TRS-ActiveCare
In 2001, the 77th Legislature passed HB 3343 which created the first ever
statewide health insurance program for active public school employees. The program is
mandatory for all school districts with 500 or fewer employees but allows for larger
districts to participate over time. TRS-ActiveCare does not cover retired public school
employees. However, retirees are eligible for coverage under the
TRS-Care Health Insurance Benefits for Retirees.
Plan
highlights
Cost
Our original request of the Legislature was that the state fund the entire cost of employee
premiums and half of dependent costs. The state provided less than half of the funding
required to accomplish this. Although the bulk of employee-only premiums will be covered by
TRS-ActiveCare, dependent coverage costs will be borne by the employees or possibly their
districts, if the districts choose to provide that benefit locally. The dependent costs may
be prohibitive for many public school employees. Furthermore, another tight budget cycle is
expected both for the state and TRS for the 2006-07 biennium. ATPE plans to fight any
attempts to raise premiums or plan costs to save money.
$1,000 Pass-through cuts
In 2003, the 78th Legislature cut the $1,000 pass-through supplement to $500 for full-time employees and $250
for part-time employees. ATPE worked to pass amendments to the budget to make these cuts temporary. The
amendments pushed by Rep. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) and Sen. Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) required that
funding for the pass-through be completely restored for all employees by September 2005 at the latest. However,
during the third-called special session of the 79th Legislature, the pass-through was eliminated from statute
and replaced with a provision that allows school employees the option to tax shelter a portion of their salaries
in districts’ cafeteria plans. Funding for the pass-through for teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians was
rolled into a $2,500 across-the-board pay raise. Districts will receive $500 for each full-time support employee
and $250 for each part-time employee. ATPE will fight to make that funding permanent.
Choice of doctors
ATPE has advocated before the Legislature and TRS Board of Trustees for a larger network and
access to as many providers as is possible and cost effective. In response, the TRS Board
adopted a resolution naming FIRSTCARE, Mercy Health Plans, Scott & White, and Valley Baptist
as regional HMOs participating in the TRS-ActiveCare program for active teachers. ATPE will
continue our efforts to expand the network to even more providers.
Affordable, quality health insurance for public school
employees and retirees will continue to be a challenge during the next few years. ATPE plans
to keep our members focused on the issue so we can effectively persuade the Legislature that
increased funding for these is paramount.
For more information on the TRS-ActiveCare program, contact
ATPE
Governmental Relations or visit
TRS ActiveCare Introduction on the TRS Web site.
For information on the TRS-Care program for retired public school employees visit
TRS-Care Health Insurance Benefits for Retirees on the TRS Web site.
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