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Bryan ISD approves 2026 medical and dental plan changes; district will increase contribution and begin staff education roadshow
Summary
The board approved proposed 2026 medical and dental plan adjustments designed to stabilize the self‑funded insurance pool: the district will discontinue an underused HMO option, consolidate dental plans, increase select premiums modestly, and continue a district-led education campaign on where employees should seek non-emergency care.
The Bryan ISD Board of Trustees approved changes to the district’s employee medical and dental plans for the 2026 plan year at its Sept. 22 meeting. Norma Fripple, chief financial officer, presented the recommendations developed after analysis of rising medical costs and claim trends.
Fripple said the district will discontinue its most restricted HMO option because it is underutilized and will consolidate three dental offerings into two plans to simplify choices and reduce administrative expense. Under the proposals the majority of employees would see modest premium increases in the district’s PPO plans (for example, an employee-only PPO increase of about $14 per month) while the high-deductible option would see smaller increases (about $2.80 per month for employee-only). The proposed new dental premiums would decrease at all tiers, according to the presentation.
Fripple stressed Bryan ISD’s above‑minimum contribution to employee coverage: the district contributes $545 per month per employee toward the health plan, which she noted is $320 above the state-required $225 minimum. She and staff also presented a plan to go directly to campuses and departments starting the next day to educate employees about appropriate use of care sites (emergency rooms versus urgent care versus in‑network clinics) and to distribute flyers with lower‑cost provider options.
Board members asked about negotiations with high-cost freestanding emergency and urgent-care providers; staff reported an initial meeting with a local provider and described ongoing outreach to encourage appropriate co-pay and billing practices. The board approved the plan changes and premium recommendations and asked staff to continue campus-level education so employees can make informed choices that protect both take-home pay and the district’s fund balance.
Administration said the proposed benefit design and communication strategy aim to preserve benefits while managing the district’s self-funded risk pool; staff will run open enrollment in November for changes effective Jan. 1, 2026.
