Do substitute teachers receive health insurance? It varies by district, but generally, they don’t.
Some districts offer benefits, but it’s not guaranteed.
Long-term substitutes may get benefits, but they still face challenges in job security compared to regular classroom instructors due to union preferences.
Geographic location also affects substitute teacher opportunities.
Medical Insurance for Substitute Teachers
If a substitute expects to work at least 10 hours per week, they can join TRS-Active Care.
Granbury ISD doesn’t factor in hours worked in other districts for eligibility.
However, meeting the 10-hour expectation doesn’t guarantee consistent weekly work, as assignments vary based on the school’s needs.
The district understands that you may miss assignments due to illness or personal reasons.
New substitutes have 31 days to enroll or decline medical insurance from their hire date.
Returning substitutes must decide during open enrollment or opt for a special event enrollment for the next plan year, unless they decline coverage.
Enrollment requires you to cover the full policy cost and make a one-month payment with your membership form.
Failure to pay premiums on time can lead to termination of coverage by the district.
Who is Eligible to Apply for these Benefits?
The Affordable Care Act permits a 12-month measurement period aligned with the school year’s health plan.
Exclude summer vacation time when calculating substitute teachers’ average hours worked using this formula (instead of 52 weeks).
There are two main categories of substitute teachers: long-term and short-term, each subject to different state and federal standards (day-by-day).
Regular teachers anticipating extended absences (e.g., maternity or medical leave) may hire long-term replacements who must work at least 30 hours a week.
Insurance coverage must be offered within the first calendar month of employment under the Affordable Care Act for employees working 30 hours or more per week.
While the Affordable Care Act mandates insurance coverage to begin on the fourth month, Chapter 32B might require earlier coverage.
Consequently, some municipal employers provide coverage to long-term substitutes without delay, aligning with coverage for other benefits-eligible employees upon hire.
Intermittent Substitutes
Many daily substitutes work without health insurance if they work less than 20 hours weekly.
However, if daily subs regularly work over 20 hours, especially 30 hours in the employer’s measuring period, a concern arises.
Chapter 32B differs from the ACA. It demands coverage when it’s clear an employee “regularly” works over 20 hours per week.
Employers should review hours for daily subs to assess if they cross the 20-hour mark. If so, Chapter 32B may require immediate coverage, unlike the ACA.
In some districts, day-to-day substitutes may indeed work no more than 20 hours per week.
To ensure substitute teacher well-being, offering them health insurance and implementing hour limits for other employees can be considered.
Adding a reporting requirement for substitute hours worked may also prove helpful.
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