Remember less than two weeks ago (Aug. 14, to be precise) we wrote that members of the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits (OGB) should prepare themselves for health insurance premium sticker shock? https://louisianavoice.com/2014/08/14/nichols-pens-op-ed-on-soundness-of-ogb-even-as-legislative-fiscal-office-prepares-members-for-premium-sticker-shock/
Well, LouisianaVoice has obtained new information that indicates we weren’t entirely accurate in our portrayal of what’s in store for some 230,000 state employees, retirees and their dependents.
The reality is much worse.
Much worse indeed, particularly for state retirees.
To recap briefly, we told you in that Aug. 14 posting about the report of the Legislative Fiscal Office on pending major changes in medical coverage for state employees and retirees. Some of those anticipated changes provided in the Legislative Fiscal Officer Report, authored by Legislative Fiscal Officer John Carpenter and Legislative Fiscal Office Section Director J. Travis McIlwain, include:
- An increase in premiums state employees and retirees pay for health coverage;
- Significantly increase the out-of-pocket maximum for all health plan options;
- Increasing deductibles for all health plan options;
- Increasing co-pays 100 percent for those proposed health plans with co-pays;
- Increasing the out-of-pocket maximum for the prescription drug benefit by $300 from $1,200 to $1,500 per year, a 20 percent increase;
- Requiring prior authorizations for certain medical procedures;
- Eliminating the out-of-network benefit for some health plan options;
- Removing all vision coverage from the health plan options.
The latest premium increase of 6 percent will go into effect on Jan. 1 is on top of a 5 percent increase implemented on July 1 of this year.
State Treasurer John Kennedy, on the heels of the Legislative Fiscal Office Report, penned an op-piece in the Baton Rouge Advocate in which he advised state employees to be careful to not break a leg as the increased premiums and co-payments “could cost you a month’s pay. http://theadvocate.com/home/10028534-123/gues-column-changes-mean-problems
The changes mentioned thus far are, of course, mostly the result of that $7.2 million—and growing—consulting contract awarded to Alvarez & Marsal which was charged with sniffing out $500 million in state savings over the next five years—something Gov. Bobby Jindal apparently felt his highly-paid cabinet appointees were incapable of accomplishing.
Of course Jindal’s plan for saving $20 million a year through the privatization of OGB has been less than a smashing success as the agency has hemorrhaged red ink to the tune of $16 million more per month than it receives in premiums since the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana takeover on Jan. 1, 2013.
BCBS is paid by the state on the basis of enrollees. The initial rate beginning in January of 2013 was $23.50 per OGB member per month. Today, that rate is $24.50 and in January, it will go to $25.50 per member per month.
But now LouisianaVoice has obtained information from deep within the inner sanctum of BCBS that OGB is planning even more drastic changes. So, in effect, OGB members are about to be hit with a double whammy, or in more chic vernacular, the perform storm, designed to force retirees out of OGB coverage and into Medicare.
And OGB is completely complicit in this portentous plan.
The sweeping changes are scheduled to be mailed to employees and retirees on Sept. 15 but we have the gist of the plan now.
First of all, all current plans are going to disappear, especially the one that are geared toward retirees. The PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization plan, currently has four levels: Active, Retiree No Medicare, Retiree with Medicare and Retiree 100 (a supplemental program designed for retirees with high medical costs. This program requires a separate premium and currently is only available through the PPO plan).
Now, though, there will be only four plans and none will have levels geared toward retirees, meaning that retirees will be paying more out of pocket. This is the method by which Jindal, through OGB, plans to push retirees to drop their OGB coverage and switch to only having Medicare.
Such a move, of course, would drastically reduce the amount the state would be required to pay BCBS, thus reducing the monthly deficit currently being experienced by OGB. The premium increase next January, along with the reduced benefits would cut that deficit more as the administration grapples with the can of worms it opened by turning over the third party administrative duties to BCBS.
