With the North Carolina General Assembly set to reconvene on
Wednesday, one of the first challenges it will face is fixing the
fundamental insolvency of the State Health Plan (SHP), the primary
health insurance program for state employees. The SHP is estimated to
be underfunded by at least $300 million in 2009-2010, and program
administrators are clamoring for immediate attention in order to be
able to pay its operating costs.
Voters do not view this circumstance as a priority for them, as a
new poll released today by Civitas Institute shows any newly presented
proposed fix by lawmakers to the current program may not be popular
with voters.
Fifty percent of voters said to raise premiums on state employees while
27 percent said they felt taxpayer funds should be used to fill the
gap. Twenty-three percent of registered voters said they were unsure of
the proper solution.
Full press release here. (And Under the Dome has picked it up).
Too bad those 50% are more than likely not state employees. Who, are already working below the national average for 90% of the job functions they perform. If this is given to them as a benefit, how can they be expected to then pay for it? This will further reduce the value of the salary and benefits in comparison.