GPB News - Politics | Georgia Public Broadcasting

Wed., April 16, 2014 7:00am

State Offering More Choices For 2015 Health Plan

State officials said Tuesday that they plan to increase the number of insurers and health plan options for state employees and teachers next year. The State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) has been a target of fierce criticism since Jan. 1. That’s when changes to its benefit design, plus the use of just one insurer, sparked widespread complaints from teachers and state employees about a lack of choice of insurance plans and higher health care costs.

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Wed., February 19, 2014 6:39am

State Health Plan Critics Take Message To Lawmakers

Roughly 100 people rallied on the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday to protest changes implemented this year to the State Health Benefit Plan for state employees and educators. Those changes have sparked a groundswell of criticism from thousands of Georgians about a lack of choice of insurance plans and higher health care costs.

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Tue., February 11, 2014 9:26am

State Workers, Blue Cross Gear Up For Insurance Change

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is gearing up to handle the transition of the State Health Benefit Plan to a co-pay system next month. Consumers may get a rebate or credit on their previous health care transactions for this year, as a result of the switch to a co-pay system. Currently, patients are operating with a co-insurance model, where they pay a percentage of the costs of a health service.

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Tue., January 28, 2014 6:28am

State Taps Reserves To Lower Employees' Health Insurance Costs

A state agency offered some financial relief to state employees and teachers Monday by approving changes in their health plan at a specially called board meeting. The sudden action by the Department of Community Health board follows a deluge of complaints from members of the State Health Benefit Plan, which also covers other school personnel, state retirees and dependents.

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Thu., November 10, 2011 9:58am

PeachCare Opens To State Employees

More than 40,000 children of state employees can now get federally subsidized health insurance, thanks to new rules allowing low-income state workers to enroll them in PeachCare for Kids. State officials expect moving eligible kids into the State Children’s Health Insurance Program will save Georgia $32 million next year.

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Wed., March 9, 2011 1:58pm

State Health Plan Short $250 Million

The health insurance program for Georgia’s state employees is short about $250 million for next year. But the state’s top official in charge of teacher and state employee health plans said he doesn't expect more than a 10 percent jump in premiums next year.

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Mon., July 19, 2010 12:18pm

State Employees Lose Access To Hospital

The Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon in dispute with United Healthcare

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Thu., September 10, 2009 10:39am

Accounting Office Audit Reveals Security Flaws

An audit of the State Accounting Office revealed security flaws in computer

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