Related story, here

Feb. 20-21 TRS Board Meeting Highlights

Aetna and Humana Lose Contracts
TRS Changes Health Insurance Administrators
The TRS board voted to change the health insurance administrators for the three TRS plans:
  • TRS-ActiveCare — will switch from Aetna to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) on Sept. 1, 2020.

  • TRS-Care Standard (for retirees under age 65 and not Medicare eligible), will switch from Aetna to BCBSTX, on Jan. 1, 2021.

For both of the above plans, Aetna will be the alternative should negotiations with BCBSTX fall through. The TRS says moving to BCBSTX for the two plans will result in savings of $440 million over three years.
  • TRS-Care Medicare Advantage (for Medicare eligible retirees 65 and older, or who are disabled), will switch from Humana to United Healthcare (UHC) as of Jan. 1, 2021, for an estimated savings of $314 million over five years. Humana will be the backup if negotiations with UHC falter.


There’s no change in the pharmacy benefits administrator. TRS-ActiveCare HMO plans that serve different regions of the state will be approved at the TRS board’s April 16-17 meeting. Other info, including rates and benefits for the three plans, will be approved later.

More info from TRS here and here.