The goal of an insurance pool is to provide accessible, quality healthcare coverage at the lowest possible price. Our pools are made up of public employers who have signed a Joint Powers Agreement with SWWC. SWWC financially manages the pool, collects premiums, does an RFP every five years for an insurance provider, and negotiates stop loss and administrative rates.  Because the pool is considered self-insured our members save money by not having to pay MCHA and health insurance premium taxes. Additionally, our pool members are treated as fully-insured meaning they have no financial obligation other than paying their monthly premiums.

 

The first insurance pools for public schools were developed by Minnesota’s network of Service Cooperatives in 1982. Between 1993 and 1994, the Service Cooperatives initiated the minimum premium program. In addition, they became self-insured with the Service Cooperatives assuming much of the risk for each pool member. This arrangement has been in place since 1993 and is continuously being improved. In 1996, the health insurance pool concept was extended to City, County, and Other Government Agencies (CCOGA). The school and CCOGA pools grew voluntarily through a market driven system. The significance of this participation level allows for statewide negotiations while maintaining regional pools.