Premiums for state won’t rise

Friday, April 2, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Because of favorable experience in the past nine months, premiums for health insurance for state workers and their families will remain the same or show a decrease.

"We've been fortunate where we have seen a significant decrease in the number and size of our large claims," said Forrest "Woody" Thorne, executive director of the state Public Employee Benefit Program.

The board of directors voted Thursday to retain the same benefits but decrease premiums.

Ronnie Thierman, an actuary for AON, the consulting firm for the insurance program, said a single state employee's premium will go from $14.36 a month to $4.53 cents a month. The premium for family coverage decreases from $157 to $138 a month.

Rates will remain the same those who retired early and those who have Medicare coverage. Thorne said the reduction in claims allowed the system to realize a small surplus and it is passing it along to state workers, who did not get pay raises last year.

Retirees 65 or older with a spouse will see the premium drop from $178 to $78 a month.

The 2003 Legislature approved paying $495 a month per employee for insurance for this fiscal year and $558 a month next fiscal year.

Cy Ryan

can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com