Florida Legislators Plan to Absorb Rising Health Insurance Costs for Employees

Florida Senate Budget Chair Ed Hooper has announced that the state legislature plans to absorb rising health insurance costs for state employees. This strategic decision ensures that health insurance premiums for tens of thousands of state workers, including those at state colleges, will likely remain stable in the upcoming fiscal year.

Sen. Hooper, representing Clearwater, shared these details during a press briefing ahead of the special budget session starting May 12. Budget negotiators from both the Florida House and Senate have reached an agreement on allocating general revenue from state taxes for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

In discussions about potential pay raises for state workers, Hooper indicated that this remains an ongoing conversation. Previously, the Senate proposed a 3% salary increase with a minimum $1,000 raise for all state employees. Currently, the emphasis is on stabilizing employee health insurance costs, a priority Hooper labeled as substantial.

Despite increasing insurance costs, premiums for Florida's state group health insurance program have remained unchanged in recent years. The program faces a projected deficit nearing $363 million for the fiscal year starting July 1, potentially ballooning to $1.6 billion by 2030. Career service state employees currently pay $50 monthly for individual coverage and $180 for family coverage, while higher-ranking officials and legislative staff pay lower rates of $8.34 monthly for individual plans and $30 for family coverage.