Suit contends Central Greene district breached contract in changing insurance benefits
A lawsuit filed on behalf of 23 retired employees of Central Greene School District alleged the school board changed their insurance plan, causing them to incur greater expenses for health care.
At the point all of the employees retired, a contract guaranteed them and their spouses coverage under the Highmark PPOBlue plan until age 65, attorney Adam J. Belletti wrote. However, during a May 2019 meeting, the district’s school board voted to change the insurance plan for retirees without giving them notice of the proposed change, the suit alleged.
A subsequent letter from the district said the plan was no longer available, but in the suit, Belletti called that “a lie.”
As a result of the May vote, retirees were enrolled into Highmark Blue Flex EPO, unless they wanted to pay more out of pocket and participate in the Highmark Blue Flex PPO. Both, according to the suit, are below the level of the plan they were guaranteed at retirement.
Belletti said the new plans include higher co-pays, a higher deductible, limits on the network and available doctors, and does not cover some previously covered medications.
The suit contended the new plans are a “significant decrease” in benefits.
“(E)ven if the plan truly were unavailable, the decrease in the benefits represents a violation of the contract as the plaintiffs would be entitled to benefits that are greater than or equal to the prior plan,” Belletti wrote.
The filing alleges breach of contract and names both the district and its school board as defendants. A district representative did not respond to a request for comment.
The former employees listed as plaintiffs are: Lori Greene of Washington; Judy Barno of Ellenton, Fla.; Ellen Boros of Jefferson; Catherine Carter of Carmichaels; James Caruso of Brownsville; Pauline Churella of Pittsburgh; Donna Clarke of Carmichaels; Tamara Lynn Cox of Largo, Fla.; Deborah Crouse of Sycamore; Donna Dorazio of Waynesburg; Sue Ann Dugan of Waynesburg; Nancy Fox of Waynesburg; Caren Kulchock of Morgantown, W.Va.; David Lesako if Ghent, N.Y.; Lynne Lester of Washington; Laurie Luba of Canonsburg; Phillip Mark McCollum of Pittsburgh; Richard Muha of Hopwood; Debora Smith of Washington; Mary Ann Spanovich of Morgantown; Dianne Toothman of Waynesburg; Judy Verno of Washington; and Jackie Young of Waynesburg.