SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County teachers are getting insurance premiums deducted from their paychecks, but WFTV found out, in some cases, that money hasn't been paid to insurance companies. One teacher told WFTV her insurance company is about to cut her off.
The teacher WFTV talked to said it has been going on at least since November. It appears payments are consistently made late, leaving those who are covered feeling like they're constantly standing on a ledge with only promises they won't fall.
Martha Murray is a long timer; she's taught at Seminole schools for 30 years, 17 of them at Indian Trails Middle. That's why she was astonished to get word recently that the life and cancer insurance she gets as a union benefit was about to lapse.
"Very frustrating and I don't get any answers," Murray told WFTV.
Murray has more than $59 deducted from every paycheck for the coverage. That cash goes to BCL Systems Incorporated, a company that is supposed to then pay the insurance providers. But, somehow, those payments are being routinely delayed by as much as two months.
"Something doesn't seem right and they told me Monday they are ready to generate another letter stating that it will lapse," Murray said.
BCL employees hung up on WFTV reporter George Spencer three times Friday when he called for an explanation. Insurance reps think the most innocent explanation may be related to school district scheduling.
Reps say, even as the school district start date has been moved earlier and earlier in August, the first deduction from teachers' paychecks remains unchanged, sometime in early September. That likely creates at least a three-week delay in getting the cash and it still has to be processed. That would leave BCL playing catch up all year.
No matter what, Murray says, being consistently two months behind and on the verge of a coverage lapse is not acceptable and the teachers' union seems to agree. A union leader said Friday she, too, is looking for conclusive answers on this; it is the union's issue, not the school district's, to handle.
So far, it doesn't seem that anyone has actually lost coverage because of the delays.