But even worse, state employees who never worked in the private sector prior to April 1, 1986, do not qualify for Medicare. State employees hired after that date began paying into Medicare. Moreover, state employees who never worked in the private sector do not qualify for Social Security benefits. http://www.treasury.louisiana.gov/Lists/SiteArticlesByCat/DispForm_Single.aspx?List=c023d63e%2Dac65%2D439d%2Daf97%2Dda71d8688dff&ID=101
Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols, try as she might, was unable to put much positive spin on OGB’s status in her recent op-ed column. http://lapolitics.com/2014/08/nichols-ogb-prepared-for-changing-world-of-health-care/
Nor was the self-serving op-ed piece by OGB board member Scott McKnight in Tuesday’s Advocate particularly reassuring. http://theadvocate.com/home/10088672-123/guest-commentary-ogb-changes-helping
(Is it just us, or do the administration and BCBS suddenly seem terribly eager to launch a media blitz to convince us against overwhelming evidence to the contrary that what they’re planning to roll out at the approaching open enrollment is in the best interest of state employees and retirees? An even better question is do they really believe we’re stupid enough to buy into their empty promises?)
Second, and probably the most inane change is the renaming of all the plans from HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), PPO and CDHP (Consumer Directed Health Plan, formerly High Deductible Plan, changed to CDHP to make it sound more appealing) to confusing names like Magnolia Local, Pelican HRA, etc.
That tactic would appear to simply create confusion for elderly members.
But even more duplicitous is the provision that all OGB members must choose a new plan for the 2015 year during the upcoming open enrollment. If not, then they will automatically be placed in the HRA plan which is the worst of the four plans OGB will offer next year. It is a high deductible plan with have no coordination of benefits with any other coverage.
The big concern here is for members who have moved but never updated their addresses with their Human Resources departments or with OGB. If they don’t get the notices mailed out on Sept. 15 and fail to choose a plan or if they are incapacitated in nursing homes and have no family watching out for them, they will automatically be dispatched to the HRA plan.
HR officers will become responsible for retiree maintenance. Accordingly, retiree records definitely need to be updated in employees’ and retirees’ respective HR offices. But with all the closures and privatizations, many retirees and/or HR offices do not know who will have the retiree maintenance. Several other changes include dependent verification and late applications. All these changes will have to be made with an antiquated electronic enrollment system designed and maintained by the same OGB IT staff that was recently consolidated under DOA and which no longer belongs to OGB.
Further complicating matters is Jindal’s gutting of OGB staff to the point that the office now has only a handful of employees taking phone calls from members. So the administration has suggested that BCBS get its employees to handle the spillover calls.
But while OGB representatives are authorized to offer advice to members on what plans they should choose, BCBS employees are not. So, BCBS is hiring about 20 temps to take phone calls from members regarding the plan changes for 2015. These temps will, in all probability, simply refer callers back to OGB, which would appear to be a poor way to communicate with members about such important changes.
How bad is the HRA plan? Well, for openers, and deductibles will increase from modest amounts to thousands of dollars, the economic effect of which could be devastating to employees and retirees alike.
Lest anyone forget, it was Jindal who pushed the privatization of OGB, even jettisoning Tommy Teague as executive director of the agency when he didn’t jump on board the privatization train. It wasn’t enough that Teague had taken OGB from a $60 million deficit to a $520 million surplus, Jindal insisted the move, which included putting more than 150 OGB employees out of work, would save the state $20 million per year. The plan thus far has proved a complete fiscal disaster.
State Rep. John Bel Edwards (D-Amite), who is an announced candidate for governor in the 2015 election, agrees.
“The OGB fiasco is proof positive that privatization for the sake of privatization is foolish,” he said. “A reserve balance that recently exceeded $500 million is half that now and bleeding $16 million per month due to mismanagement and budget chicanery, and the ultimate price will be paid by state retirees and employees through higher premiums, higher co-pays, higher deductibles, and higher co-insurance in exchange for fewer benefits, more forced generic drugs, and more preclearance of needed treatments and other changes that make crystal clear that the OGB beneficiaries will pay more for less.”
