{"id":258059,"date":"2026-05-04T18:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T18:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/258059\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T18:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T18:38:16","slug":"senate-budget-chief-no-health-insurance-cost-hike-for-florida-state-employees-next-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/258059\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate budget chief: No health insurance cost hike for Florida state employees next year"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Credit: Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Tens of thousands of state workers as well as those working for state colleges can expect their health insurance premiums to remain the same for another year, according to the Florida Senate budget chair.<\/p>\n

Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, made the comment this week while answering questions from reporters about the coming special session on the budget scheduled to start May 12.<\/p>\n

House and Senate budget negotiators have reached an agreement on budget allocations that dictate how much general revenue \u2014 which comes from various state taxes \u2014 will be available in separate spending categories for the 2026-27 fiscal year.<\/p>\n

Hooper was asked whether there would be enough money for across-the-board pay raises for state workers. During the regular session, the Senate had proposed a 3% pay raise with a guaranteed $1,000 increase for all state workers.<\/p>\n

Hooper replied that it was \u201cstill a discussion item,\u201d but added, \u201cWe decided to hold steady on any increase in the health insurance, the employee cost, which is a significant number.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida\u2019s state group health insurance program has had employee premiums frozen for years even as the cost of coverage has continued to increase. The program is projected to have a nearly $363 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1, growing to $1.6 billion by 2030.<\/p>\n

Many career service state workers pay $50 a month for individual coverage and $180 a month for family coverage. Senior state employees as well high-ranking agency officials and legislative staff pay lower premiums: $8.34 a month for individual coverage and $30 a month for family coverage.<\/p>\n

Florida Phoenix<\/a>\u00a0is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Contact Michael Moline for questions:\u00a0info@floridaphoenix.com<\/a>. Follow Florida Phoenix on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Senate\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tTens of thousands of state workers as well as those working for state colleges can expect their health insurance premiums to remain the same\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"DeSantis\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tDemocrats and voting rights groups have announced plans to contest the maps in court once signed\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Florida\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tFlorida\u2019s Republican-dominated legislature this year enacted laws allowing a handful of state officials to designate terrorist organizations\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\t