California teachers are protesting the increase in healthcare premiums, which is now outpacing school funding growth. Teachers’ share of their healthcare premiums has reached $1,600 a month in some cases.
California teachers go against school districts over soaring healthcare costs
Teachers in California school districts have been protesting rising healthcare costs, with health benefits surging by nearly 500% since 2013. While some unions have reached agreements with their districts on improved health benefits, others are still trying.
Teachers in the Twin Rivers Unified School District in Sacramento went on a 12-day strike in March because premiums had reached $1,600 a month. This financial burden strains teachers in nearly every California school district.
Similarly, teachers in Little Lake City went on a 10-day strike. Teachers in Natomas Unified in Sacramento went on a 7-day strike, while Dublin Unified, West Contra Costa Unified, and San Francisco Unified teachers went on a four-day strike.
School districts are struggling with declining enrollment, expiring federal aid, and rising pension costs, as well as healthcare premiums. District leaders warn that schools cannot take on healthcare costs without affecting other programs or activities.
However, teachers are saying that increasing out-of-pocket costs are swallowing up their salaries. They are demanding that the districts pay more towards rising health benefit costs, which some claim are more than their mortgages.
In the 2024-25 school year, schools in the California districts spent 8% of their average daily attendance funding on health and welfare benefits for school employees. The cost of health benefits has also surged nearly 500% since the 2013-14 school year, outpacing school funding growth.
Health premiums are outpacing teachers’ salary gains
The rate of health care premiums is now fast outpacing teachers’ salary gains. Average healthcare premiums have surged 14%.
However, according to a National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) study, teacher salaries increased by only 10% between 2018 and 2022. Insurance rates, on the other hand, have continued to increase at a steady pace.
“Health insurance premiums are rising faster than teachers’ salaries are increasing, and so this is, of course, making it harder for teachers to be able to afford to stay in the profession,” said Heather Peske, president of NCTQ.
Another 2025 study that surveyed about 2000 California teachers found that 69% of teachers reported that high, out-of-pocket costs for healthcare benefits were eating into their salaries. The teachers also complained that the healthcare benefits they were able to get were inadequate.