Virtues of the Employee Health Plan.

Precisely how does state health insurance compare to other insurance plans?

All fifty states provide health insurance coverage to their state employees. However, eligibility, amount of coverage, and employees’ financial responsibilities varies state-to- state.  An employee health plan offered by the state is usually one of the best plans available.

Regrettably, many states are facing budget cuts and legislation trimming down staff member benefits as a result of the economic shortfalls across the U.S.. Although some states need to make cuts, their benefits are still exceptional.

States provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million staff, or 10 percent of the United States’s workforce. 97  percent of full time state staff are eligible for the state worker health plan. of those eligible, 91 percent use it. These high statistics show that states provide great coverage for their staff.

Even better, nearly half of the states offer their coverage to non-state personnel such as city or county personnel, public school teachers, and/or higher education teachers.

These employees receive the same or equivalent benefits as state employees. This is a big incentive for teachers and other employees looking for good health insurance coverage.

States often carry some of the lowest premiums available. They often pay more than half of the premium amount, putting more money in their staff member’s pocket. Fortunately, most states offer multiple health insurance plans for their workers to select from.

You can shop around for the coverage that fits your needs rather than being “stuck” with only one plan to pick from.

Unfortunately, state staff member medical plans are not immune from the economy’s troubles. Worker medical plan benefits are facing major cuts in some states because of budget shortfalls because of the housing crisis and rise in fuel prices.

While many states are making some cuts, their health benefits are still among the best available. If you or your spouse thinks you may qualify for state benefits, check with your local state government for additional information on eligibility requirements, premium prices and included benefits.