Charter school health insurance costs are accelerating at historic rates, with medical trend inflation running at 15–16% in 2026 compared to a typical 8%, driven by a lag in post-COVID inflation working through provider contracts and a consistent 15% annual rise in million-dollar claimants. In this episode, Gary Clark of HUB International and Kylie Hunter of Berkley Accident and Health explain how self-funded health plans and group captive structures give charter schools the transparency, flexibility, and risk management tools to break out of the fully insured renewal cycle. The HUB Charter Captive, built exclusively for charter schools and leveraging their favorable demographics, has delivered average renewal increases of just 8.2% compared to 17% in the traditional stop loss market — with an estimated $7.83 million in total savings across its member schools since 2019. This episode is essential listening for any charter school CFO, COO, or executive director responsible for managing employee benefits strategy. 

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS

Health insurance is consistently a top three budget line item for charter schools, and it is growing faster than per-pupil revenue, state funding, and most other revenue streams schools have access to. For years, many schools have treated benefits renewal as an unavoidable administrative event — something that happens to them — rather than a strategic financial decision they can actively manage.

The data Gary and Kylie present makes the cost of inaction concrete. At 15–16% trend inflation compounding annually, a school's health insurance spend can double in under five years. Meanwhile, the HUB Charter Captive's member schools are averaging renewal increases of 8.2% and have collectively saved an estimated $7.83 million since 2019 by participating in a structure designed specifically for their risk profile.

The strategic implication is clear: charter school finance and operations leaders who engage proactively — understanding their claims data, evaluating self-funded structures, and building a long-term benefits strategy — are creating meaningful financial runway for their schools. Those who wait until the renewal notice arrives are leaving that runway on the table.

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