School board approves insurance renewal with roughly 10% premium increase for 2025–26

The Washington County School District Board of Education voted to approve insurance plan changes and premium increases for the 2025–26 plan year after a recommendation from the district's insurance committee.

The insurance committee presented a package that included administrative fee increases, a recommendation to raise dental reserves by 6% (estimated to equal about $150,000) and plan design and premium-share changes that together produced an overall district increase of about 10.1% for medical benefits. Tamara, speaking on behalf of the insurance committee, told the board the committee recommended raising employee contributions for the high-deductible plan from 3.4% to 5% and for the traditional plan from 13% to 15% of premium costs while the district would cover 95% of the high-deductible premium and 85% of the traditional premium.

The committee reported modest per-employee administrative increases: the medical admin fee was presented as rising from $38.54 to $39.64 per employee (roughly $1.10 per month) and small increases to certain optional accounts' service fees (for example, the National Benefit Services flex spending fee rising from $28.20 to $28.80 annually). The committee also noted projections from their consultant that claim-cost-driven premium pressure would fall in a range between about 11.7% and 13.2% absent design or funding changes.

Under the recommended changes the employee monthly contributions presented for full-time staff were approximately: high-deductible plan — $33 single, $74 employee-plus-one, $105 family; traditional plan — roughly $115 single, $250 employee-plus-one, $365 family when modeled on the 10.1% scenario. The district staff also noted the HSA employer contribution structure would remain unchanged: the district contributes $80 regardless of employee contribution, with an additional $20 match if the employee contributes at least $20. The committee highlighted local network arrangements intended to lower utilization costs, including use of the Coral Desert Surgical Center and relationships with Revere Clinic for lower-cost imaging and specialty services.

Board members thanked the committee and consultants for work to contain cost growth while preserving coverage. Brent, identified in the meeting as the superintendent, said the district could not yet estimate long-term fiscal impact because employee behavior (for example, timing of births) could change how much leave and claims are used in any year.

The board approved the insurance renewal motion by voice vote with no recorded aye/nay roll call. The motion followed a recommendation from the insurance committee and a motion to approve as presented.