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OPEA Calls for Reduction in HealthChoice Co-Pay

With just a few months to go until the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board sets insurance rates for the 2011 calendar year, OPEA called for the Board to return the co-pay for office visits in the HealthChoice plan to $25. The Board raised the rate from $25 to $50 for calendar year 2010.

 

“Many state employees have lost money this year because of furloughs and demotions during reductions-in-force (RIFs),” Executive Director Sterling Zearley wrote in a letter to the OSEEGIB Board and Administrator. “In addition to lost funds from the economic downturn, state workers have not received a pay increase since October 2006. The $50 co-pay is causing additional stress on families who are already struggling to make ends meet.”

 

“OPEA is concerned that the large co-pay is exceptionally hard on families when an illness strikes, such as the recent flu epidemic,” continued the letter. “One illness could put the additional burden of hundreds of dollars on a family monthly budget. Also, state employees could be delaying doctor visits because of the high co-pay, causing excessive absenteeism and more cost to the health insurance program when the illness escalates”

 

The OSEEGIB Board will be making plan design decisions between now and August when the rates are set for the year beginning January 2011. OPEA will continue to fight health insurance plan design changes that cost-shift to employees during this difficult time.

Posted on Tue, May 11, 2010 by Trish Frazier

7 comments ()

1. Mike Rogers wrote:
We need everyone to join in this,,, we have several state workers that are not going to the Doctor because the co-pay was so high,,,,, the cost of doing business should not be passed on to us, in this economic situation Health Choice needs to tighten their belts just like all the state agency's are doing. The phrase "cost shifting" needs to be trashed.... $25 co-pay,,, with everything as it is now I have to pay over 2,700 out of pocket before Health Choice pays a dime,,, had an emergency room visit for around $409 dollars and Health Choice paid a whopping total of $4.13.... wow!!!!!! Many workers in the state do not have another option,, Health Choice is all that is offered..... go back to the $25 co-pay

Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 9:02 AM

2. Nothing wrote:
Prescription costs have also gone up $10 per prescription filled. That almost hurts me worse than the co-pay. I fill prescriptions way more than I go to the doctors office.

Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 10:52 AM

3. Long Time Employee wrote:
Sometimes I have to go into the doctor more than once in a week. Last time within a 2 week period I paid $150. We pay almost all of the doctor charge. That's not a co-pay, it's a co-pay for Health Choice. We need to reverse this to where we have a co-pay since it was taken away from us. Prescriptions are along the same thing. Also, allergy medications over-the-counter cost less, and they are less the strength we may need. Something, needs to be done about that one.

Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 10:56 AM

4. Hank wrote:
I know that the increase was done so that a 12% increase in rates would not be passed on to employees but something has to be done. Mike was right we have alot of members that simply cannot afford to go to the doctor. I am glad to see the OPEA moving on this idea. What will EBC bring to the table this year. None of our checks will stretch much more and I am tired of working all the time to make ends meet.

Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 4:46 PM

5. Kris wrote:
Prescriptions costs need to be looked at in 2009 and many years prior to that, I could purchase a 3 month supply for one month copay of $30.00. In 2010 they did away with that and I can only purchase 1 month at a time, I went from paying $120.00 a year for 1 prescription to paying $360.00.

Also, if my Dr prescribes a medicine it should be covered, the insurance company should not be allowed to decide whether or not I need what the Dr ordered. If that were the case I should have gone to the Insurance Company for my office call.

Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 5:23 PM

6. George wrote:
I agree. My doctor charges 224.00 a visit, I pay a 50.00 co-pay Health Choice writes off 113.00, HealthChoice pays 11.00 and I owe 50.00 more and I've met my 500.00 deductible. I think I will start writing things off. What I don't understand is I have a friend with Blue Cross with 3 family members, she pays 179.00 a month for 3 people and has 15.00 co-pay and 5.00 prescriptions. It's just me and the State pays over 400.00 a month for 1, come on, I'm no genius but what's wrong with this picture?

Thu, May 13, 2010 @ 2:48 PM

7. concerned wrote:
If they do come up with an insurance plan, they need to get one that will have a 90 day supply on medication,now we are having to go with 30 day plan. You have to pay more going with the 30 day supply. You stop and think, that is 12 trips to the pharmacy,and with a 90 day plan you only have to make (1) 4 trips and (2)save alot on gas and (3)save on the amount that the medication cost.. We are going to have to go the best way we can, because of the economy, furloughs and reduction in force.

Tue, May 18, 2010 @ 9:46 AM