In an effort to prevent unwanted surprises in health care coverage following the upcoming enrollment period, it is important to remember three important things:
- All members should immediately update their addresses with their HR departments or with OGB;
- Make certain that elderly retirees, retirees in nursing homes, etc., have updated addresses;
- Make certain that all retirees on Medicare have sent an updated copy of their Medicare cards into OGB.
These are three things that are critical to state employees and retirees as the 2015 plans changes approach.
Louisiana Voice 
My blood is boiling from having just read this article. But thanks for the heads up, and a thank you also to your source. Is there anything that can be done to stop this disaster? Jindal needs to really keep travelling out of state more than ever now because I don’t know how he can show his face anymore in this state.
There is no end in sight to the disaster that jintler has done to those who worked for the state and over the last years of their lives. He should just take us out and shoot us. He beats Obama by miles in his dislike for the people of Louisiana and has no business trying to run the US when he cannot do any good for his own state but put us deeper and deeper in debt. The forecast is very unsettled and time is not on our side. Most of our days are numbered.
And still President Obama has to be drug into yet another disastrous Republican situation….just admit it….Booby Jihad is screwing us without grease
This will all be blamed on Obamacare.
I’m in for marching in Baton Rouge to show our disgust. Is all of this because Jindal forced government employees out of their jobs—especially teachers? I would love to know how many took an early retirement. Where is the Louisiana Teacher’s Retirement Association in all of this? We all have to work together to stop this before it happens!!
The Louisiana Retired Teachers Association has opposed the privatization of the Office of Group Benefits since the topic was brought up by the Jindal administration in January 2011. In April 2011, then President Dr. James A. Taylor, Sr. appeared before the Senate Retirement Committee and publicly testified that the privatization of the Office of Group Benefits would eventually cause reductions in coverage and increases in premiums, or both. The association continued to register its opposition through public testimony at additional meetings held by the Senate Retirement Committee and the Senate Insurance Committee through the 2011 regular session of the Louisiana Legislature. When the contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the administration of the program was presented by the Division of Administration to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, then President Dr. Lonnie E. Dunn, current President James T. Stewart, and LRTA Legislative Committee Chairman Mr. Benjamin L. Sandifer, and Executive Director Graig Luscombe officially registered LRTA’s opposition with the committee.
Prior to that meeting, both the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association and the Retired State Employees Association worked ferociously to convince some members of the joint committee that privatization of the state’s health insurance plan would have future negative impacts on retirees. At the first meeting of the joint committee, the contract between OGB and Blue Cross/Blue Shield was deferred. Following that meeting, some of the committee members were removed by the Speaker of the House, and replaced by other members of the House of Representatives, and the joint committee voted for the approval of the contract at a meeting held the following week.
Since that time, LRTA has closely monitored the changes brought forth through the privatization by attending all OGB board meetings held since the Blue Cross/Blue Shield contract was approved. As a result of the privatization, we are now seeing the increase in premiums (implemented by OGB on July 1, 2014), and the reduction in benefits (to be implemented January 1, 2015) that were predicted by Dr. Taylor in April 2011.
LRTA continues to oppose changes being made to the administration and operation of the state health care plan.
Shockingly, the Administration blames Obamacare. Hard to believe those people can sleep at night.
And, let’s not mention the vast majority of retires DO NOT have Medicare coverage!
I don’t have medicare.
Let’s not forget that some years ago the state said that if you stick with us and maintain OGB coverage continuously for a period of 20 years, we will pay 75% of your health care premiums when you retire. A smaller number of years would result in the state paying a smaller percentage of the premiums. Some people might could have gotten a better deal by going with a spouses plan, or changed from year to year, but they stayed with OGB and increased the pool of healthy people paying premiums to the benefit of the plan. Let’s also not forget that there are still a number of retirees for whom the Medicare tax was not paid and who will not qualify for Medicare, I would assume, unless they gained that eligibility working elsewhere. The state began paying the 1.45% Medicare tax on all employees sometime in the late 80s, I think, and only on the new hires. I even asked if we could voluntarily pay the tax on everyone, and was told no. There was a law passed about 10 years ago that allowed those of us who were left out to make an irrevocable voluntary decision to begin paying the tax. I did this, but knew many who did not. The point is that there are already state retirees who will not have Medicare on which to fall back.
