As is tradition, the TRS Board of Trustees came together in Austin this week following sine die of the Legislature to adopt the 2025-26 rates for TRS-ActiveCare health insurance. TRS typically waits until the session has ended and funding for the coming biennium is known to adopt the rates. This year waiting was particularly necessary as the Legislature was both providing supplemental funding to hold down the rates for the coming biennium and the funding was in flux during the closing weeks of the session.  

Ultimately, the 89th Texas Legislature provided $369 million in supplemental funding for TRS-ActiveCare. The supplemental funding is intended to hold premium increases down while keeping TRS-ActiveCare on the path to realign premiums with claims costs, closing the gap incurred when TRS held premiums flat in 2023 at the Legislature’s direction. The initial draft state budget proposed $450 million to be spent over a three-year glide path returning TRS rates to an amount covering the actual cost of plan benefits. At the end of session, money for the third year of the plan was reallocated. The remaining funding is projected to be enough to maintain the goal of holding annual premium cost increases to a statewide average across all plans of 10%. However, the Legislature will have to appropriate additional funds during the 90th legislative session to maintain the final year of the projected glide path and avoid a fiscal cliff that would necessitate higher premium increases. The provided supplemental funding is projected to save $1,350 on average per employee in premiums over the biennium.  

Between regional variations, plan types, and participant coverage options, TRS-ActiveCare has 39 rates associated with various plans and coverage options. On average, the statewide rate increase is 9.7%. Rates for the lowest, midpoint, and highest cost regions can be found on PDF Page 27 of the TRS Board Book. Total premiums for all plans can be found at TRS-ActiveCare Plan Details webpage. Please remember these are total premium prices before a district adds in its monthly contribution. The premiums do not reflect the $75 state contribution or the minimum $150 employer contribution. So, to get an idea of how much a participant would pay out of pocket, you would subtract $225 from the published premium rate. Of course, employers can contribute more than the $150 minimum, but this exercise will provide you with a general idea of what the participant premium will likely be. 

Benefit enhancements 

The following TRS-ActiveCare benefits enhancements will also go into effect in the upcoming plan year: 

• Referral liberalizations:  
  Participants in TRS-ActiveCare Primary and TRS-ActiveCare Primary+ will no longer require a referral from their PCP to visit certain specialists. They can now see dermatologists, receive physical therapy, and get routine eye exams without a referral.  

• Member rewards changes: 
  TRS-ActiveCare participants will now be given one reward per year for seeing a PCP with a top-performing physician designation from BCBSTX. They’ll also receive a reward for seeing a specialist with the same designation and two rewards if they do so in a rewards-eligible facility.  

• Expanding musculoskeletal benefits:  
  TRS will begin offering Airrosti Remote Recovery programs for all regions of the state. Through Airrosti, participants will have access to virtual, no-cost care that will help members manage joint and back pain, among other musculoskeletal issues.  

Participant summer webinars 

TRS will offer From A to Z: Your TRS-ActiveCare Plan webinars for participants from June to August. These 30-minute virtual webinars will go over plan options, benefits details, and money-saving programs. All event dates and times are available on TRS’ events webpage. 

For any questions about the 2025-26 plan year, districts can reach out to their district ambassador or email trs-activecareadmin@trs.texas.gov.