Mason City Schools to drop controversial health care plan

MASON, Ohio - After days of outcry over a new health care plan, teachers in the Mason City School District will get what they’ve been seeking.

The district’s health care committee met Thursday to take a second look at the TrueCost health plan and decided to go back to the district’s former insurance coverage.

The Mason Education Association, the union representing Mason's teachers, filed a class action grievance with the district claiming that the negotiated agreement between the Board and MEA had been violated in several ways when the school district adopted TrueCost.

The union said the teachers' contract does not allow the Board to make unilateral changes in healthcare, and requires a vote by the membership for modifications in health care coverage and program design.

Teachers say under the TrueCost plan doctors were refusing treatment or requiring full payment at the time of service.

Due to the change in health coverage, teachers had protested by wearing black arm bands to school.

The old plan will go back into effect March 1.