Some public employees' health bills may grow

Many Michigan public school and local government employees will have to cover more of the cost of their health insurance under legislation sent to Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday.

The Republican-backed legislation caps the employer contribution for a public employee's health care at $15,000 a year, or 80% of the cost of the policy at the employer's discretion.

Local governments and counties also would have the option of opting out of the limits altogether by two-thirds votes of their legislative bodies and approval from the mayor or executive.

The legislation is aimed at controlling health care costs that are consuming ever larger proportions of municipal and school budgets, according to its Republican backers. Since taking office in January, Snyder and legislative leaders have pushed for what they call greater parity in the cost-sharing of benefits between public- and private-sector workers.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20110825/NEWS06/108250538/Some-public-employees-health-bills-may-grow

being debated incorrectly. It shouldn't be who pays what, but rather, with a pool as large as MI public employees, why does health insurance with deductibles and co-pays cost the tax payer in excess of $18 000.00 a year. Who is doing the negotiating for the state? Are they connected to the insurance companies? Is this a big giveaway to the insurance companies? What does the CEO of the insurance company that insures MI public employees pull down a year in salary and stock options?

The insurance costs are too high. Now ask why?