State officials predict big shortfall for Georgia health plan, again

Supporters of TRAGIC (Teachers Rally to Advocate for Georgia Insurance Choices) gathered outside the state Capitol in 2014 to protest their health insurance. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Supporters of TRAGIC (Teachers Rally to Advocate for Georgia Insurance Choices) gathered outside the state Capitol in 2014 to protest their health insurance. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Teachers, state employees and retirees have heard it all before, but officials are again predicting a big shortfall for their health insurance plan.

State Department of Community Health officials told the agency's board last week that the plan will have a surplus this fiscal year and next, which begins July 1. But for the budget year 2020, which starts in a little over two years, the State Health Benefit Plan, or SHBP, will run a big shortfall if no changes are made.

Georgians on the plan have heard such projections before and fear it is a precursor to reducing benefits and raising premiums.

To read more about the shortfall and the history of dire predictions for the SHBP, check out our story on myajc.com.