2005 House Bill 4274 (Require MESSA disclosures )

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Introduced by Rep. Barb Vander Veen (R) on February 15, 2005, to require the Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA) to disclose to school districts a summary of health care services that were actually used by the teachers for whom it administers health insurance. This would allow potential alternative insurance providers to estimate the cost of providing health coverage, and so compete for the business. Most regular insurers provide such claims data to their clients. More than half of Michigan teachers are currently covered by MESSA, an arm of the Michigan Education Association teachers union, which repackages Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance, collects premiums, and administers benefits. Most other teachers are covered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield without MESSA involvement.
- Referred to the House Education Committee on February 15, 2005.
  - Reported in the House on May 19, 2005, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Most Recent Comments

1) MESSA A MESS [by Anonymous Citizen on December 10, 2005]
WE ALL AGREE, WE KNOW FAMILIES THAT PAY $50.00 A WEEK, AND KNOW OTHER FAMILIES THAT PAY $100.00 A WEEK FOR HEALTH, DENTAL AND OPTICAL INSURANCE.
OFFICE VISITS AT LEAST $55.00 A VISIT, TEACHERS ONLY PAY $5.OO A DOCTOR'S VISIT. NO TYPO ERROR. AND TO THE AVERAGE PAY $292.00 A MONTH FOR THE MESSA /BCBS INSURANCE. THATS WHAT TEACHERS PAY. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
BUT WE KNOW ONE COUNTY WILL GIVE THAT TO THEIR TEACHERS WHEN PASSED. BOY, I WISH I COULD WORK FOR THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM, OH BUT YOU GOT TO KISS BUT, OR NEPOTISM, OR GO TO THE SAME CHURCH. THAT COUNTS ME OUT . FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RESEARCH TO BACK ME UP.

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2) UNTOUCHABLE SCHOOL BOARD [by Anonymous Citizen on December 10, 2005]
THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN INVITED TO A MEETING SHOULD ATTEND WITH A REQUEST AS I HAVE ASKED FOR AND DENIED, THE CHAIN OF COMMAND THING. HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSE TO LEARN, IF THEY LISTEN TO WHAT THE FACULTY SAYS, OR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY, THEY WILL SURELY GET MISGUIDED SOME HOW.
I TRULY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD ANSWER TO THE TAX PAYERS WHO VOTED THEM IN. -NOT WHO THEY HIRE.
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3) Required Historicals [by Anonymous Citizen on May 21, 2005]
Yes, this bill is aimed at MESSA as they are the only helath insurance company that does not provide historical data to the school districts or others who employ them.

MESSA is a good healthcare company, but they do not allow comparison apples to apples of their services.
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