In a memorandum to all department and activity heads, Mark Aguon, Retirement Fund administrator, informed all members of the government Group Health Insurance Program that the employee/retiree contribution to premium and enrollment codes has been increased.
For a single member, the new rate is $61.58 active bi-weekly and $67.14 retiree semi-monthly; for a couple, $127.05 active bi-weekly and $137.64 retiree semi-monthly; and for family, $198.32 active bi-weekly and $214.84 retiree semi-monthly.
The memorandum dated Oct. 31, 2008 said the Retirement Fund’s Group Health & Life Insurance Trust Fund asked the department and activity heads to request their payroll supervisors and all individuals responsible for setting up computerized premium deductions to make the adjustment to the new premium contribution rates.
In an interview, Aguon said the Retirement Fund said the increase was imposed by Aetna Global Benefits, which administers the government’s health care plan.
“They don’t like it,” Aguon said, when asked about the initial reaction from the government employees.
The management of the Group Health & Life Insurance program was privatized and awarded to Aetna, through the competitive bidding process. The program covers all new claims arising from medical services rendered after Nov. 1.
The Retirement Fund has been urging government employees to monitor premium payments by their respective employers.
If the agency-employer fails to pay its share of medical premiums for three pay periods in a row, they can lose their health care coverage, the Fund stated.
