Tough medicine: State worker health costs in the red again

Florida economists project the state employee health insurance trust fund will run growing deficits, from $62.2 million next year to $2 billion within four years, even after the Legislature added $375 million this cycle. Premium revenue of $4.3 billion is expected to fall well short of $5.3 billion in costs by FY 27-28.

The infusions have become annual: $200 million, $550 million, $275 million, and now $375 million over four years, while premiums for career service workers have stayed flat at $50 a month for individual coverage. Senior officials and legislative staff pay far less, $8.34 monthly, even as the fund bleeds.

A 2025 TaxWatch report urged raising employee premiums closer to other large employers' levels, projecting $446 million in additional annual revenue, but lawmakers have shown no appetite for that fix.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.