(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds today announced that they both will pay 20% of their healthcare costs beginning August 1, 2012.
“Hard-working Iowa taxpayers are accustomed to paying for some or all of their own healthcare costs, and for far too long, their tax dollars have also paid for the total cost of state employees’ healthcare,” said Branstad. “I truly believe the only way we will begin improving our health as a state and controlling the rising costs of healthcare is by empowering Iowans to take ownership of their own health.”
Gov. Branstad signed Executive Order 78 today to allow state employees to voluntarily pay for 20% of their own healthcare. Branstad individually asked all state-wide elected officials and department heads to volunteer as well.
The governor worked with the health plan administrator and Department of Administrative Services to make this healthcare option available to all state employees.
“Our decision to begin paying 20%, and to allow employees to an opportunity to also contribute, will accomplish both goals of making employees healthier and allow for government to spend less,” said Reynolds.
A single person, whom chooses to pay for 20% of their own healthcare on the least expensive plan will save taxpayers at least $1,000.
It won’t save any money. The employees wages and insurance is from tax money. This just means less money in the persons pocket to by goods and services, but instead would have to go to insurance costs. And because an employee has to pay a higher monthly amount isn’t going to make them ” healthier”
How can you say it won’t save money? Their paying 20% of their health premium directly saves taxpayers that amount. I wish more gov’t workers would volunteer to do this. Most businesses only pay 80% maximum. I don’t see why public workers should get a better deal than most of the private sector.
I have an idea on how to lower health care cost. Put a cap on what hospitals and doctors can charge for their service. To me, what they charge now, is way out of control. Every charge should be public knowledge before you have anything done. That sure would help with the sticker shock you get, when you open the bill. Then every state should get onboard and have the same fees, so no matter where your at, if you have to see a doctor, you’ll know what you have to pay. How much money does a doctor or “nonprofit” nontax paying hospital have to make.
Okay, but what will their deductible and out-of-pocket expenses be? This is a large part of it for those of us in the private sector.
But really, “allow employees an opportunity to also contribute,”??? Give me a break! How many of them will actually do this? Make it mandatory, and do it now!
he could pay at least 50% but only 20% is a joke!