How Our International School Clients Beat Medical Trend Again: 0.3% Average Increase in 2026 Renewals – And Why Stability Matters
A year ago, we announced that our international school clients averaged just 3.6% increase in their 2025-26 renewals – significantly below the 12.1% medical trend forecast for Asia.
READ MORE >> How Our International School Clients Stayed Ahead of Medical Trend: A 3.6% Average Increase in 2025–26 Renewals
Well, the steak continues – and we’re delighted to report that this year’s results are even better.
Our international school portfolio for 2026-27 renewals came in at an average increase of just 0.3%, with a median increase of 1%.
That’s beating medical trend by 10-15x. That number is impressive in itself. But what’s more impressive is the fact that only one of our clients changed insurance providers.
READ MORE >> One World Cover 2026 Medical Trend Report: Why Medical Inflation Still Matters (and How to Use It Properly)
The Renewal Roulette Trap
If you follow international school insurance forums, you’ll hear a lot of school leaders talking about “playing the field” – switching insurance carriers every 3-5 years to keep premiums down. The logic sounds smart: “I’ll threaten to leave if my premium goes up more than 3%. When they won’t budge, I’ll switch to a new carrier and start the cycle over.” And the reality is that this apprach does work. For a while. But here’s what actually happens:
Year 1: You switch insurance providers and get a great rate.
Year 2: The insurer wants a 8% increase. You push back. They hold at 3%.
Year 3: The insurer is done subsidizing you. They quote a 15% increase. You switch.
Year 4: New insurer quotes 8% increase. You’re back to square one.
The real costs of this approach:
- Service disruption every 3-5 years (new claims processes, new provider networks, new coverage rules)
- Staff confusion and frustration (new procedures every few years)
- Lost institutional knowledge (every switch means starting over with claims processes and coverage details)
- Constant uncertainty (faculty never know what their coverage will be next year)
- Morale damage (teachers feel like they’re playing a game with their health insurance)
One school leader described the experience perfectly: “The matter overall has cost us hours of valuable time and significant good will with our teachers.”
This is not a sustainable approach.
READ MORE >> Why Health Insurance Renewals Feel Unfair (And What Changes When the Data Is Clear)
One World Cover’s Approach: Stability + Results
Our approach is fundamentally different. Instead of playing renewal roulette, we focus on three things:
1. Data-Driven Plan Design
We analyze claims data to understand what’s actually driving costs. Then we make strategic adjustments that reduce premiums without cutting coverage faculty actually use.
Example: One of our clients made plan design changes last year that were designed to reduce costs. This year, they got a 20% decrease with no further changes – because the prior year’s changes were working.
This is the opposite of the “increase deductibles and lower mental health access and hope for the best” approach. We’re very strategic and data-driven in our approach.
2. Long-Term Relationships with Insurers
We build relationships with insurance providers who understand our clients’ needs and are willing to work with us and our clients to build long-term pricing and terms.
This is why our clients are staying with the same insurer year-after-year and still getting exceptional rates.
3. Year-Round Partnership
We don’t disappear after the renewal is done. We work with our clients throughout the year to manage claims, analyze utilization, and prepare for the next renewal.
This gives us the data and relationships we need to negotiate effectively when renewal time comes around.
Why This Matters for Your School
If you’re facing a double-digit health insurance increase this summer, you have options:
Option 1: Play renewal roulette. Switch insurance provider, threaten to leave, and hope the next company is cheaper. This might work for 3-5 years. Then you’re back where you started. And your staff are exhausted.
Option 2: Partner with a broker who understands your market. Work together to manage claims, make strategic plan design decisions, and build a sustainable approach to health insurance costs. Stay with providers who know you. Get better rates year-after-year.
One approach is a short-term fix that costs you time and staff morale. The other is a long-term strategy that delivers results. Our EARCOS and NESA clients choose Option 2. That’s why they’re seeing 0.3% average increases while the rest of the market is seeing 7-12%.
Medical inflation is real. Healthcare costs are rising globally. You can’t escape that. But you can manage it. You can be strategic about it. You can partner with someone who understands the market and knows how to negotiate on your behalf. And you can do it without playing renewal roulette.
If you’re facing a double-digit renewal quote, get in touch. We can show you what’s possible.
READ MORE >> Why International School Health Insurance Feels Broken – and How to Fix It
READ MORE >> How International Schools Can Better Balance Affordability With Duty of Care
To learn more please get in touch: [email protected] or click here to contact us.
