Highlands school leaders hear pitch for joining Fleet insurance trust; consultants point to pharmacy and stop‑loss savings

Highlands County School District trustees and staff on Friday heard a presentation on joining the Fleet insurance trust, a nonprofit health‑benefits trust for Florida school districts, and asked detailed questions about financial risks, clinic data integration and local broker roles.

The presentation, led by Andy Lethbridge, deputy superintendent, and Ted Rausch, former Suwannee County superintendent and Fleet advocate, explained Fleet’s structure and services and highlighted pharmacy and stop‑loss purchasing as potential near‑term savings areas. “It’s been no secret that we’ve had struggles with our health insurance, and costs have been rising, faster than the revenue has been rising,” Lethbridge told the board during introductory remarks.

Fleet representatives and partner vendors described how the trust pools districts to gain buying power and operational services otherwise handled by each district. “Fleet operates on a flat per employee per month,” the presenters said; Fleet membership for a district the size of Highlands was described as $22.25 per employee per month. Presenters estimated a conservative district savings range of 7% to 13% over five years if Highlands joins Fleet rather than remaining independently self‑insured.

Why it matters

Board members said rising health‑care costs are pressing employees and…