Health insurance changes coming for state workers | The Augusta Chronicle

ATLANTA — Private-sector employees affected by the federal health care overhaul won’t be the only ones seeing changes in their insurance Jan. 1. The half-million state workers, retirees, teachers and school workers will also see their coverage revised.

State officials boast that premiums are being held in place, but some critics complain that they’ll still be paying more out of pocket because of limits on coverage.

“The main message that we want to convey – and we’re trying to convey – is for most members the premiums will stay the same or go down,” said Pam Keene, a spokeswoman for the Department of Community Health, which oversees the State Health Benefit Plan.

One key way to hold premiums down, she said Monday, was the department’s decision to contract with just one administrator for employees outside of metro Atlanta.

Traditionally, employees had a choice between two insurers. Though they both offered the same plans, each had its own network of doctors and hospitals.

The department still plans to have two insurance companies administering claims in the Atlanta area.

Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans, said he’s gotten calls from teachers and state workers complaining about the lack of choice.

via Health insurance changes coming for state workers | The Augusta Chronicle.