Payment glitch affects some retired state workers

One retiree who called WRAL News said she noticed that the state had not deducted her health insurance payment for December. A spokeswoman for the State Employees Association of North Carolina said their members had called the organization's office with similar problems. 

Although a little more money in the December paycheck might seem like a good thing, it probably means less money in the January check.

"We do not know how many members are impacted at this point," said Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for the treasurer's office. He said that members who were not billed for their health insurance in December will likely be billed for both December and January's payment next month.

Johnson said retirees' health insurance wouldn't be affected by the issue, which is only a billing problem. He could not say what the cause of the issue is. 

"We are working this week to determine the extent of the issue and resolution and are thanking members for their patience," Johnson said. 

Toni Davis, a spokeswoman for SEANC, said her office is referring members who call about the problem to the treasurer's office.

Davis said this is not the only health care-related glitch SEANC members have spotted this month. Some still-active state workers have reported to the group that their designated primary care doctor hasn't shown up as listed on their health insurance cards. That's important because state workers pay less for their health insurance if they do certain health activities, such as designating a primary health care provider. It's unclear, she said, whether that glitch has had affect paychecks.

"This was a problem with the ID card only," Johnson said. The discount a worker gets for participating in a healthy activity was not affected, he added.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is working to correct the problem and re-issue the cards.