State officials predict big shortfall for Georgia health plan, again

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.