Health plan reserves for Louisiana state employees shrinks

May 14, 2014May 12, 2014 H. Cutner

The Jindal administration is blaming the higher cost of claims and declining premiums. It was only slightly more than two years ago that there had been about a $500 million in the health plan reserves for the state employee program in Louisiana, but that has changed considerably over that short period of time. The balance within the insurance fund has now dwindled to an amount that is about half that size. This reserve balance for the health plans is meant to help to cover the medical claims that are made…

Illinois legislators allow 90-day insurance contracts for state employees

June 16, 2011 H. Cutner

The Illinois Legislature has approved a plan to allow a temporary extension to the insurance program that provides healthcare benefits to the state’s employees and retirees. Lawmakers have been debating the necessity of the program, going so far as to consider it’s burden on the state’s finances a weight too heavy for the state to bear. However, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability approved of a plan during an emergency session of the Legislature. The plan will give the state’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services the authority to…