The Socorro Independent School District prides itself in providing leading health benefits for employees. However, the substantial rise in healthcare and pharmacy expenses nationwide has contributed to a 47% increase in employer healthcare costs over the past 10 years, presenting challenges for employers like Socorro ISD to maintain existing healthcare benefits.

Socorro ISD’s health plan is a self-funded plan in which the district funds an average of 70 percent of the district’s health expenses. Employee contributions (payroll deductions) fund some 24 percent, with the remaining amount covered through program rebates.

In recent years, these contributions have not been enough. The account to pay for our employees’ and dependents’ covered healthcare needs has been in the red by millions of dollars year after year.

Therefore, Team SISD is making changes to the health insurance options to ensure cost-effective and efficient coverage for employees. On August 21, 2024, the SISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved updates to the district’s health care plans, which are administered by Aetna. The health plans will continue to provide comprehensive coverage but with new increased premiums and deductibles.

This new multi-year plan is a positive step that will enable the district to reduce costs and achieve a zero-fund balance with enough funds to cover all necessary expenses.

SISD understands that health insurance is not one-size-fits-all. We all have different needs and expectations, whether we are single, have dependents, have a chronic illness, or are expecting a new addition to our family.

That is why SISD offers a range of different health insurance plans. Each plan offers the same comprehensive coverage, but with different premiums and deductibles, giving you the power to choose the plan that best suits your individual needs and circumstances.

SISD offers three main types of health insurance plans through Aetna, the district’s Third-Party Administrator (TPA), which mainly differ in the cost of the premium and the deductible. Other variations may include out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, the plans can be combined with HSAs or FSAs, depending on the chosen plan. However, all comprehensive health insurance plans typically cover doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, lab services, and preventive care.

Each plan option for the 2025 Plan Year will include Aetna’s Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Network and Aetna’s Traditional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network. Both networks will be included in each plan, with ACO as Tier One and PPO as Tier Two.

Despite the changes in healthcare costs, SISD proudly maintains some of the lowest health insurance rates among the large school districts in the region. When comparing health insurance plans, it's important to consider the price and flexibility you need in health coverage to choose the best plan for you.

SISD Health Plan - Options Highlights and Side by Side Comparisons

• The Plan Year for benefits starts Jan. 1, 2025, and ends Dec. 31, 2025.

• The health plan options offered are the Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA), Base or the Premier plan.

• The Annual Deductible and Maximum Out of Pocket amounts reset as of the new Plan Year starting on Jan. 1.

• For the 2025 Plan Year each plan option will include Aetna’s Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Network; and Aetna’s Traditional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network. Each plan will include both networks as Tier One for ACO and Tier Two for PPO.

• Employees who select to enroll in the CDHP option will receive a $800 annual contribution from the district directly to the employee’s Health Savings Account (HSA). Employees can enroll to make additional contributions via payroll deductions to their HSA account.

2025 Socorro ISD Health Plan Summary Handout

The SISD Employee Health Clinic provides basic primary care with a focus on wellness and prevention to employees and their covered dependents enrolled in one of the district’s health plan options (i.e., Consumer Driven Health Plan, Base or Premier). The clinic offers high quality care at a cost savings with a $10 fee per visit with services that include physicals, screenings, weight management, lab work, vaccinations, rapid testing, referrals, acute care, minor injuries, and other basic primary care for patients over the age of four.

The pharmacy fills generic prescriptions according to the health plan’s drug formulary at a $0 co-pay. Healthcare providers may send prescriptions electronically, called-in, faxed, or dropped off at any time during pharmacy hours of operation.

Prescriptions from other healthcare providers may also be placed, transferred, and be filled out at the pharmacy. Services include prescription delivery to the employee’s SISD work location. The SISD Aetna insurance card and photo ID must be presented at the time of service. Brand and or non-preferred formulary prescriptions will not be available at the clinic.

Please note that the following services are not offered at the SISD Employee Health Clinic: work related illness or injuries, medical emergencies, childhood immunizations, or Physicals for Department of Transportation (DOT).