State legislators griped that they’re getting too many complaints about the insurance benefit program for Nevada’s public employees.
“We all continue to get flooded with concerns,” said Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, adding, “It has to get better. The status quo is not acceptable.”
Woody Thorne, head of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, told the Legislative Commission that his staffers had done “an admirable job” in explaining changes in the program to participants.
“If you think you’re doing an admirable job, we’re in trouble,” said Buckley, who chairs the commission. “Because we shouldn’t have this great state of confusion out there, and we shouldn’t have this great level of dissatisfaction – and we need a turnaround.”
Similar concerns were voiced by Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, and Assemblymen Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, and Tom Grady, R-Yerington.
Goicoechea complained that some plan participants who sign up for dental, prescription drug and eye care benefits are paying more than $500 a month and that’s “completely unaffordable.”
Grady said he signed up for a supplemental policy with a private insurer, and had to drop it. He added he’s now paying less than half what he was paying for the state program.
Amodei said he’d like more information on the plan from Thorne at the Legislative Commission’s next meeting. Grady said the update should include the results of satisfication surveys of plan participants. Buckley added she’d like to know why Grady’s costs under the state plan were so high.
Thorne said claims for benefits have increased in 2005 over 2004, and that includes a 22 percent jump in major claims. He also said that with insurance plans there will be “price dislocation” for some participant groups – and “some will pay more than they think they should.”
Thorne also said a group insurance plan can’t operate effectively if expensive subgroups are removed. If they are removed, he said costs will go up substantially for the other groups.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Legislation Employee Benefits
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