Governor touts new health care options

In a letter to Pittsburg State University faculty and staff and all other state employees today, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said state workers are about to see improvements in the state health insurance plans. The governor said the improvements are possible because of "responsible management" and because state employees are learning to lead healthier lifestyles and are taking advantage of lower cost generic and mail-order drugs.

Open enrollment for the state health care plans is Oct. 1-31. State employees have recently received packets detailing their health care plan options so they can make informed decisions about which options to choose.
Gov. Sebelius said that the state will continue to pay 95 percent of the premiums for the health plan. The state will increase the percentage it pays for dependents, however, from 35 percent to 45 percent.

Other changes, the governor said, include "better coverage, premium reductions for some plans and a new Qualified High Deductible Health Plan with Health Account Savings Account option.

"These changes add up to a tremendous benefit increase and demonstrate what can be accomplished when the plan is managed wisely and employees do their part by living a more healthy lifestyle," Sebelius said.
The complete letter from the governor can be read at http://www.pittstate.edu/pres/StateEmployeesHealthI.pdf.

---pitt state--