MADISON, Wisc., April 14, 2025 — A new website launched this week to give the public a unique way to examine the looming health insurance crisis facing Wisconsin public school districts and their employees. The website, www.wischools.info, was created by the WEA Trust, an insurer with more than 55 years of experience in serving public school employees. The website was developed to raise awareness of the high cost and poor quality of health insurance benefits facing Wisconsin public schools.
“The sad truth is that a majority of Wisconsin teachers are only one health care crisis away from financial ruin,” said Vaughn Vance, WEA Trust’s President and CEO. WEA Trust developed the website by compiling publicly reported data from Wisconsin school districts, the Department of Administration and the Department of Public Instruction.
The website allows the public to view the costs and plan designs of Wisconsin school districts. In addition, the website allows users to compare the costs and plan designs of various school districts, and to compare how the costs and scope of benefits compare between local teachers and state employees.
“More than 50% of some public-school employees’ gross wages are at risk if they have a heart attack, need cancer treatment, or even want to start or grow their family,” noted Vance who explained that in recent years districts have continued to increase employee premium contributions, deductibles and other coinsurance costs. The issue is not unique to public school employees. Private sector businesses are also facing this crisis. However, the private sector generally has more options when dealing with rising health insurance costs.
According to the data reported by school districts for 2023-24, published by the Wisconsin Department of Administration and compiled by WEA Trust*:
· 24 districts offer health insurance plans with a $10,000 or higher annual family deductible. This refers to the amount employees are required to pay before they receive any coverage for events like childbirth, cancer treatments, or care for a heart attack.
· The Luck School District reported the highest statewide annual family deductible of $15,000.
· The average family deductible for Wisconsin public school employees is nearly $5,000 or 10 times larger than that offered to state employees.
· On average, at least 20% of Wisconsin public school employees’ gross wages are at risk to pay for health care expenses (premium contributions, deductibles, and maximum out of pocket expenses), more than double that for state employees.
· Multiple districts reported that their employees have more than 50% of their total gross compensation on the line for health insurance expenses. For example, Shell Lake District employees have an average salary of $53,000. The district reports that employees pay $20,000 towards family coverage, have an $8,000 family deductible and a $10,000 maximum out-of-pocket limit. That is more than 56% of an employee’s gross wages exposed to health care costs.
· 13 districts reported that less than 50% of staff are eligible for health insurance.
“Wisconsin will continue to have issues with recruitment and retention of public-school employees if they can’t even afford to get sick.” Vance went on to say, “Bake sales and GoFundMe campaigns should not be our health care strategy for our public-school employees.”
*Sources: Health benefit information obtained from https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/2023-24-School-District-Health-Care-Benefits-Report.aspx. 2017 Wisconsin Act 59 requires school districts to submit an annual report to the Department of Administration containing comprehensive information about health insurance programs provided to district employees. The DOA is then required to report this information on an annual basis to the Joint Finance Committee.
Salary information obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction at: https://publicstaffreports.dpi.wi.gov/PubStaffReport/Public/PublicReport/AllStaffReport.
