Insurance committee recommends Curative after Florida Healthcare renewal would have raised premiums

The Volusia County Schools insurance committee recommended switching the district’s employee medical plan to Curative after Florida Healthcare indicated premiums could rise sharply under a third‑year renewal.

Why it matters: District officials said the choice is intended to protect employees from a large premium hike and to expand in‑network access for staff and dependents who live outside central Florida. District chief of staff John Cash said Florida Healthcare had billed about $63 million in claims on roughly $59 million in premium, leading to its projected large renewal increase.

What the committee reported: Stephanie Workman, executive director for human resources, and consultants from Brown & Brown presented an ITN review. The committee received two responses to the ITN: Florida Healthcare and Curative. The committee reported a unanimous recommendation for Curative’s level‑funded offering, citing a lower base premium, a zero‑cost base plan design (subject to member completion of a baseline visit), national provider and pharmacy access, and a concierge care‑navigation model.

Key elements of Curative’s proposal described at the workshop: - Baseline visit and $0 path: Curative requires each adult member to complete a baseline visit (virtual; about 45–60 minutes) within the first 120 days. If completed, Curative said in‑network care for the year would be available at $0 out of pocket for covered services; members who decline would revert to a high‑deductible option. - Care navigators and member support: Curative described an assigned care navigator for each member and a 24/7 member services line to help schedule care and move members to in‑network providers. The company said it operates a national provider network of about one million providers and has an on‑site open‑enrollment presence planned. - Pharmacy and clinic differences: Curative’s Florida pharmacy network relies on Publix for retail fills and includes a Curative direct pharmacy for next‑day delivery. Florida Healthcare’s network includes staff physicians and an in‑system pharmacy network; district staff noted 67 Florida Healthcare “staff” physicians are exclusive to that carrier and would not be part of an automatic transfer.

Employee impact and transition: Staff said Curative would begin pre‑enrollment outreach immediately if the board approves the carrier to allow Curative to contact current patients and begin provider engagement; the contract, if approved by the board, would take effect Oct. 1. Open enrollment was scheduled from July 21–Aug. 15 with a series of road‑show events to assist staff on site.

Costs, funds and rate caps: Consultant presentations showed Curative’s base plan could preserve a free base premium level (the district currently subsidizes employee premiums $605 per month after a board action in September 2024). Curative offered rate caps and level‑funded options (year‑one cap ~9.5% and a surplus sharing arrangement) and a proposed wellness/technology fund. Florida Healthcare offered a different mix of plan design changes, an annual pro‑share arrangement and a potential year‑one cap near 9.9%; it declined to contract its staff physician network to Curative if not chosen.

Board questions and staff responses: Board members raised questions about network size in Florida and how many local primary care physicians were accepting new patients; Curative said it could provide county‑level network counts and the company’s website includes a provider search. Board members also asked about transition provisions for employees undergoing active treatment and use of gym‑membership benefits; staff said Curative will work with active patients during the transition and that some wellness benefits differ between carriers.

Next steps: The insurance committee presented its unanimous recommendation to the board. Staff said they will provide the board the list of steering‑committee members and will email board members the same documents filed with the state. The recommendation was presented in the workshop; staff said board approval (formal vote) would be required for the contract to take effect on Oct. 1.