Northside ISD Teachers Rally Over Insurance Hikes
Employees say premiums rose sharply after the district switched from PPO plans to an HMO plan.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Insurance
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Northside ISD teachers rallied outside Stevens High School on Monday, November 2, 2026, over steep increases in health insurance premiums. One math teacher saw her premium rise from $250 to over $900 a month.
Why it matters
The premium jump affects employees across the district, including family plans projected to triple in price next year. Some custodians, who earn $14 to $20 an hour, may be left without health insurance next year.
Premiums for a $3,500-deductible Charter plan cost $930 per month, compared with $845 per month for a $5,000-deductible Charter plan, based on figures cited by employees. The total number of affected staff was not reported.
The players
Northside ISD
Northside Independent School District is the San Antonio-area school district whose employee health plans changed, and it had not raised premiums in eight years before this change.
The details
Employees elected new benefits during the district's October enrollment process and discovered higher premiums. Northside ISD is moving from PPO plans to an HMO plan, which the district attributes to higher medical costs nationwide, rising provider charges, and an industry shift toward HMO plans.
Timeline
October 2026: Employees elected new benefits and discovered higher premiums.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Teachers rallied outside Stevens High School.
2027: Higher family plan premiums take effect.
Market Landscape
Northside ISD's move from PPO to HMO plans follows a broader employer shift toward HMO coverage, which the district cites as a driver of the change. The move comes as higher medical costs and provider charges push premiums up for school employees.
Employees on family plans could see premiums triple next year, and some may need to change doctors if their providers fall out of network. Workers choosing among the new plans should compare deductibles and monthly costs carefully before enrolling.
The takeaway
Employees facing a plan switch should compare total annual costs, including deductibles and premiums, and check whether their doctors remain in network before the coverage period begins.
Further reading
Explore more on Insurance coverage costs and how employer plan changes affect San Antonio households.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOAI.
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