OPEA

State employee insurance rates have been set for the calendar year beginning in January 2009.  The good news is that 90 percent of state employees will have the full cost of their dependent health insurance covered by the benefit allowance.  The bad news is that the HealthChoice rate increase is higher than the other plans, which will take money out of the pockets of many state employees.

After the controversy over the benefit allowance at the Capitol this year, the Employee Benefits Council changed the plan design of the high-option HMOs by raising co-pays by $5 per doctor visit and the out-of-pocket maximum by $1,000 in order to keep premiums down. 

High Option Insurance Rate Changes for 2009

• Aetna Standard HMO                                     +4%
• Community Care Standard HMO                    +12%
• Global Health  Standard HMO                        -2%
• PacifiCare Standard HMO                              -8%
• HealthChoice Standard PPO                        +13%

State Employee Benefit Allowance                   +4%

HealthChoice, the state-run PPO program, has utilized reserves in past years to help keep the premiums down for state agencies and school districts.  Unfortunately, the plan had high claims experience this year and does not have reserves to help pay the premiums for 2009.  Therefore, the cost for HealthChoice High option, which is the plan used by most state employees, will increase by 13 percent.  To see the changes in the benefit allowance and HealthChoice premiums for different categories of coverage click here.

State employees have pretty good benefits compared with some workers.  However, most employees in the private sector are not forced to use funds meant for their benefits to put food on the table. 

• State employees have not received a pay increase in two years
• Your paychecks have eroded by $3,000 since the year 2000.
• Now your health insurance premiums are going up, which means even less cash on your paycheck.
• These remaining benefit allowance funds are critical to workers and their families.
• We need to maintain the benefit allowance and increase pay, providing state employees with a good basic compensation package—cash, health insurance, and retirement.

The state legislature left $85 million dollars on the table at the end of session that should have gone to state employee families! OPEA is an organization fighting back and WE NEED YOU! 

1.      Help OPEA grow to be the most powerful it has ever been so we can protect employees benefits and get decent pay raises. 

2.      OPEA is asking you to help us reach the 24,000 state employees who are not members. Get them to join with us to regain respect for state employees

3.      Make plans NOW to meet in local forums with your local legislators.  Hold them accountable for walking away from the legislative session without addressing our compensation needs. 

4.      VOTE FOR OPEA ENDORSED CANDIDATES!  Make sure every one of your coworkers join OPEA and registers to vote!

5.      GROW, GROW, GROW, OPEA to the largest it has ever been!  This sends a statement like no other that state employees will be treated with respect! 

6.      Support OPEA’s efforts for a pay raise in 2009!  “ITS OUR TIME IN ‘O9”

“We are at a pivotal position in our states history,” says Connie Stockton, acting president. “We can stand by and let our standard of living collapse or we can organize!  As for me, I say organize.”

Stockton will be calling the Board of Directors in for a Special Board meeting this month to discuss this critical situation. 

So what will you do about it?  Will you continue to lose money and health benefits?  Or, will you be proactive and fight for your rights, demanding a fair salary to provide for you and your family?

For nearly 35 years the Oklahoma Public Employees Association has been your voice in state government.  We are on the front lines at the Capitol every day.  The longevity check you receive each year is a direct result of OPEA’s lobbying and we are responsible for increases in annual leave and your benefit allowance. OPEA has accomplished so much, but we will never rest on our laurels.  You cannot afford to either.

More than ten thousand of your co-workers have joined OPEA because they understand that unity and a powerful voice are what it takes to be heard.  But there is power in even greater numbers. Every state employee must become an active member – so we can flex our muscles and show lawmakers we expect to be paid a fair salary.

So, look around your office, talk to your co-workers.  Are they members of OPEA? If they are not members, ask why?  A basic membership is very affordable and will help us shows the legislators at the Capitol - Oklahoma state employees are a force to be reckoned with.

OPEA is fighting mad - and we intend to fight with and for you.  Tell your friends to join us on the front lines so we can create a better tomorrow together!

Click here to fill out an application online and become an OPEA member today!