Lower or stable health premiums for teachers, state employees in 2016
About 650,000 teachers, state employees and government retirees got some good news from the state Thursday: insurance premiums for most of their health care plans will drop or remain stable in 2016.
Department of Community Health Commissioner Clyde Reese said the $3 billion State Health Benefit Plan had a good year financially in recently completed fiscal 2015 so the state can afford to reduce premiums.
The state also got a big financial boost when Gov. Nathan Deal and state lawmakers shifted about $100 million in costs for school bus driver and cafeteria worker coverage to local school districts.
Reese said the state won’t have to dip into plan reserves to pay for the reductions, which will cut costs up to $21.36 a month for some plans.
About the Author
James Salzer has covered state government and politics in Georgia since 1990. He previously covered politics and government in Texas and Florida. He specializes in government finance, budgets, taxes, campaign finance, ethics and legislative history