I did it also and pay a little over $300 per quarter to maintain it and that’s in addition to paying the State insurance coverage. Medicare is considered Primary and the state is secondary coverage. I consider myself and my husband insurance poor.
The first thing I thought of was the money I could have saved when OGB told us the state would subsidize 75% of our premium when we retired if we had so many years of coverage with them.
I am also really concerned about the pre-authorization issue. There is just something that makes me nervous about Jindal deciding what medical procedures I should have. Is he the one we want deciding if somebody pulls the plug or not?
aren’t Jindal and his wife state workers?? aren’t his parents retired state workers?? doesn’t he realize that this affects then too or are they exempt??
Jindal’s wife does not and has never worked for the State. She worked at one time for Albemarle Corp. Both his parents are still working—his father at LSU and his mother for the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Well, at least it’s convenient Jindal’s mom works for an unemployment agency. She can help state retirees find jobs in the Private Sector that offer good insurance benefits!
I said this earlier when the privatization of OGB was first proposed and now say it again. A suit should be brought by affected parties NOW so as to allow time to determine if these changes are contractually legal. A promise means nothing to Jindal and his minions. Thus, a contractual promise made to affected state employees regarding health benefits means nothing to Jindal. Therefore, while there is still time prior to the scheduled implementation date(s), a cease and desist or an implementation delay suit must be filed with the hope that the courts will stop this dastardly deed.
John Sachs – you are absolutely correct. It’s long past time for people to take strong and decisive action to stop the rape of state employees – and by extension all citizens – and the pillage of the state treasury by Piyush and his minions. These rapacious sociopaths treat public funds like their own personal piggybank. The Jill Boudreaux caper is another example. These people are stealing state funds – theft by conversion – and must be stopped. All we have is the court system, there is no police agency in Louisiana that can protect us. We need to file lawsuits to hold people like OGB board members personally responsible for their fiduciary responsibility. A civil suit should be filed at once to enjoin the new OGB/ Blue Cross plans from being shoved down our throats. Federal criminal charges should be pursued starting with Jindal – these people are criminals. This transcends incompetence and even malfeasance, it’s deliberate criminal behavior. I believe the RICO statutes may apply.
Time to stop being passive victims. It’s time to fight back. Let’s not forget, Piyush has lost EVERY court challenge to his plans for our destruction. Is Jimmy Faircloth totally incompetent, always on the wrong side, or slyly losing on purpose?
I’m all for filing suit. Please contact me and let me know where to sign up.
I have no personal issue with the OGB Board except that they rolled over for Jindal. Unfortunately for them, I am now viewing that as criminal malfeasance. They lowered the premium when BCBS took over even though their advisors told them the higher premium would be necessary to maintain the fiscal stability of the system. This made them complicit in effectively converting the reserve fund into general state funds to help balance the state’s budget. I believe this is a criminal violation of the constitution.
Starting August 1st, the Board again went along with Swindal’s plan to cut benefits based on the financial troubles they created by their prior malfeasance. To me it looks like another act of criminal malfeasance.
What can we do? Forward this post and others describing criminal activity to the FBI’s Public Corruption Unit. In addition, we should contact a local attorney to see if the Board members could be civilly sued for their malfeasance as a class action by all state employees. The money that we paid for health insurance has been illegally used to balance the budget. We, or OGB, should get that money back.
Mr. Aswell, I agree with OneStateWorker… and I ask you to please follow up with an investigation into the specific question: Was/is it a criminal violation/ malfeasance to use these OGB reserve funds to cover state general fund needs? I wonder if there are grounds here for legal action?
I agree. How do we get started?
There is a special place in Hell for Jindal.
“But even worse, most state employees who never worked in the private sector and paid into Social Security, do not qualify for Medicare.” You might want to clarify this statement as it may scare a lot of people. I believe people who came on in late 80’s and beyond do pay into Medicare….
