By Molly Mulebriar
Why wait until May or June of 2025 to find out how much TRS ActiveCare rates will increase and benefits reduce, giving member districts no choice to do anything about it other than accept it? Why be held hostage for another plan year when you can seize control from Austin bureaucrats and review competitive 2025 rates and benefits today?
The good news is there is a competitive option without the surprise of a late minute renewal you are legally obligated to accept without recourse whether you like it or not. (Commercial carriers blush with envy – “If only we could do that!”).
ICHRA rates for 2025 have been filed with the Texas Department of Insurance for approval and available for public review.
ICHRA HIGHLIGHTS (Stolen from RiskManagers.us Blog)
- Eliminates risk
- Fully insured through recognized insurance companies
- Nation’s largest risk pool with millions of covered members
- Annual rate guarantee
- Average rate increase below industry norms
- Pre-existing conditions covered
- No underwriting necessary
- Employee-owned health insurance vs district-owned health insurance
- Not tied to employment – fully portable
- Removes districts from the business of insurance
- Allows districts to set their budgets and forget about annual rate increases
- District decides what their cost will be and not the insurance company
- No participation requirements
- ACA compliant solution for any size district
- Federal mandated benefits
- Federal oversight of network adequacy
- Federal tax subsidies may be available in certain circumstances
- Single source vendors – No public bidding required
- Numerous plan management companies to choose from if needed
