Q:
If an employee resigns at the end of the school year, do we still have to pay his or her health insurance during the summer?
A:
Yes, an employee who works until the end of the school year is entitled to continue receiving health insurance benefits until the beginning of the next school year. Texas law entitles employees to a full year of benefits if they complete a full school year of service. If an employee’s resignation is effective after the last day of school, the district must ensure that his or her regular health insurance benefit continues through the summer months.
This requirement for continuation of health insurance benefits for employees who resign or retire at the end of the school year is found in Texas Education Code section 22.004 (k)(l). This provision went into effect at the start of the 2007–08 school year. The statute refers to school years, not health plan renewal dates, and it applies to all employees, not just 10-month employees or teachers.
