‘We might be looking at a loss of employees’: Columbia County teachers push back on proposed insurance hikes

Columbia County teachers and school staff are sounding the alarm over proposed insurance rate increases that some say could force them out of the classroom. What teachers were told vs. what the numbers showColumbia County school employees were told to expect around a 21% increase in their insurance rates for 2027. But according to Columbia County Teachers Association President Dr. Jenee Delaney, when the actual numbers came out, many were shocked.Delaney said depending on the plan and coverage level, some employees are looking at increases of 60, 80 and even 200 percent. She points to one example where an employee covering only themselves could see their monthly premium nearly triple, going from $17 to $51 under one of the proposed plans. Under the originally discussed 21% increase, that same employee would have paid just over $20 a month.For families, the numbers are even more striking, with some monthly premiums jumping by hundreds of dollars depending on the plan.Teachers say the ti