Saturday, March 26, 2011

N.C. Bill Requires State Employees to Pay Health Care Premiums




North Carolina’s Senate passed a bill that would require state employees to pay premiums for their health care. The measure passed 30 – 17 on a party line vote. The cost is so extraordinary that it will without a doubt bankrupt these poor public servants:


The more than 320,000 active workers on the State Health Plan would pay from $10.86 or $21.72 per month, depending on which of the two levels of coverage they choose, beginning this July. Retirees who receive the more generous coverage would pay $16.72 or $21.72, depending on whether they're eligible for Medicare.


Dependent care premiums also would rise by 5.2 percent annually for the next two years - less than the 9 percent average during the past two years after the Legislature assembled a $670 million bailout to address soaring health care costs. All told, that could raise premiums for family coverage on the more generous plan, currently at $580 per month, to more than $660 in July 2012.

Of course requiring premium payments for health care insurance is an attack on these selfless, righteous public servants:

Sen. Doug Berger, D-Franklin, called it part of a "war that is going on against public employees."


"This is a patently one-sided deal," added Sen. Josh Stein, D-Wake.


Democrats also suggested litigation could be ahead by retirees if they're asked to pay a monthly premium. Workers expected a pension and health insurance with no premium when they retired, said Senate Minority Leader Martin Nesbitt, D-Buncombe. With the average retiree receiving an annual pension payment of $23,000, even a small premium hurts, according to Ed Regan with the North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees' Association.

One sided is right. State employees get what is in essence free health care. We ask you to pay a paltry $21.00 a month, and you throw your ass over that! I’ve got news for you spoiled brats, I’ve a friend who works for a hospital and he has to pay over $500.00 a month for a family of four and that isn’t one of the more generous programs.

Welcome to the real world public employees.

Source: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110324/APN/1103241582?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar

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