ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s public school employees might soon find relief from rising insurance premiums. There’s a proposal for a statewide insurance pool that aims to help educators struggling with healthcare costs.
Many teachers report having to delay medical care, choose between decent salaries and affordable insurance, or, in some cases, skip treatment altogether. This isn’t just a personal issue; it affects schools statewide.
According to a 2025 Department of Education study, teachers’ salaries lag behind those of similarly educated professionals by over 30%. This financial pressure is driving educators to ask lawmakers for help.
Rep. Liz Reyer, a DFL representative from Eagan, is leading the initiative. She believes that a unified insurance pool would reduce administrative costs for school districts and better position them to negotiate with major insurance companies.
One supporter of the bill, Lori Goff, a special education paraprofessional, shared a heartbreaking story. Her son has a rare eye condition, and she struggles to afford the treatment he needs. Instead, he relies on a medication usually given to cancer patients, which is cheaper but risky. “Imagine telling your child that you can’t afford to keep them healthy,” she said, emphasizing the urgency of healthcare reform for educators.
This proposed insurance pool would cover all public school employees, including paraprofessionals like Goff. Reyer plans to introduce a bill during this session to start collecting data on the pool’s potential costs, with hopes of revisiting the full proposal next year. Sen. Mary Kunesh is backing a similar measure in the Senate.
The push for this pool is backed by Education Minnesota, representing over 84,000 K-12 employees statewide. They argue current practices leave districts vulnerable, especially in rural areas where one serious health issue can raise entire district costs significantly.
Kunesh has pointed out that the pool could improve teacher retention—a critical concern as many districts face constant turnover. For instance, Anoka-Hennepin saw a 22% rise in insurance premiums, nearly leading to a teachers’ strike earlier this year. Meanwhile, Kasson-Mantorville has faced an average annual increase of 11% for the past six years.
However, not everyone agrees with the proposal. At a recent committee meeting, Todd Mensink, representing several organizations, voiced skepticism. He argued that local control over healthcare decisions is essential and that administrative costs might not see significant changes. He raised concerns that some districts could face higher costs while others benefit.
Despite these debates, Reyer maintains that the goal is clear: “You shouldn’t be bargaining with people’s ability to get their healthcare. That’s wrong.” Even some Republicans are on board; Rep. Greg Davids is a co-author of the House bill, reflecting bipartisan interest in this matter.
The issue of rising healthcare costs is pressing not only for school employees but also highlights larger national trends in education. As education costs climb, the need for effective solutions grows, making this proposal even more pressing. If Reyer’s data-collection bill is passed, there’s hope for a more comprehensive plan in 2027. Meanwhile, Kunesh is optimistic about moving forward. “If we can improve things for these folks, I think we should step up,” she said.
Report for Minnesota is a project of the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication to support local news across the state.
