State Health Benefit Plan's Dilemma of Key
Concern for Educators

ATLANTA - Leaders of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) today
expressed concern over recent findings brought forth by the Georgia
Department of Community Health (GDCH), the agency charged with overseeing
the health plan that covers all state employees, including the state's
100,000-plus teachers and education support professionals (ESPs). The GDCH
says the benefit program is running up deficits that could eat up its
reserve fund during the next fiscal year. These deficits are projected to
reach $110 million in FY'94 and upwards of $329 million in FY'95.

"This is a critical situation that must be looked at from all
angles," said GAE President Merchuria Chase Williams. "The decisions that
are forthcoming will have a significant impact on our current education
employees as well as on Georgia's ability to meet its continuously growing
need for caring, qualified teachers and ESPs."

Williams says that many teachers who moved here from other states will
tell you a key reason was Georgia's health plan and that its affordability
and benefits helped to offset low salaries. "This year," she said, "a
20-plus percent increase in premiums coupled with no salary increase has
educators taking home less money than they made last year. Throw on top of
that reduced options and choices within the plan and you are looking at
crippling conditions for many of our dedicated education professionals."

Another concern is that while costs need to be controlled,
they need to be managed so as not to penalize those on fixed incomes who
have minimum financial flexibility. "These are good people who have saved
and planned for their golden years and who were counting on having access to
good, affordable health care to help them enjoy those years," said Williams.

Williams agrees that changes must be made to address the
situation. She said, "Custodians, food workers, and bus drivers are forced
to pay the same premiums, and premium hikes, as superintendents and other
administrators who are making $100,000 - plus salaries. Now you tell me.
Who is better able to absorb the same 20 percent premium increase?"

One case in point is LaNelle Holland, a veteran teacher from
Carroll County. She says,

"I am not dropping my insurance because it is all I have and
with my health problems and my husband's disability I will not be able to
get other coverage. The rising cost of the premiums will be very difficult
for me. My husband and I are trying to survive on my income and his
disability check (he taught for 21 years and is disabled from an automobile
accident).

We have a difficult time having enough money for needed
medications now and the cost is going to increase again. I have one
medication that has become so expensive, I no longer take it. I just suffer
with the discomfort and pain. Our co pay amount is increasing so now we will
not go for preventive care as needed. I have not been for recommended
screenings (mammogram, pap smear) because I cannot afford the immediate
costs. We will never get out of the financial dilemma we are currently in
unless something changes.

Donna Briggs, a paraprofessional from Bartow County, had this
to say:

I am a parapro, therefore, I make less than a teacher. Actually, I make
half the salary of a first year teacher. I find it outrageous that our
insurance rates are going up. If I had another alternative, I would
certainly utilize it. Not only are the rates going up, but the coverage
that is provided for such a large number of employees is below the standard
of coverage for employees of private businesses with fewer employees.



I have a number of foot problems. I am required to be on my feet all day.
My insurance would cover an expensive operation and rehabilitation, which my
doctor has informed me will be inevitable in a few years. However, the
orthotics that could prevent said operation cost $400.00 and the insurance
won't cover them.



I do not understand the lack of wisdom in accepting such coverage for
state employees, which have to spend a large portion of their time on their
feet. Had I worked for a private company like Cracker Barrel Restaurant,
the orthotics would have been covered 100%. I remember growing up and
hearing that anyone that had state benefits had the best benefits. Now, we
get low pay, low coverage, low respect and higher insurance rates.

Twenty-nine year veteran teacher Norma Bean from Dougherty
County feels as though she and her colleagues are being "stabbed in the
back."

One of my doctors told me that 10 years ago teachers had one
of the best insurance plans in the state. It covered almost everything that
a low paying teacher needed at a reasonable cost to the teacher. But now,
teachers of Georgia have one of the worst plans in the nation. It pays the
doctors less than Medicare or Medicaid payments. Because of this, many of
the doctors in South Georgia are not participating in the State Health
Benefit plan.



A few years ago my daughter broke her ankle. When I spoke to
State Health they told me the nearest orthopedic doctor was in Columbus or
Macon. Do you realize that in order for her to see a doctor under contract
with State Health I would have to take a day off work, so therefore the
students I taught would have to have a substitute that day. In order to see
a doctor in my city where I would not have to take the whole day off,
teachers have to be willing to pay above the amount that State Health pays.
I even took the High Option policy for my family to be able to see doctors
in the Albany area. But State Health will still only pay for the amount
State Health agrees to pay the doctors on their contracted list. The
Standard option is great for teachers in the Atlanta area, but this is not
what is best for all the state.



This year teachers have been told that the cost of the High
Option choice will go up about $100 a month beginning in July. I am going to
drop the High Option choice and move to the Standard Option because I cannot
afford to pay the extra.

"These three voices represent the realities of thousands of
teachers and education support professionals across the state," said
Williams. "These are the people on the front line who sacrifice so much of
themselves for our children, yet have to suffer the indignities of not being
able to afford adequate healthcare for themselves and their loved ones.
This is why GAE will seek to introduce legislation that will ensure fair and
equitable payments into and distributions out of the state health plan."







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