Announcing Reduced Health Insurance Premiums

Date
Dear Kenyon College staff and faculty,

As costs continue to rise for everyday goods, and trips to the grocery store and gas station stretch household budgets more and more, Kenyon is looking for ways to provide meaningful assistance to the staff and faculty who sustain this community.

Salaries are an important part of the equation. Late last fall, President Decatur announced that many hourly employees would receive a mid-year pay increase, effective January 1, 2022. In addition, most employees will receive a 4% pay increase on July 1, a top priority in the budget approved by the Board of Trustees in February.

Recognizing that healthcare costs are a significant concern for many employees, we also are eager to minimize expenses for Kenyon’s health plans. I am pleased to announce that, starting July 1, all employees participating in the College’s basic and premium health plans will see a 10% reduction in their health insurance premiums. Health benefits and coverage will remain the same, but Kenyon will pay an increased share of the premiums for all participating employees.

In addition to providing this immediate relief, we remain committed to responding to recent recommendations from the College’s benefits committee to enhance health plan offerings and reduce healthcare costs, especially for employees with more modest earnings. We will continue to work towards these goals this fall and will update the community on our progress next spring.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Human Resources at hr@kenyon.edu with any questions you may have. Even as the College faces increasing costs of its own, the senior staff recognizes the strain the current economic conditions have placed on individuals and families and we are pleased to be able to take these steps to ease financial pressures on members of the Kenyon community.

Sincerely,

Todd Burson
Vice President for Finance