Public employers modify benefits - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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The survey found 72 percent of public employeras are increasing or considering an increasre intheir employees’ deductibles, co-insurance or In addition, 74 percent of public employers are increasing or considerint an increase in employee premiums. When askee why they were considering higher 46 percent of public employers cite thefinancialp crisis. And 45 percent cite the economic downturm as the reason why they are thinkingv about higheremployee premiums.
“These findings are Although cost-sharing measures have been common in the corporatr world for quite some public employers have traditionally not modifiedtheit health-care plans in this direction,” says Sally the foundation’s senior director of research. “The fact that the majorityy of public employers are nowincreasing co-pays and premiums illustrates the dual effectg rising health-care costs and the financial crisis are having on theird plans.” Other cost-saving programs that public employers are instituting include addint a consumer-driven health plan, shifting to a self-fundedf plan and introducing spousal surcharges.
Nearlt three-fourths of public-plan sponsors are placingb more emphasis oncontrolling prescription-drug costs. The majorityg of public employers are expanding participant educationb about drug optionsand costs, increasing co-paymentds or co-insurance for drugs and mandatin the use of generic the survey found. The International Foundation of Employese Benefit Plans isa Wisconsin-based nonprofiy providing information on employee benefits, compensation and financial