If you are a full-time state employee lucky enough not to be a public school district employee Texas taxpayers will contribute $7,471.20 per year towards the cost of your Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance for the 2023 plan year. But if you are a Texas public school employee the state of Texas contributes only $900 towards the cost of your Blue Cross health insurance, a funding level which hasn’t changed in over 20 years.
But wait a minute! Aren’t teachers considered state employees in Texas?
The next biennial Texas legislative session begins in a few months. It will not be a surprise if legislation is introduced to remedy the state funding inequity separating two classes of state employees. Maybe part of the Texas $27 billion budget surplus could be used to bring funding equity?
Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP)
The State of Texas currently contributes to a state employee’s health care rate, or premium. The contribution rate is based on available funding provided by the Texas Legislature. Currently, the state pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% of the premium for their eligible dependents. Eligible part-time employees get a 50% state contribution for themselves and 25% for their dependents. Employees pay the remainder of the premium by paycheck deduction before taxes are withheld.
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INSURANCE: Health and other insurance benefits for employees and retirees are subject to change based on available state funding. The Texas Legislature determines the level of funding for such benefits and has no continuing obligation to provide those benefits beyond each fiscal year.
