Texas – Gov. Abbott directed the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees to implement the maximum feasible premium reductions for retired educators enrolled in TRS-Care.
According to the governor’s office, the directive aims to lower Medicare Advantage insurance costs while preserving the long-term financial stability of the TRS-Care fund.
Abbott said Texas has continued to support retired public educators and that recent investments have strengthened retirement security while creating opportunities to return savings to retirees.
State officials pointed to a $5 billion investment approved in 2023 that provided stipends and cost-of-living adjustments, permanently increasing monthly annuities for eligible retirees. Additional funding efforts in 2024 included more than $4 billion dedicated to teacher and staff pay raises.
Officials said the latest directive builds on those efforts by focusing on reducing health care-related costs for retired educators while maintaining the sustainability of the retirement system.
