Many state workers want out of health plan

Friday, Dec. 1, 2000 | 12:08 p.m.

Union officials representing state workers said the premiums covering dependents are too high and the cost of prescription drugs is going up. They unsuccessfully urged the state Public Employees Benefits Program Board to change the rules to make it easier for groups to withdraw from the state plan and get other insurance coverage.

Laurie England, chairwoman of the benefits board, said at a panel meeting Wednesday that the insurance plan is "not going to make everyone happy."

"We have worked to provide the best program," England said. "This is an emotional thing. It will not find favor with everybody involved."

England said the law requires the system to be financially solvent and at the same time provide the best benefits within the cost limits.

Stewart Handte of the Nevada Highway Patrol Association called the state's insurance plan a "sinking ship" and said people should have the opportunity to leave. He said employees can't afford to insure their families.

He and others said the regulations are too restrictive in allowing groups of 300 and more to leave the system.

Gary D. Mauger of Teamsters Local 14 in Las Vegas, which represents about 2,000 state employees, threatened to sue if the regulations went into effect on Jan. 1. The union would like to get the state employee members to sign up with their insurance plan.

The state plan has 28,000 enrolled, of which 6,000 are retired. Regulations say that any group that wants to go to another outside plan must include a similar percentage of retirees. That prevents the active members of the system leaving only the older people who account for the most expenses in the insurance plan.

Mauger said there's nothing in the law that allows the board to require this ratio of pensioners to be in any group that leaves the state plan.