What happens to retirees who aren’t old enough yet for medicare? I am a soon to be 60 yr old retiree because I had to take early retirement after Katrina losing almost half of my retirement benefits otherwise be furloughed without pay or health insurance and with little to no other employment options due to Katrina. All while trying to repair my flooded home and caring for my adult daughter with severe disabilities.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone
John Sachs
On page 73 of the 2014 HMO plan document is says: “OGB reserves the right to terminate or amend the eligibility and benefit provisions of the Plan from time to time as necessary to prudently discharge its duties.”
This appears to give them the rights to make the August 1st and January 1st changes. I would argue that these changes would not be necessary if they had not criminally im-prudently managed OGB’s finances at Swindal’s direction. Does the prior criminal act remove the Board’s ability to ask us state workers to fund their malfeasance?
By the way, this is a classic implementation of The Shock Doctrine as described by Naomi Klein in her 2007 book:
1 Create a fiscal crisis by effectively directing state funds to private companies (The Jindal Louisiana Miracle: How can so much money be given to corporations with tax concessions and have the state get so little in return)
2 Use the created fiscal crisis to justify draconian changes in employment, benefits or services.
Ms. Klein describes how the economic principles advocated by Freidman of the Chicago School were seized upon by the 1%ers because he put an academic polish on policies that reinforce their greed. She documents implementations from Chile up through the early 2000’s and how each one failed to deliver the promised benefits for the citizens of the country. The rich got richer and the number of people in poverty exploded. How can we convince ditto heads and Fox fanatics that they are being used and will be tossed aside when they have been brain washed to only believe the lies from Rush, Fox and Pathetic Piyush.
One State Worker
Thank you for your insightful observations. I do think that the contract or plan in place prior to privatization of OGB should be researched for language that would make these latest plan changes an illegal breach of contract. That is, what current language that may have been put in place cannot nullify the original contract without participants permission if it lessens benefits or otherwise negatively impacts the plan(s) in place at the time of the participants first joining the plan unless language was originally in place granting such authority to the OGB. When joining the OGB Plan(s), participants entered into a contract placing responsibilities (offers and acceptances) on both OGB and the participant. A unilateral change cannot be effected unless so stipulated in the original contract. Otherwise, a change requires the consent of both parties to the contract.
Tom, thank you for continuing to follow this story. Perhaps what Gov. Jindal is doing is technically legal, but in the terms of real human life, what he’s done and continues to do to Louisianans, on multiple fronts, is criminal–is patently immoral.
And here’s an anecdote to add to the fire. Before Gov. Jindal derailed OGB, my wife and I, both educators, NEVER had problems with OGB. Since it’s privatization, we, our doctor, and our pharmacist have had to jump through the prior authorization hoops multiple times for required medications. Even after doing so, we usually have to contact OGB because they have not honored the prior authorizations that they have accepted. Just yesterday, I was told by my pharmacist that OGB now requires a $600 copay for a medication that previously had a $50 copay attached to it–even though I have an official document from OGB that states I need only pay the $50 copay. That was not the first time. I have come to suspect that OGB has been instructed to use such bullying tactics in order to discourage state workers, state retirees, and their family members from using expensive medications, even if those medications are necessary.
To add insult to injury, check out today’s (8/26/14) guest column in the opinion section of The Advocate, written by Scott McKnight, on this very topic.
Here’s the link at which to do so: http://theadvocate.com/home/10088672-123/guest-commentary-ogb-changes-helping. Sure are plenty readers’ cross-references to this post.
Veritas – Insult indeed! McKnight’s piece is little more than a late-night cable TV commercial composed from circular argument and unicorn dander. Ugh!
Appears to me that we now have JindalCare, a much worse plan in place of ObamaCare, which I suspect Gov. Swindal has been planning all along. Just keep in mind when you go to the polls that Vitter could end up in place to carry on all Jindal Swindals as well as many of his own if we have any state employees by then.
