{"id":5366,"date":"2018-04-19T16:33:59","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T21:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trta.org\/?p=5366"},"modified":"2018-04-19T16:33:59","modified_gmt":"2018-04-19T21:33:59","slug":"trs-board-holds-committee-meetings-committee-recommends-changes-to-trs-active-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trta.org\/es\/trs-board-holds-committee-meetings-committee-recommends-changes-to-trs-active-care\/","title":{"rendered":"TRS Board Holds Committee Meetings, Committee Recommends Changes to TRS-ActiveCare"},"content":{"rendered":"

The TRS Board of Trustees held committee meetings today. The five TRS Board committees discussed issues relevant to the full meeting tomorrow. The most pressing issue concerning TRS retirees is a change to the rate of return assumption, which was not discussed today, but will be voted on during tomorrow\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n

As previously reported, TRS is considering changing the pension fund\u2019s rate of return assumption from 8 percent to 7.25 percent. If this change occurs, it will significantly push back the time line for a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees.<\/p>\n

The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) will testify at tomorrow\u2019s meeting. TRTA will recommend that a more reasonable change to the rate of return assumption. A smaller change to the rate of return assumption would increase the possibility of a 13th<\/sup> check or cost-of-living-adjustment for retirees during the next legislative session. A change to the rate of return assumption will not affect annuity amounts for current retirees but will make it more expensive to provide for any benefit enhancements next session.<\/p>\n

The two committees with pressing issues of interest were the TRS benefits committee and the TRS budget committee.<\/p>\n

Benefits Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n

**The following information concerns active educator insurance. NOT retired educator insurance.**<\/em><\/p>\n

The benefits committee discussed the TRS-ActiveCare <\/strong>insurance plan for active educators. The committee adopted recommendations for the 2019 plan year. The active teacher insurance saw a 7.1 percent cost increase. The cost increase will take the form of increased premiums and out-of-pocket cost increases, which vary depending upon plan choice.<\/p>\n

ActiveCare<\/strong> has more than 450,000 participants. More than 250,000 participants in ActiveCare<\/strong> are now in the High Deductible plan option, which offers lower premium costs. ActiveCare HD<\/strong> is increasing its deductible from $2,500 to $2,750 for individual coverage. The ActiveCare HD<\/strong> family plan deductibles are increasing from $5,000 to $5,500. Prescription prices of non-preferred brands for this plan are also increasing from 20 percent to 50 percent. Finally, the maximum-out-of-pocket costs are increasing across all active care plans.<\/p>\n

Retirees should take note of the health insurance problems faced by all TRS members. It will be of the utmost importance that retirees and active educators work together during the next legislative session to convince lawmakers that the health care crisis must be addressed with adequate funding. Although the health plans, TRS-Care and ActiveCare<\/strong>, come from separate funds, funding for our schools, TRS retirement and insurance all come from the state budget.<\/p>\n

The details of the changes made to ActiveCare can be found here<\/a> under Tab 3 on pages 9-11.<\/p>\n

Here are some highlights from these changes to remember as we advocate for health care funding for all Texas educators.<\/p>\n