State Workers Will Suffer Even More
State workers who are already suffering with furloughs , pay cuts , and even layoffs are getting hit in the pockets yet again. State workers can expect an increase of up to and possibly more than 16 percent to there health care premiums.
Tuesday a CalPERS committee suggested an assortment of health care premium increases as well as other measures to rein in its rising health care costs to its 1.3 million public employees , retirees , and there families. The state and its unions are fighting for new contracts to find out how much of the $6.7 billion premium costs will be passed on to them. These new costs are sure to bring some already struggling families down even farther.
The rates for basic plans for preferred provider organizations (PPO’s) are going to increase 8.7 percent and rates for a basic plan through the health maintenance organizations (HMO’s) will rise 10.6 percent. The premiums for medicare beneficiaries are set to go up 3.4 percent. For the people that are electing to use some Blue Shield policies these times can be even harder for them as the rates for the company’s Access Plan will rise 16.4 percent and even higher in some areas.
CalPERS is expected to put measures in place to encourage beneficiaries to help cut costs such as using lower cost hospitals and also by filling more prescriptions by mail.
The committee declined some of the recommended staff changes , such as penalizing those who opt to buy name brand drugs instead of generics. Though the changes in the the benefits will save many millions of dollars , how much was being determined Tuesday night in preparation for today’s meeting for the CalPERS Board Of Administration. The board will then decide whether or not to accept the recommendations of the committee.
It was predicted earlier this week that most workers and companies will see a 9 percent increase to there health care premiums next year. Once again kicking the state employee while they are already down and taking money from there pockets.
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