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Published: 2009-04-23 15:59:00
Updated: 2009-04-24 07:58:02

Perdue signs State Health Plan bailout


Gov. Beverly Perdue
Gov. Beverly Perdue
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Gov. Beverly Perdue signed into law the Legislature's $675 million-plus bailout of the state employee health insurance plan.

Perdue said Thursday the deal is a necessary short-term step to continue paying health care bills for 667,000 state employees, retirees, teachers and their dependents.

"This cannot be permanent policy," Perdue said in a statement. "The General Assembly must continue working on a long-term solution."

The compromise passed by lawmakers Wednesday will raise deductibles and most copays, increase premiums for dependent care coverage by 8.9 percent annually, and cuts benefits for people who smoke or are obese. Employees continue to pay no premium for their own coverage.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina opposed the final plan because it said it would cost workers hundreds of dollars of additional out-of-pocket costs.


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As a state employee, it is great to have health insurance for free for yourself, but the kicker is...most are married w/ dependants, and I can tell you that the price to add a spouse is astronomial...it would make your head spin! It is not an option of weather to add a dependant, but for some a necessity! So yes, when the already high price is raised, it is human to get upset about it, just as you would in your job.

There are some individuals who think the people who work for the state of NC do not pay taxes. Well, guess what, the employees for the state of NC do. Not only are they paying taxes to support the state of NC, they are also paying for goods and services provided by the private sector which in turn help to pay their employees health benefits, pay increases, incentives, etc. I am just tired of hearing that the people that work for the state of NC do not deserve incentives, good health insurance, pay increases, etc just like the private sector, the legislative peronnel, and the teachers.

i love it when people act like teachers have it easy lol... really amusing. because you know, it's the teachers fault when a student fails. not because the student refuses to study the parents refuse to make them do homework... NO! couldn't be that!!!

Now that the state has opened the door to start charging certain groups more for their health insurance, who's next?

Those who drink alcohol/beer? They could get a DUI or hurt someone else, or themselves. Raise their premiums!

Children with congenital health issues? Autism, diabetes, how about birth defects? Those cost the state more too; raise those premiums!

How about if you go skydiving, fly a private plane, deep sea dive, or just go skiing? All risky activities that can end up costing the state more money. Raise their premiums!

What if you've got high blood pressure? One can have it without being overweight. Obviously risky; raise those premiums!

Family have a history of cancer? Raise their premiums!

Now the big one; did the legislators write an 'out' in that law that exempted them? They've got the same health insurance as the other state employees. Lots of fat legislators!

To squeeze state employees while cutting the state corporate income tax is just another example of the rich getting bailed out while the common man pays. Same old story of government corruption.

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