In recent years, TPR and others have suggested a number of plans to enhance the benefits of active and retired school district employees. While some of these recommendations have been adopted, many active and retired school district employees still receive benefits that are inadequate or overly expensive, and that do not equal those given to state employees. In the absence of true uniform state coverage, most Texas school districts negotiate their own employee health insurance coverage with nearly 100 different insurers. Six school districts do not offer health insurance to employees.
Many districts simply lack the employee base needed to offer low prices or a range of benefit plans.
About 75 percent of all Texas public school employees can choose only one health insurance provider. The state pays 100 percent of the employee-only monthly premium. Monthly premiums for UGIP coverage through an HMO vary slightly from those offered under HealthSelect, and are generally lower. HealthSelect Plus, a new plan offered by ERS this year, is not a true HMO since it is a self-insured plan, although it works much like one. Prices for family coverage, are considerably steeper, and unlike the state's plan, most school districts do not contribute toward family coverage.