I keep saying you can’t tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans anymore. They want to take from the workers and give to the non-workers (Demos) or take from the workers and give to the rich Jindal supporters (Repub.). At some point you are going to run out of money from the workers!!
I just retired last year. Like i told my daughter who has been working for the state for 5 years (and totally disgusted), there are some things we can control in our budget and spending. But we are at the mercy of politcians and government when it comes to insurance. They decide what they want and they take and take and we just have to learn to live with what we have left.
The contract w/BCBS should be thrown out as Bruce Greenstein’s wife worked there when the contract was awarded. and that is how they got the contract w/the state over United Health. BCBS had inside info in bidding process, when United cried foul no one did anything. BCBS is making a ton of money off LA. retirees,private citizens, and Bayou health enrollees too.
Jindal’s plan was to reduce number of stateworkers,calling it reduction of government footprint, lol. Ever heard of Act 322 for OGB. it was enacted in 2011.. talk about a screwing!!
A majority of the state population doesn’t care about this because it doesn’t affect them. It does affect my wife and kids. If we could move out of this god forsaken place we would. Kids for you it is not to late!
Reblogged this on The Daily Kingfish and commented:
WUT???
What will happen to retirees who are not eligible for Medicare? My husband worked for the state during his entire working life and is ineligible for either SS or Medicare. Fortunately, I am eligible for Medicare, and he has coverage as my spouse. We have paid into the state’s supplementary health insurance plan for years.
Jindal’s plunder of state resources must be stopped. Of course, you save money if you lay off state employees and pay private companies to reduce services to bare bones. Citizens of the state, retirees, and employees who lose their jobs suffer, but Jindal has shown clearly that he doesn’t care. In fact, he’s beginning to appear downright vengeful.
That’s who you voted for so why complain?
It’s always been my contention that if you voted for someone and he/she let you down, you have more reason to complain than if you did not vote.
I did NOT vote for Jindal in either election, and I warned everyone I knew against voting for him. He turned out to be a worse governor than even I could have imagined.
Same here. And it took years for my friends and family to wake up.
Now I have to get my mind around living and dying without healthcare.
Have pitchfork, will rally. Where and when?
Mr. Aswell,
Check out my testimony from the last JLCB meeting…if there were more cameras in the room you would see that during the part where I questioned the mathematics of pushing medicare eligible people out of OGB would actually result in a cost savings to the state or to the members or both. Logically, pushing the medicare eligible members into an exchange plan would save the state money. But, from an actuarial standpoint is it true that it would also decrease the liabilities inside OGB, or would it result in so many fewer members to spread the risk over that the active members of OGB would see rate hikes for years to come in order to compensate, and continue to fund the state’s savings from the deal?
When I brought up this point, I could see the face of staff members who caught on to what I was getting at … and they were confirming my suspicions. During my testimony, I said, if this savings is real and it’s for workers and the state why haven’t we seen the math showing it? Trust but verify…
MP
Someone please call a lawyer. Tens of thousands of retirees are about to be wiped out unless someone actually steps up now.
Jindal is the consummate flim-flam man. Something will have to be done. A portion of the blame must go to the legislature for going along with far too much of the flim-flammery.
Agreed 100%.
Hal, You are absolutely right. See my comments above. Stand by for more information…
God, I hope it’s good news.
The LSTA (trooper association) just sent out Kristy Nichols package plans in order to stop all of the misinformation….Wisdom and understanding still lingers.
2015 CHANGES
So, what’s going on in 2015? First of all, premium rates are not increasing this January. In fact, two of OGB’s plans will offer members premiums far lower than those offered today at $57 and $98 per month.
Second, OGB is not getting rid of your health plan. We will still offer HMO, PPO and consumer-driven health plans in 2015. Retirees will still be able to choose from OGB secondary plans (HMO, PPO and CDHP) as well as Medicare Advantage plans. We have also added brand new plan types that we believe will meet the needs of many of our members. See below for brief summaries of the 2015 options for active employees.
I have yet to see any information on yearly deductions ?
