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Volusia board unanimously approves switch to Curative health plan for employees
Summary
After a public workshop and questions from board members, the School Board of Volusia County voted 5-0 to move district employee medical coverage to a level-funded plan administered by Curative, with an onsite Curative representative and a multi-month transition plan to address provider access and employee concerns.
The School Board of Volusia County voted unanimously Tuesday to switch the district's employee group medical coverage to a Curative-administered level-funded plan, approving agreement CSA-2025-9025 after a public workshop and questions from trustees. The motion was made by Board Member Ruben Colon and seconded by Board Member Jessie Thompson; the vote was 5-0.
The change affects the district's primary employee health plan, a major line item in the school budget. Superintendent Carmen Balgobin recommended the Curative agreement during the meeting following an earlier workshop the board held to review network access, provider continuity, and transition supports.
Board members and public speakers pressed for detail on provider availability and member support. Jonathan Gillette, managing director of Foundation Risk Partners, urged the district to evaluate alternate models and noted other Florida districts have joined the Florida Educator Health Trust; he asked the board to investigate options before finalizing changes. VUE member Elizabeth Albert addressed the board in support of the district's effort to reduce rising employee health costs, and said the district's planned communications and an on-site Curative representative eased some concerns.
Board members asked Curative representatives how the district would handle cases where members are already in care or need urgent transfers. A Curative representative told the board, "we will have an on-site Curative employee who will be here with the team able to answer those questions immediately when they come up. There'll be an escalation path as well up into the company, even up to me, that you'll have that access, such such things arise." The representative also said the plan includes a member "care navigator" to help employees find and access providers and that the district will be able to carve out pharmacy or stop-loss elements if desired. The vendor described the proposal as a level-funded arrangement that caps the district's liability at the premium amount while sharing medical risk in pooled layers.
Board Member Jessie Thompson asked whether Curative's provider network would be adequate for staff who must find new doctors; the vendor replied care navigation and the plan's network would ensure access and that the company expects to have enough local providers to cover members. Board Member Colon asked legal counsel about whether he needed to recuse because of an employer relationship (AdventHealth); counsel advised no conflict existed and Colon participated in the discussion and vote.
Superintendent Balgobin and district staff said the plan will move forward over the coming months and that implementation will include on-site support, employee education, and additional communications. The board recorded a 5-0 approval and directed staff to proceed with the Curative agreement and the planned employee outreach during the transition period.
