Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group (MCSIG)

It is the purpose of the Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group to establish, operate and maintain a health benefits program for the mutual benefit of the parties utilizing the principles of collectively pooled underwriting, risk sharing, shared expenses, health management and cost-containment services.

MCSIG was first established in 1982 with 20 Monterey County school districts as Monterey County Schools Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance Group.

In the early years, many JPA policies were set and revised, such as Executive Committee terms, rules for district admission to the group, plan rate structures and utilization review implementation. An executive secretary position was also created during this time.

By 1989, the needs of the group had outgrown the original insurance program. The name was changed to Monterey County Schools Insurance Group, and the JPA began to review all medical plans in order to streamline the rate structure and share resources and risks among all participating members. MCSIG’s Statement of Purpose was created at this time to communicate this change in focus.

Due to the complexities of the health care industry and the streamlining of the districts’ plans, the position of executive director was created, replacing the former executive secretary position. In 1990, the Board created the Advisory Committee to assist in the evaluation and implementation of the goals of MCSIG.

It was the Committee’s recommendation that the JPA begin offering a limited number of benefit programs. Each program/plan would be experience rated based upon the entirety of its success, or failure, throughout the JPA. Subject to the individual bargaining agreements, each employee covered under the MCSIG programs would have the ability to choose the plan of benefits which best met his/her needs. Benefits and rates for each plan would be uniform through out the JPA, and there would be no unit or district experience maintained apart from the JPA-wide plan experience.

In 1994, the Wellness Program began with the hiring of our health & wellness program manager. Some of the highlights of the first year of the program were the creation of an employee Wellness Committee, MCSIG’s first annual health fair and the administration of the annual flu shot program.

In 1995, MCSIG accomplished the goal of reorganizing the Board governance. It now operates with nine at-large employees that represent their associations as full-voting members of MCSIG. In addition, three member districts — with over 500 employees each — now have an additional voting member on the Board.

In early 2015, the decision made by the board to expand its offerings to cities and universities prompted another name change to the current moniker: Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group.

Since the formation of the JPA, many new districts and other public entities have joined, bringing current membership to a total of 27 members.