State workers will receive added health benefits

Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 | 10:05 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The more than 50,000 people enrolled in the state government's health insurance plan will see increased benefits starting July 1, including lower deductibles and better dental and vision coverage, officials said.

According to the board of directors of the Public Employees Benefits Program, the plan will put more emphasis in the next fiscal year on preventive health, dealing with such problems as smoking, weight and stress management.

The board voted unanimously Thursday to restore some of the benefits lost several years ago when the program nosedived to near insolvency.

Forrest "Woody" Thorne, executive director of the program, said the added benefits would cost an estimated additional $13 million over the next two years. In the last fiscal year, the program took in more than it spent and had a $46.8 million cash balance last June 30.

Martin Bibb, executive director of the Retired Employees of Nevada, called the action "terrific" in raising the benefits. The program covers state workers, their dependents, retirees and some local government employees.

Scott MacKenzie, executive director of the State of Nevada Employees Association, said he supports emphasizing preventive measures as long as the workers are not penalized. "It's a good thing to be moving towards a wellness program," he said.

Bill Anderson, a member of the board, said these changes make the plan "more pro-active."

The current $500 deductible would remain the same but would be lowered to $250 if the enrolled member fills out a health risk assessment form. The two-page document would give the system an idea of the health needs of its members, said Thorne.

Those who have smoking, weight or tension problems would then receive educational materials. Plan officials said they expected everyone to fill out the form to enjoy the lower deductible. A person who completes the form and has poor health habits will not be penalized.

Those who filled out the form would get maximum dental coverage of $2,000, rather than the $1,500 a year.

The new benefits for all include four teeth cleaning a year, up from the present two; $125 every two years to pay for glasses, which are not now covered and increasing the insurance coverage for such things as Nicotrol Inhaler and Nocotrol Spray that helps smokers.

The maximum wellness benefit is increased from $600 to $2,500. And the benefit is expanded to cover such things as health screenings and immunizations, additional tobacco use cessation and weight control programs and stress management.

But there will be an increased cost for visits to chiropractors. Thorne said the person now pays $20 for each of the first 10 visits. The new program calls for each individual to pay $30 per visit for the first 10 visits. He said chiropractors are considered specialists and that is the present co-pay for that group.

There is increased coverage in the program for those who also have Medicare. And there is elimination of the requirement to get pre-authorization for MRI's or CT scans. Thorne said these are rarely denied now.

The state now pays $558 a month for each employee for the coverage and Gov. Kenny Guinn has recommended that to go to $570 next fiscal year and $590 the following year.

The Legislature had to pump $23 million extra into the plan in 1999 to keep it afloat and another $18 million in 2002 to keep it in the black. The system then shaved benefits and the program has been getting healthier financially.