A teacher’s low salary is offset by excellent health insurance, crucial for their family of seven.
For most of his career, his paycheck has barely kept us above water. Last summer, our kids even qualified for free lunch at school. With his experience and a Master’s degree, he’s reached the top of the pay scale, meaning no more raises. With five kids, including two teens, we’re entering a pricey phase of life.
We’ve talked about him leaving teaching many times, but health insurance always brings us back. We’re lucky that the teachers’ union fights for great healthcare. It’s been a lifesaver for us, especially since we have kids with special health needs.
Our family deductible is $2,000, and we have a PPO, so no referrals or prior authorizations. I’ve never had to battle with an insurance company, and we’ve never faced a denial. I remember when we were newlyweds and I used Medicaid during my pregnancy. I felt embarrassed, but it was a blessing that helped me graduate as a nurse just before giving birth.
That experience opened my eyes to the importance of health insurance. After my postpartum complications, I had two hospital stays, and when I saw the bills, I was relieved they were fully covered. A $20,000 bill would have been devastating for us as new parents.
With five kids, we’ve always felt that my husband’s lower income as a teacher is worth it for the health insurance. We’ve been lucky not to face major medical emergencies, but even with normal events, like a premature baby, we haven’t had crippling bills like many families do.
I wish teachers were paid more, especially after how much they were valued during the pandemic. But for us, the health insurance makes it all worthwhile. I hope we can keep prioritizing this benefit, as it gives us peace of mind. It would be nice if one day, health insurance wasn’t tied to our jobs, allowing us more freedom in our choices.
