The Calendar year 2009 group medical insurance rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida will increase an average of 5% after the adoption of the negotiated medical plan design changes.  The rate increase is a result of our group claim experience and medical trend (inflation), which has been running 10% to 12%.  Aon Consulting and the district's Risk Manager reviewed all the renewal underwriting assumptions and negotiated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida to arrive at the requested average 5% rate increase.  Following the adoption of the plan design changes and the elimination of the dependent medical premium subsidy adopted in 2006, the cost to the district for the 2009 calendar year is estimated to decrease by $1,254,193 which is
-3.64%.