No increase in teachers’ insurance cost in 2015
By Brian Lyman, Montgomery Advertiser, Ala. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Premiums will stay at
PEEHIP provides medical coverage to about 300,000 people statewide. About 242,000 people receive dental coverage through supplemental programs offered.
Increases in the plan seemed a possibility, if not a liklihood, at the beginning of the year as PEEHIP faced a
However, the program plans to close the deficit with about
The 2015 education budget, passed by
It was the first increase for the program since 2008, when
"We got more than we anticipated, because for the last several years we got zero," said
However, Bronner and other members of the board voiced concerns about the program in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. PEEHIP officials estimated the shortfalls in the program will be
At the urging of
Additionally, members who have asthma, diabetes and various heart-related diseases would be placed in a disease management program, aimed at ensuring those with the conditions receive treatment.
Scott said those sorts of preventative programs would save PEEHIP money in the long term. "There's big money in changing people's behavior in disease management," she said at the meeting.
The programs would begin this August. The proposal initially called for an additional
Some smaller programs did see increases, though Scott said those were either mandated or allowed under state law. Rates for COBRA, which allows some employees to continue coverage after leaving or losing their insurance, would go from
Surviving spouse programs, not subsidized by the state, would see premiums set at anywhere from
Co-pays for prescription drugs were left at
In his initial budget in January, Bentley proposed a 2 percent teacher pay raise and funding aimed at avoiding increased co-pays for teachers in the plan.
"That was important to him," Bentley spokeswoman
House Speaker
"I'm proud that
Additional Facts
PEEHIP Costs
The governing board of the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Program (PEEHIP) agreed to keep premiums and co-pays for education employees and their families unchanged for 2015. PEEHIP provides medical coverage to about 300,000 Alabamians.
--Individual premium (FY 2015):
--Family premium (FY 2015):
--The program was expected to face a shortfall of
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