Most teachers receive health-care benefits after they retire, costing states hundreds of billions of dollars. But many states have set aside little to nothing to pay for their obligations, finds a new analysis in the journal Education Next.
Thirty-five states offer postemployment health care to teachers. The study finds the national estimated liability for postretirement health-care benefits for teachers is $231 billion.
Overall, the study finds there is no money set aside to cover 93 percent of the anticipated costs for all retirees’ health care. Fifteen states—including Florida, New Jersey, and New York—have set aside no money to pay for their retiree health-care obligations. Other states have funded tiny amounts of their obligations.
