New Hires
New employees who are benefits-eligible must complete health benefits selections within 30 days of their hire date to enroll in coverage.
Qualifying Events
If the qualifying event is one in which a dependent is being added (birth, adoption, marriage), paperwork must be submitted to the Benefits office within 30 days of the event.
If the qualifying event is one in which previous insurance was lost (spouse’s job loss, divorce, loss of TN Care, etc.), then paperwork must be submitted to the Benefits office within 60 days of the date that previous coverage was lost.
Annual Enrollment
For current employees, annual enrollment takes place in the fall.
Cancelling Coverage
Coverage may only be cancelled during the annual enrollment period or due to a special qualifying event.
Eligibility
Employees must complete an enrollment form to enroll in coverage. Employees must be regularly scheduled to work at least thirty hours per week in a non-seasonal, non-temporary position in order to be eligible for health insurance.
Eligible Dependents
- Spouse (legally married)
- A child under the age of 26 who meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Employee's natural (biological) child
- Employee's adopted child (including a child placed for adoption in anticipation of adoption)
- A child for whom the employee is the legal guardian
- Employee's child for whom the plan has received a qualified medical child support order requiring the child to be enrolled in health insurance
- An employee or spouse's stepchild under the age of 26 for whom the employee or spouse is providing care
- Dependents over the age of 26 who are incapacitated (mentally or physically incapable of earning a living regardless of age). This provision applies only when the incapacity existed before the dependent's 26th birthday and they were already insured by a state-sponsored plan.
Dependents who are not eligible for coverage include:
- Foster children
- Dependents not listed in the above definitions
- Parent's of the employee or spouse
- Ex-spouse
- Live in companions who are not legally married to the employee
Premiums
2026
| Options | Tiers |
Blue Cross & Cigna Local Plus Network |
Cigna Open Access Expanded Network/BCBS Network P |
| Premier PPO | Employee Only | $188.35 | $278.35 |
| Employee + Children | $417.18 | $517.18 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $490.57 | $670.57 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $361.20 | $541.20 | |
| Family | $659.24 | $839.24 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $532.53 | $712.53 | |
| Standard PPO | Employee Only | $176.26 | $266.26 |
| Employee + Children | $390.77 | $490.77 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $459.71 | $639.71 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $338.47 | $518.47 | |
| Family | $617.17 | $797.17 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $498.56 | $678.56 | |
| Limited PPO | Employee Only | $112.76 | $202.76 |
| Employee + Children | $278.88 | $378.88 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $329.92 | $509.92 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $211.20 | $391.20 | |
| Family | $439.68 | $619.68 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $203.99 | $383.99 | |
| Health Savings CDHP | Employee Only | $106.18 | $196.18 |
| Employee + Children | $262.86 | $362.86 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $311.15 | $491.15 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $199.18 | $379.18 | |
| Family | $414.81 | $594.81 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $192.45 | $372.45 | |
| KCS Annual Contribution | KCS Monthly Contribution | ||
| Health Savings Account* | Employee Only | $605.35 | $50.45 |
| Employee + Children | $1,679.02 | $139.92 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $2,134.69 | $177.89 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $1,564.02 | $130.34 | |
| Family | $2,712.82 | $226.07 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $995.27 | $82.94 | |
2025
| Options | Tiers |
Blue Cross & Cigna Local Plus Network |
Cigna Open Access Expanded Network/BCBS Network P |
| Premier PPO | Employee Only | $179.32 | $254.32 |
| Employee + Children | $397.07 | $482.07 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $467.19 | $617.19 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $343.98 | $493.98 | |
| Family | $627.55 | $777.55 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $506.93 | $656.93 | |
| Standard PPO | Employee Only | $167.88 | $242.88 |
