State Health Plan - 2009

State Health Plan - 2009 - 2010

Insurance & Co-Pay Rates, Carriers, Planners & "Health Fairs"

SJM Council Member Tom Grodecki Readies the Ballot Box for Members to Vote on the SEBAC Agreement at Our Union Hall in May

In 2008, the State Health Care Cost Containment Committee, which includes representation from our union, picked health plan carriers through June 30, 2011.Despite skyrocketing private sector and municipal agency employee healthcare costs, the Committee actually reduced costs for the first year of the plan, without any loss of benefits. In addition, we also negotiated the same prescription drug benefits and the same co-pays for retired and active State employees on Medicare residing out-of-state.

A new law requires group health plans in Connecticut to provide coverage for unmarried children up to the age of 26. Active and retired State employees with children age 19 through 26, residing in Connecticut resident or enrolled full-time in an out-of-state college, and who are not enrolled in their employer's health insurance are eligible.

Each year, active and retired State public service workers may change their health plan insurance carrier during a scheduled "open enrollment" period, which the State Comptroller's Office coordinates and announces in late Spring. The 2009 period for active employees was May 18 through June 5, and May 26 through June 15 for retirees.

As part of a cost-savings and job security agreement negotiated with the Administration of Governor M. Jodi Rell and ratified in May of 2009 created new pharmacy co-pays for active employees and future retirees. The new 3-tier structure will save taxpayers about $40 million over the next two years, the vast majority from reducing pharmacy company profits by encouraging generic substitution and increasing rebates.

State Health Plan Prescription Drug Info & Rates
Mailer sent out-of-state retirees on prescription drug benefit