FLEHT Growth and Taxpayer Savings 2026

What is FLEHT?

The Florida Educator Health Trust (FLEHT) is a nonprofit health insurance program formed to help Florida school districts save on employee health plans without compromising educator benefits. The program opened last June with three counties on board—DeSoto, Hardee and Hendry—representing 1,671 public school employees. By the end of December, eight counties were enrolled, including Brevard, Charlotte, Okeechobee, Highlands and Polk, bringing total public school employee representation to nearly 22,000. By mid-January, more school boards voted to join, with 15 counties enrolled in total.

FLEHT is overseen by an executive committee composed of superintendents, with all member districts represented by voting trustees. The program, formerly known as the Florida School District Health Insurance Trust Program (FSHIP), transitioned to FLEHT under the Florida Association of District School Superintendents to align with educators’ needs.

Hernando County is expected to be the next district to participate, with estimates of up to 20 school districts on board by Spring Break. The program has already claimed more than 12 million in taxpayer savings to date.

Participation requires a district to adopt a participation agreement and to be self-insured. After that, a district follows a transition plan into FLEHT and becomes a member. Once enrolled, the district’s superintendent serves as a trustee.

Program projections indicate ongoing savings of 7-12% during the transition, with potential savings of up to 13% within one to three years.

Growth and Enrollment

From a starter pool of three counties, FLEHT expanded to eight by December, representing about 22,000 public school employees. By mid-January, participation extended further to 15 counties, with Hernando County poised to join next. Officials project as many as 20 school districts on board by Spring Break, underscoring rapid scale and the power of pooled enrollment to negotiate better health coverage terms for educators and staff.

Savings and Taxpayer Impact

The program targets meaningful savings for taxpayers. FLEHT estimates convert to 7-12% savings for districts during full transitions from fully-insured health plans to self-insured arrangements, with potential gains up to 13% within one to three years. Officials note that savings to taxpayers thus far total more than 12 million.

Rising health care premiums nationwide have challenged districts, while surveys show health care costs rising more quickly than general cost of living. The initiative aims to preserve educator benefits while delivering cost containment through group purchasing power and economies of scale.

Participation and Governance

Participation in FLEHT requires a district to adopt a participation agreement and to be self-insured. Once on board, districts transition into the program, and their superintendent becomes a trustee, representing their district in the governance structure. An executive committee, comprised of superintendents, oversees FLEHT with voting trustees from each member district, ensuring that decisions reflect the collective interests of Florida school systems.

Next Steps

Hernando County is expected to be the next participant, with a clear expectation of reaching around 20 districts by Spring Break. The broader vision for 2026 is to expand to 15 counties and eventually reach up to 20 districts within the first year of full operation, delivering ongoing economies of scale and increased taxpayer savings.