The USD 253 Board of Education approved a new partially self-funded health insurance model for 2026 during its regular board meeting Wednesday.

Previously, the district had a traditional insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. The district and employees would pay fixed premiums each month, and BCBSKS would cover all claims regardless of cost.

Under the new model, the district will still pay BCBSKS for administrative work and access to the same network of doctors and hospitals, but the district will pay medical claims directly as they occur. This change typically costs employers less because they are not paying the insurance company’s profit margin, but carries a small risk of going over budget if their employees’ claims mount.

To minimize the risk of unexpectedly high cost

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