Small Florida school districts are joining a collective health‑insurance trust to reduce rising premiums for teachers and other employees, according to a report from WUSF.
The Florida Educator Health Trust (FLEHT), a nonprofit under the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, now covers roughly 65,000 public‑school workers after about one‑third of the state’s districts enrolled.
Districts that switched from fully insured policies to the self‑insured model say they have saved millions; one superintendent reported over $3 million saved in the first two years, while the trust said its members saved more than $7.8 million in the first quarter of 2026.
Participating districts, including Hendry, Hardee, DeSoto, Polk and Brevard counties, hope to reach 30 members by year‑end, expanding risk‑sharing arrangements that spread claim costs across multiple districts.
Teachers have noted lower prescription prices since joining, though some unions say the savings have not yet fully reached employees’ paychecks. The trust’s leadership says it operates more like a nonprofit, allowing member superintendents to vote on vendors and negotiate better rates.
Future plans include district‑run clinics that would offer lower‑cost prescriptions to staff, a proposal being discussed by local unions and school boards.
For more information, visit wusf.org.