My Daddy always said ” You want get clean water until you get the hogs out of the creek”
6% rise will happen on Jan 1 according to the information published by OGB yesterday. The plans to be offered will all carry higher costs, again, published by OGB yesterday. The PPO and HMO will no longer be offered. The new plans, of which there are four, will all lead to an average increase in costs of 47%, according to OGB.
Someone, please refresh our memories. Gov. Mike Foster hired Jindal as Director of Health and Hospitals. During Jindal’s leadership, major changes were made in our health insurance plans. That is also when the 75% rule became effective. It was Jindal’s idea for the state to pay 75% of state teacher’s premiums should they faithfully pay premiums for 20 years. Now, he no longer abides by his own policies!
Another question: Retiree 100 will no longer exist…correct?
We’ve all made our retirement plans with the understanding that we were assured our insurance would remain stable…maybe go up a few dollars per year, but nothing major!!!! Are we supposed to go back and teach or resume the jobs we left? Who would rehire us?
Any way we can re-establish the Office of Group Benefits and set things right again????
I can’t read anymore; I’m getting physically ill.
I’ve never liked nor trusted Jindal. Never have and NEVER WILL vote for him. I’m not eligible for Medicare, most retirees aren’t. We are supposed to get a private plan??? I’m already feeling the pain just with the new prescription plan changes. Basically, if your doctor has you on a name brand prescription, your co-pay is much higher. And the new co-pays for some procedures like an MRI. I don’t know where else to cut back to make up for these increased costs.
I wasted 32 years of my life with state employment. I was once proud of this accomplishment, but no longer. The sad thing is that Jindal does not care about state employees, never has, never will.
I think this must have been in the works at the same time the state employees were “allowed” to have raises this year and the retirees were “gifted” with the COLA. I believe decisions will be made based on how they impact Jindal’s campaign for President, not on the good of the state and it’s people, so we need to make sure the rest of the country realizes that the face he presents elsewhere is a figment of his imagination. The truth getting out may be the only thing that impacts his decision process, not the impact these health care decisions could have on his own parents.
Next year our dear leaders will have to close a huge budget gap, so look for worse to come on many levels. I think even Jindal may know now that he has no chance to be president or vice-president, so he’s running out the clock trying to keep the house of cards from completely collapsing on his watch till he can take a well-paid job as a lobbyist out of the state. He’s made lots of friends by privatizing government functions in Louisiana.
Is there anything were can do? Or are we all just screwed?
I think the BRG should receive a third of the money going to OLOL for more than their fair share of uninsured patients. They have been carrying this huge burden since EKL closed its doors.
Since state hospitals closed, hospitals in Louisiana are hurting because they’ve had to absorb the cost of ER patients who are not covered by Medicaid who can’t pay their bills. In the end, we all pay with higher costs. If Jindal would allow Medicaid expansion, it would make a big difference.
Seems most health insurance premiums in Arkansas will fall in January. Also, the governor of Arkansas chose to accept funds for Medicaid expansion.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/27/health-care-premiums-fall-in-arkansas/
I guess Obamacare is good, or at least neutral, for Arkansas but bad for Louisiana.
God help Louisiana. It will take years to straighten everything out after Jindal’s term is over. His only agenda has been campaigning for president. He has destroyed so many agencies and jobs in his quest!!
Jindal is the worst thing to ever happen to Louisiana. Hopefully there is a special place in Hell for him and others like him who have such a negative impact on so many lives.
I am not a Einstein but, simply put Group Benefits math abilities leave a lot to be desired. Kristy Nichols & Jindal did a creative math raid. I ask all the people who received the “Refund of Over Payment” would you be willing to return that paltry amount and have the raiders of Group Benefits pay out of the new found money that suddenly appeared? How about replenishing it with the Tobbaco Settelement? Which is not used as it was originally slated, it is a joke. The pie was divided up for everything else, not healthcare! I say reduce Jindal’s and Nichols’ salary in line with the loss of benefits to members who have paid into Group Benefits.
Magnoia already hurting my pocket book and retire not qualifying for social security gone back to work in Ms, Hope I can find a plan there.