School Board votes to leave SchoolCare, award health insurance contract to HUB/Cigna

posted on: 4/3/2026

The Dover School Board voted unanimously on Thursday, April 2 to switch its employee and retiree health insurance from SchoolCare to a new broker-carrier arrangement with HUB International and Cigna, a decision that also included terminating the district's membership in the statewide risk pool effective June 30.

The board held a special meeting to act on the results of a request for proposals the district launched last fall after SchoolCare assessed Dover $1.7 million, part of a $30 million statewide assessment, to cover a reserve shortfall. SchoolCare had also threatened to stop paying claims if the assessment was not paid by May 1.

Kimberly Cox, the district's director of human resources, presented the administration's recommendation, emphasizing that the new plan mirrors the district's current coverage. The carrier remains Cigna, and employees will keep the same deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, provider network, prescription formulary and pre-authorizations.

"What we're doing is we're not just choosing our next provider; we're strengthening our approach to employee health care," Cox told the board. She said the RFP process identified a plan that maintains the same coverage at a slightly lower overall cost, about 1 percent less than SchoolCare's fiscal year 2027 renewal rate.

The RFP drew seven bidders. HUB International scored highest across all five weighted evaluation categories, which prioritized cost and financial sustainability, benefit equivalency, expertise, account management and references. HealthTrust, which provides the city's employee health coverage, finished second but was eliminated because its plan did not meet the collective bargaining agreement's equivalency requirement and was priced nearly 40 percent above SchoolCare's renewal.

"I feel prepared to vote in favor of this because of the assurance that it is truly an equivalent plan and that it will not be disruptive in the lives of our employees," said School Board member Maggie Fogarty.

The board also voted 5-0 to authorize Superintendent Christine Boston to terminate SchoolCare membership, citing the assessment, the threat to stop paying claims and the district's lack of appropriated funds to cover the bill. The motion's language described SchoolCare's assessment as "unlawful," signaling that the district continues to dispute the validity of the charge.

School Board Chair Robin Trefethen said the decision came down to risk management, noting that the district had received no assurances it would not face future assessments.

Superintendent Boston said the district's priority throughout the process was protecting the people who depend on its coverage.

"At the end of the day, our employees and retirees need to know that their health care is secure," Boston said. "This decision gives them that stability while putting the district in a stronger position going forward."

During Citizens' Forum, Dover High School teacher and union representative Lesley Hawking voiced concern, saying she had not had time to evaluate the proposal. Chair Trefethen asked Boston to immediately follow up with the unions to address outstanding questions about plan equivalency.

Open enrollment is expected to run from April through June, with the new plan taking effect July 1.

Dover remains the only one of SchoolCare's 90 member groups statewide that has not paid or reached an agreement on the assessment. Most recently, the Portsmouth City Council agreed to a payment plan under protest.