MEDICAL PLANS

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, TRS-ActiveCare offers one High Deductible Health Plan 
(HDHP) and one Affordable Care Organization (ACO) option. The ActiveCare plans 
are all administered by Aetna and offer retail and mail-order prescription drug benefits 
through Caremark. Dallas ISD employees also have the option to enroll in a Health 
Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Scott & White Health Plan.

The following is a brief overview of the different medical plans available to you: 

Available to ALL Benefits-eligible Employees…

ActiveCare 1-HD 
(HDHP)

This plan has a lower premium and higher deductible. It qualifies 
as a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), which allows you the 
opportunity to contribute pre-tax dollars to an individual Health 
Savings Account (HSA). The plan allows you to see network 
or non-network providers, but you will pay less when you use 
network physicians and hospitals. This plan option is the least 
expensive, but you should carefully evaluate the plan to ensure 
that the higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximums will meet 
your individual and family needs.

ActiveCare Select 
(ACO)

This plan is a network-only plan, similar to an HMO. The ACO 
offers no coverage for care received from non-network providers 
(except in an emergency). It is an “Aetna Whole Health Network” 
plan, which offers a specialized, narrower network of providers 
who work together to coordinate your health care needs. The 
monthly premium is slightly higher than ActiveCare 1-HD but the 
deductible is lower and you pay fixed copays for services. 

Scott & White 
Health Plan (HMO)

This plan focuses on wellness, prevention and treatment within 
a network of providers. Non-network providers are usually not 
covered, unless in the case of an emergency.





Available to Current Participants Only…

ActiveCare 2 (PPO)

This plan has a higher premium, low copays, and lower deductible 
and out-of-pocket costs than ActiveCare 1-HD. The plan allows 
you to see network or non-network providers, but you will pay less 
when you use network physicians and hospitals. However, this 
plan will be closed to new entrants for the 2018-2019 plan year. If 
you are currently enrolled in this plan, you may remain in it, but no 
new enrollments will be permitted. If you leave this plan, you will 
not be permitted to reenroll.









ALERT: HIGHER 
COSTS FOR 
FREESTANDING 
EMERGENCY 
ROOMSThe TRS-ActiveCare 
plans will implement 
a new cost-sharing 
structure for services 
received from 
freestanding 
ERs beginning 
September 1, 2018. 
A freestanding ER 
is a stand-alone 
emergency room that 
offers a higher level 
of care than an urgent 
care center but is not 
associated with a local 
hospital. If you visit a 
freestanding ER, you 
will pay more. See 
the TRS-ActiveCare 
Enrollment Guide for 
more information.

All TRS-ActiveCare members will receive new medical plan 
ID cards for the 2018-2019 plan year. Your new ID card will 
be mailed to your home address by mid-September.