Healthcare Hullabaloo: July 2011

I told you so.

The healthcare crisis is slowly rearing its ugly head, and it’s now beginning to adversely affect even those lucky enough to have health insurance from their employers.

The chickens have come home to roost. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Here in New Jersey, many people are up in arms about health care. They’re marching on Trenton, holding huge rallies protesting changes in their health plans. Trenton hasn’t seen such an angry mob since George Washing surprised those Hessians on Christmas Eve.

The affected group is comprised of State workers, who are having their health benefit plans changed by the Governor. The Governor has plainly stated that the State just can’t afford to give State workers the fabulous health benefit plan that they have enjoyed for the past many years.

And the workers are pissed. Who can blame them? It was a great plan.

Until these recent changes, the NJ State Benefits plan for State and Municipal employees was fantastic coverage. It covered almost everything, all with little to no expense to the workers. The problem with the plan is that it cost the State around $22,000 a year per person to provide these great benefits. With the current state of the economy, the Governor says that New Jersey just can’t continue footing that health care premium without going bankrupt. So he’s ditching that great plan and making the workers pay a much larger percentage towards their benefits.

This has had two very negative affects on the State employees. First, their contribution towards their health care premium is going to take a big chunk out of their paychecks. They are being offered several plans, none of which are nearly as comprehensive as the old plan. In order to minimize the effect that the new plan will have on their pocketbooks, many are choosing the cheapest plan available. So they are now faced with the reality of paying a big chunk of change for crappy coverage.

And they are pissed off about it. Who wouldn’t be?

Now, adding insult to injury, they are getting even more upset that very few people are sympathetic to their cause. Especially those of us who have already been dealing with this very same situation for many years.

Hey, New Jersey State workers – welcome to our little slice of Hell. Pull up a stool and make yourselves comfortable – chances are we’re all going to be here a while...

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