Print this pageFor Immediate Release: 08/13/2008
The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEB Board) met July 9, 2008 to vote on changes to PEBB health coverage for state employees and retirees, effective January 1, 2009. The changes include:
Rates
The cost to provide health insurance benefits for state employees and retirees under 65 will increase an average of 7.9% in 2009. However, costs for retirees enrolled in Medicare will go down an average of 1.1%.
The average state employee contribution will increase from $79 per month in 2008 to $91 per month in 2009. Employees will continue to pay an average of 12% of the cost of health care coverage for themselves and their families.
The state Medicare subsidy of $182.89 per month in 2009 is the amount the state pays toward health plan premiums (or 50% of that health plan premium, whichever is less) for Medicare-eligible retirees. This increase was set by the 2008 Legislature and approved by the PEB Board. The 2008 subsidy is $164.08.
Benefits
The PEB Board also approved an increase in the hearing aid benefit to an $800 maximum every 36 months for PEBB medical plans that offer a hearing aid benefit. The 2008 benefit is $400 every 36 months for the Aetna Public Employees Plan and Uniform Medical Plan, and $300 every 36 months for other plans.
Life and long-term disability insurance
For 2009, the cost of basic and optional life and long-term disability insurance will slightly decrease.
For more information
PEBB will mail more information to its members and provide information on its Web site before the 2009 open enrollment, held October 27 through November 30, 2008.
