Texas teachers are entitled to health insurance for themselves and their families — medical, dental, and vision — along with paid sick and vacation leave. That’s the baseline. But the baseline isn’t always the best deal, and most teachers don’t realize they have options outside of — or alongside — their TRS plan.
Since a salary increase probably isn’t coming anytime soon, we want to show you how smarter health insurance decisions can effectively give you one. Our mission is to help Texas teachers stretch their budgets by looking at their health coverage in a different way — an approach you won’t find at any other firm like ours.
Here are three ways we can help. 👇
📋 Understanding Your TRS Coverage First
The state of Texas provides $75/month per participating employee toward health insurance, and districts must contribute at least $150/month per employee. This subsidy is applied directly to your TRS plan — which means there is no way to replicate the subsidized premium you pay as a TRS member for your own individual coverage.
That’s why we almost always recommend teachers stay on TRS for themselves — but leverage private plans for their family members, and add supplemental coverage to fill TRS’s gaps. That combination is where the real savings live.
Get the Most From a GAP Plan
You may have heard of GAP coverage in the context of car loans — but it’s a powerful tool for health insurance too. A GAP plan layered on top of your existing TRS coverage can turn a high-deductible plan into a near-100% plan, especially when it matters most: a hospital admission.
Our GAP plans start at just $46/month (rates vary by age) and cover:
Children-Only Plans May Be Better Than Adding Kids to TRS
Here’s something most Texas teachers don’t know: you can insure your child or children on a private plan by themselves — and pay significantly less.
Most TRS plans charge the same flat rate for dependent children, whether you have one child or five. That means you could be paying the same premium for five kids as another teacher pays for one. A private children-only plan charges based on actual coverage needed — and the savings can be dramatic.
Key insight: The savings are the same whether you have one child or five on a TRS plan. Moving kids to a private children-only plan means you pay for what you actually need — and keep the difference.
More Savings Are Available for Spouses on Private Plans
This is consistently the biggest financial frustration we hear from Texas teachers: the cost of adding a spouse to a TRS plan is prohibitively high. The premium jump when adding a partner can feel like a second mortgage.
Private insurance, unlike TRS group plans, is priced by age — which means a healthy 30- or 40-something spouse can often get excellent coverage at a fraction of what TRS would charge to add them. And there’s a bonus that often surprises people:
Private plans outside of TRS can be used from day one with no deductible for outpatient services — meaning real first-dollar coverage from the moment coverage starts.
What private spouse coverage typically offers vs. TRS add-on:
TRS Spouse Add-On ⚠
Private Spouse Plan ✅
Key insight: Request a quote from us to see exact side-by-side numbers for your spouse’s age and health profile. The difference is often significant — and the conversation is completely free.
Your Three Paths to Savings
A Quick Summary for Texas Teachers
Add a GAP Plan to Your TRS
Starting at $46/month, transforms your plan into near-100% hospital coverage and halves outpatient out-of-pocket costs. Best for teachers who want a safety net without leaving TRS.
Move Children to a Private Plan
Insure your child(ren) separately and save up to $228/month ($2,736/year). Proven with real Mesquite ISD results.
Put Your Spouse on a Private Plan
Age-based private pricing often beats TRS spouse add-on rates significantly, with first-dollar outpatient coverage from day one and no deductible.
Fredrick Insurance Brokers is an independent licensed insurance agency serving North Texas and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Savings examples are based on real client scenarios and will vary depending on district, plan selection, age, and family situation. Contact us for a personalized quote.
Katherine Clark is a licensed life insurance advisor and the founder of Fredrick Insurance Brokers. With a passion for helping individuals and families secure their financial future, she provides personalized guidance on health, life, and income protection plans. Katherine is committed to simplifying insurance decisions, ensuring her clients feel confident, informed, and protected every step of the way.