| Employee + Children | $372.11 | $457.11 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $437.78 | $587.78 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $322.32 | $472.32 | |
| Family | $587.51 | $737.51 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $474.59 | $624.59 | |
| Limited PPO | Employee Only | $107.40 | $182.40 |
| Employee + Children | $265.50 | $350.50 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $314.10 | $464.10 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $201.07 | $351.07 | |
| Family | $418.51 | $568.51 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $194.17 | $344.17 | |
| Health Savings CDHP | Employee Only | $101.11 | $182.11 |
| Employee + Children | $250.26 | $335.26 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $296.33 | $446.33 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $189.69 | $339.69 | |
| Family | $394.83 | $544.83 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $183.19 | $333.19 | |
| KCS Annual Contribution | KCS Monthly Contribution | ||
| Health Savings Account* | Employee Only | $605.35 | $50.45 |
| Employee + Children | $1,679.02 | $139.92 | |
| Employee + Spouse | $2,134.69 | $177.89 | |
| 2 Employee (EE + SP) | $1,564.02 | $130.34 | |
| Family | $2,712.82 | $226.07 | |
| 2 Employee (Family) | $995.27 | $82.94 | |
*Employees will receive the KCS contribution on a monthly basis
These premiums are listed as a per month amount. If you are paid bi‐weekly:
- Custodial/Maintenance (24 pay) ‐ These monthly amounts will be divided in half between your two checks each month.
- Food Service/Security (20 pay) ‐ You will take the annual amount due and divide it by 20 to figure your amount per paycheck.
For more information on bi‐weekly premium rates, please contact the Benefits Department at 865-594‐1686.
BlueCross BlueShield Information
| Website: BlueCross BlueShield TN | Phone: 1-800-588-6213 |
| Group #: 80860 |
ParTNers for Health Information
| Website: ParTNers for Health Employee Assistance (Here4TN) | Phone: 1-855-437-3486 |
| Website: ParTNers for Health | Phone: 1-888-741-3390 |
Health Insurance Premium FAQs
Q: Are health insurance premiums increasing for employees?
A: Yes. Health insurance premiums are increasing for employees, ranging from $5 to $32 a month, depending on the plan chosen by the employee.
Q: ls Knox County Schools covering the increase in health insurance premiums?
A. KCS is maintaining the percentage of coverage, but that will not cover the entirety of the increase of each plan. Employees will see an increase ranging from $5 to $32 a month, depending on the plan chosen by the employee.
Q: Why is Knox County Schools not covering the entirety of the increase?
A: Historically, the district has maintained the percent covered from year to year. However, from 2021 through 2025, the district was able to absorb the entirety of the state's premium increase. That was primarily due to surplus in revenues and local option sales taxes. To ensure future sustainability, the district is transitioning back to maintaining the current percentage of coverage for 2026 but not the entirety of the increase.
Q: Why is there an increase in health insurance premiums?
A. The State Group Insurance Program's Local Education Insurance Committee met and "based on the projected claims and plan performance, the committee approved an average health insurance premium increase of 5%." KCS received notification of this decision on June 19, 2025.
Q: Are the surcharges for the expanded network plans increasing?
A: Yes. The expanded networks are offered as a buy-up option, with the additional cost paid by the employee (not KCS). In addition to the premium increase, these employee-paid surcharges are also increasing, now ranging from $90 to $180 per month.
Q: Are the health insurance carriers remaining the same?
A: BlueCross BlueShield and Cigna will remain the health insurance carriers. For employees enrolled in the local consumer-driven health plan, the health savings account (HSA) vendor will change from Optum to TASC.
Q: When will employees see the increased premiums impacted in their paychecks?
A: Since employees pay for health insurance one month in advance, the increased premium will be seen in the December paycheck.
Q: Will there be education to our employees about the health insurance premium increase and the optional health insurance plans provided by KCS?
A: Yes. ln addition to the open enrollment newsletter, KCS Benefits Team will have representatives in the schools beginning September 15, 2025. All employees are encouraged to schedule a time with these representatives to discuss current and future options.
Q: Are KCS dental and vision plan premiums increasing as well?
A: No.