Changes coming to address unfunded liabilities in state retiree benefits?

Published March 24, 2017

[caption id="attachment_8058" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dale Folwell[/caption]

by Brian Balfour, Civitas Institute, March 22, 2017.

Changes to the State Health Plan may be coming, following a vote of the State Health Plan Board of Trustees taking place today.

State employees who now pay no health insurance premiums could start paying $25 a month under changes being considered for the state health plan.

Other employees enrolled in what’s called the 80/20 plan could see their monthly costs going from a low of $15.04 to $50.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell said the increases are needed to keep the state health plan solvent….Folwell said Tuesday that a new study found that the plan’s liability has increased to $42 billion.

Folwell is right to address these liabilities, which have been skyrocketing since they were first calculated at the end of 2005. In 11 years, the liabilities have grown from roughly $24 billion to $42 billion, a stunning increase of 75%.

 UPDATE: The changes were approved by the board, and are scheduled to go into effect 2018.

March 24, 2017 at 7:30 am
George Barr says:

This one move will close the gap? If not, then what?

March 24, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Kristin Smith says:

I thought paid medical insurance after retirement was part of my benefits at hiring. Is it legal for them to be retroactive and change that?

March 28, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Blair Ellis says:

Interesting that retired and active state employees are having to absorb a 332% increase on the 80/20 plan. Even Obamacare premiums didn't go up that much. Hopefully I did that math right.