Orange County Public Schools is weighing insurance changes that would raise family deductibles from $600 to $4,000 on SureFit and $800 to $6,000 on OA Plus Hybrid. Union president Clinton McCracken says the changes alongside wages would mean an average 7% pay cut for teachers.
The district also proposes raising the SureFit family premium from $266 to $588 per paycheck; the Classroom Teachers Association’s counterproposal is $293. The union also proposes family deductibles of $1,200 on SureFit and $1,600 on OA Plus Hybrid. The district cites a nearly $145 million shortfall in its employee health-insurance trust, attributing it to rising health care costs and declining enrollment.
McCracken described the district’s approach as “deductible first,” saying employees could face much higher medical costs upfront before coverage begins. A special magistrate will consider both sides’ positions and issue recommendations; the Orange County School Board will make the final decision.
