Alice ISD hears presentation on leaving TRS, brokers outline level-funded plans and telemedicine

Shaina Robinson, an insurance broker who said she works with school-district cooperatives, told the Alice Independent School District board on Nov. 20 that the district now has the option to leave the Teacher Retirement System health plan (TRS) and consider alternative models, including level-funded and fully funded plans.

Robinson told trustees that recent rule changes make exit and reentry more flexible: "You are no longer in Hotel California. You can leave TRS," she said, adding districts can return the following year if they choose. She recommended two-year locked rates for budgeting predictability and described level-funded plans that return some unused premium if claims are low.

Why it matters: District officials said TRS premiums are rising and the board must decide before a Dec. 31 notice deadline if it wishes to change carriers. Robinson argued tailored district plans could reduce employee premium costs while preserving broad provider access and benefits.

Robinson described several features of the proposals: integration of a 24/7 telemedicine and mental-health service (presented in the packet as "Attentive"), no or low deductibles on many proposed plans, an employee assistance program included in some vendor packages, and pharmacy strategies that use international sourcing to lower drug costs. She said those measures would both increase access to care and reduce costly emergency-room use that drives claims.

On pricing, Robinson cited sample rates from nearby districts and said some proposals could be roughly 25% less than TRS projections for the next year; she also said TRS had signaled annual increases in the 10–15% range. "At a minimum, we would be able ... to save the employees about $130 on that basic plan," she said when showing comparative figures.

Trustees asked about practical details: commitment length, coverage for midyear hires, continuity of care for employees in ongoing treatment and how dependents are handled. Robinson said the vendor would perform on-site enrollment and biometric screenings, offer health-risk assessments and texting reminders, and manage dependent enrollments and HIPAA logins. She said continuity-of-care protections would be handled so ongoing cancer, cardiac or maternity treatments would continue under a transition, and that carriers would facilitate waivers for specialty care when needed.

What wasn’t decided: The board did not vote on any change to TRS at the meeting. Robinson said staff would return next month if the district requested a formal recommendation and noted the district faces a Dec. 31 timeline to select a carrier if it intends to change. Trustees also discussed verification steps, additional price quotes and reference checks of districts that had already switched.

Speakers quoted (from the meeting): "You can leave TRS," Robinson said. "We have two-year guarantees" for rates, she added. The presentation packet and follow-up materials were left for the board to review.

Next steps: Board members asked staff to gather any additional information and prepare a recommendation; Robinson offered to provide references and to present final RFP proposals if the board chooses to pursue a change.