Better health insurance is the best option for teachers seeking financial freedom.
This can vary, however, widely depending on where they work, but in general, Texas teachers, like any other, are entitled to health insurance for themselves and their families, including medical, dental and vision coverage. Paid sick and vacation leaves are also part of the benefits.
As teachers, you could and should be earning more money. Since that is probably not going to happen anytime soon, there may be something you can do to give yourself a raise. How about better health insurance that puts money back in your pockets?
Our mission is to help Texas Teachers stretch their budget by looking at their health insurance in a different way. It’s an approach that you cannot find in any other companies similar to ours.
So far TRS has not proven to have the best options for our Texas Teachers. We can help in a few different ways. Here’s how!
We have found oftentimes it is best for a Texas Teacher to remain on the plan themselves because the District/State pays for a good portion of your plan. The state provides $75 per month for each participating employee for health insurance coverage, and districts must contribute at least $150 per month per employee.
There is no way to get adequate coverage outside TRS at the reduced premium you pay as a Teacher. However, we can show you how to leverage your plan and get the most out of it. Below are three possible solutions depending on your situation.
1. Get the most from GAP Plans
Many have heard of a GAP plan as it relates to the purchase of a new vehicle, but not so much for health insurance. We offer a GAP plan that would make your TRS plan a 100% plan, should you be admitted to the hospital. The plans range in price based on age but start at $46/month. This could be a win for you depending on different factors. This GAP Plan also pays 50% of your outpatient, out of pocket expenses. If you would like to learn more about this plan, schedule a consultation. It doesn’t hurt to explore and educate yourself on the choices available to you.
- A recent example is a Teacher from Argyle ISD who had an emergency appendectomy. She had the ActiveCare 1HD plan but she also had the GAP Plan. As a result, her out of pocket for the appendectomy was a BIG FAT ZERO!
2. Children-only plans may be better than adding kids to TRS plans
Did you know that you can insure your child(ren) on a plan by themselves and save hundreds $$$? Most TRS plans have a set amount for coverage on the children. The amount is the same whether you have one child or five. See the example below. We would love to help you understand your options. To learn more, schedule a simple conversation with us here.
- We had a Mesquite ISD Teacher put her child on an outside plan for $171/month versus the $399/month she would have had deducted from her paycheck to add her child to the TRS plan. That saved her $228/month which is $2,736 for the year. We consider that a BIG win!
3. More savings are available for spouses on private plans.
This seems to be the biggest pain point for our Teachers. When they add their spouse to their TRS plan, the premium is super high. Private insurance is based on age, so let me give you a couple of examples of what would be available to you outside of TRS.
Another big benefit is you get to use these plans from day one with NO deductible for outpatient services. If you would like a quote, click here.
So, if you want to learn more about your options and getting the most out of your healthcare, give us a call and let’s work together!