Health Insurance Costs Could Drive Texas Teachers to Leave
Style Magazine Newswire | 4/27/2018, 7:18 a.m.
Source: Dfw.cbslocal.com
Another increase in health insurance costs could drive some Texas teachers out of the classroom. For a teacher making $40,000 a year to have average health insurance for themselves and their family, it is now going to cost them half of their paycheck. Since 2002, health insurance premiums have more than doubled for Texas teachers. The Teacher Retirement System board voted last week to increase premiums by an average of 5.7 percent starting in September. Some premiums rates will increase by as much as 9.5 percent. Despite the increase in health care costs, the state’s contribution to teacher’s health care has remained the same since 2002. Alliance-AFT Dallas President Rena Honea said many veteran public teachers are contemplating leaving the profession because of the health care expenses. Teacher groups are calling on lawmakers to help offset some of these expenses by increasing the state’s contribution to the teacher health insurance program.
