon will be talking about this issue at respective board meetings within the next two weeks.SchoolCare has released the following statement on the matter:”SCHOOLCARE’s Board of Directors has approved a contribution assessment on member groups in order to address a shortfall in reserves caused by higher-than-expected medical and pharmacy claims over the past two years and projected to continue in 2026.For nearly 30 years, SCHOOLCARE has provided New Hampshire public employers and employees with affordable, reliable health benefits. During favorable years, we returned nearly $100 million in premium surpluses to our members. Now, in a challenging year, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the continued stability of the program.The assessment is a responsible, data-driven action consistent with SCHOOLCARE’s role as a member-governed, self-insured pool. It is roughly equal to an additional month and a half of contributions for most groups. Funds will be used to pay claims and restore reserves to prudent levels.SCHOOLCARE remains committed to transparency, compliance with all legal requirements, and the sustainability of the program. We are working closely with our membership, the Secretary of State’s office, and advisors, to make sure this process is handled responsibly and fairly.”