The Harlingen CISD Board of Trustees approved changes to the district’s employee health plan on Sept. 16. Employees will be able to choose between an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) and a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan. Coverage begins January 1, 2027.
HCISD will continue to pay 100% of the employee-only premium for the HMO plan. Employees who choose the PPO plan will pay a monthly premium based on their coverage level.
MDLIVE will remain available at a $0 copay for employees enrolled in either plan.
Here is a quick look at the two options:
- An HMO health plan offers lower monthly rates, requires members to select a primary care physician and obtain referrals to see specialists, and does not provide out-of-network benefits except as allowed by the plan.
- A PPO health plan offers higher monthly rates and more flexibility in choosing providers. Members may use out-of-network providers, but they will generally pay more when receiving care outside the plan’s network.
What is changing?
- Health plan choices: Employees will have the option to choose an HMO or PPO plan.
- Plan costs: The employee-only premium for the HMO plan will remain at $0. Employees who select the PPO plan will pay a monthly premium based on their coverage level.
- Plan benefits: Deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums will change.
- Pharmacy: Pharmacy copays and the covered drug list will change, which may affect the cost of some medications. The Human Services team will be available to help employees understand these changes.
- HMO requirements: HMO members will need to select a primary care physician, and referrals may be required for specialist care. The HMO will not provide out-of-network benefits except as allowed by the plan.
District administrators and members of the Employee Benefits Committee met several times to review the plan’s financial condition and consider different benefit structures and costs.
Employee feedback played an important role in developing the final recommendation. Based on that feedback, the district preserved the PPO as an additional option, maintained the $0 employee-only premium for the HMO, and kept MDLIVE visits at no cost.
Board President Eladio Jaimez recognized the care that went into developing the recommendation.
“This decision followed a careful and thoughtful review by our Employee Benefits Committee, district administration, and Finance team,” Jaimez said. “We appreciate the employees who shared their perspectives throughout the process as we worked to develop a plan that supports our staff and remains sustainable for the district.”
The changes are intended to help keep the district’s health plan financially sustainable while continuing to provide employees and their families with access to health care coverage.
The work also represents one part of a broader district focus on health and wellness for students, employees, families, and the Harlingen community.
Superintendent Dr. Veronica Kortan said the district’s work will include a greater focus on creating healthier lifestyles and connecting current and future initiatives through the district’s Living Longer by Design work.
“This is the first step toward a very different way of how we are going to lean into our heart for people,” Dr. Kortan said. “We are on a mission to make sure that, collectively with our community partners inclusive of UTRGV and the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation, we will do our part in creating healthier lifestyles for our students, our employees and our community.”
As that work continues, the Employee Benefits Committee and district administration will explore additional opportunities to support employee wellness, including possible health-related incentive programs and partnerships with community organizations.
The district is also looking at health and wellness more broadly through Living Longer by Design. The effort is intended to connect work supporting students, families, employees, and the community rather than treating each initiative separately. That work may include examining areas such as school nutrition and cafeteria menus, expanding wellness opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, and identifying additional ways to encourage healthier lifestyles.
Dr. Kortan said these efforts are part of a larger picture and should help employees and families understand how individual initiatives connect to the district’s overall commitment to health and wellness.
She also thanked the Employee Benefits Committee for representing employees and providing feedback throughout the process.
“I want to thank our Benefits Committee,” Dr. Kortan said. “I want to thank our chair, Dr. Muniz, because he’s spent quite a bit of time with us getting ready for today. Tonight, I want to thank our Board for leaning into that, making sure that we’re going to listen to our stakeholders and the voices of our stakeholders, and creating a comprehensive plan that we can propose today and have approved that’s going to meet the needs of our employees and the organization as a whole.”
Before Open Enrollment, employees will receive a detailed comparison of the HMO and PPO plans, including monthly rates and benefit changes. Information will be available in English and Spanish.
The district will also maintain a dedicated employee benefits webpage that will serve as a central location for information about the 2027 plans. Employees are encouraged to return to the webpage regularly as additional details, resources, meeting information, and plan materials are added.
Virtual Health Care Connections meetings will be held through Microsoft Teams from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. These meetings will explain the changes and give employees an opportunity to ask questions.
Open Enrollment will run from Oct. 5 through Nov. 6. Employees are encouraged to carefully review the information, participate in the virtual meetings as needed, and understand the differences between the HMO and PPO plans before making their 2027 selection.
Additional information about the health plans, Living Longer by Design, employee wellness opportunities, and related district initiatives will be shared as the work continues.
Employees can review additional information, plan comparisons, and important enrollment updates at www.hcisd.org/hcisd-2027-health-plan.
