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Make me a health insurance guinea pig? No, thank you!
Senate Bill 10 as passed by the Senate would turn education employees and retirees into involuntary guinea pigs in an ill-defined experiment to cut state spending for health insurance. The House is still deliberating on its version of SB 10. This bill may have serious consequences for the employees, retirees, and their families who depend on TRS or ERS for their health coverage.
Contact your state representative and Gov. Perry and tell them not to let SB 10 move forward until the many unanswered questions about this legislation have been answered satisfactorily.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Don't turn education employees into health insurance guinea pigs with SB 10!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Senate Bill 10 as passed by the Senate would turn current education employees and retirees into involuntary guinea pigs in an ill-defined experiment to cut state spending for health insurance. There is no limit under SB 10 on the number of employees and retirees who can be required to participate. There is no limit on the geographic area included in the experiment. No more than "basic" coverage would be guaranteed. Critical choices about health-care costs and benefits for participants would be made not by employees and retirees but by trustees of the major state retirement systems.
This bill by Senator Robert Duncan would direct the TRS board to set up "pilot programs" involving alternative payment systems for health-care providers under TRS-ActiveCare for current school employees and the TRS-Care program for school retirees. The ERS board would do the same regarding higher-education and state-agency employees and retirees under the ERS Uniform Group Insurance Program. Virtually all parameters of the proposed "pilot programs" affecting TRS or ERS members would be determined in rule-making by TRS or ERS trustees.
This bill was filed late (April 24) and received only a minimal hearing and brief floor debate before it passed the Senate May 4. Because of concerns raised about this bill, a House committee substitute passed on May 21 would limit the scope of the bill to higher-education and other employees covered by ERS. But many questions about this legislation remain unanswered. Will quality of care suffer? Will participants end up paying more for less? Will participants be assured of a share in any benefit from cost savings?
This bill in either its Senate or House variations may have serious consequences for the employees, retirees, and their families who depend on TRS or ERS for their health coverage. Please do not allow SB 10 to move forward until the many unanswered questions about this legislation have been answered satisfactorily.
Sincerely,
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