New health insurance program for state employees

Employees of the state of Connecticut are starting to see savings and increased benefits on their health care plans.

 Comptroller Kevin Lembo announced that "more than 50,000 state employees-or 96 percent of those employees on the state health care plan, have enrolled in the new Health Enhancement Program" according to a press release.

 The Health Enhancement Program, effective this past Saturday, will save money for the state employees and taxpayers, as well as provide other benefits to the state's employees.

"One of the program's goals is to reduce costs by focusing on prevention, rather than expensive acute care that often results from lack of coordination of health care," Lembo said.

Employees that opted for the new program will pay lower monthly premiums and have no deductible for in-network care for the plan. Those with certain chronic conditions, like diabetes, asthma, heart disease/failure, high cholesterol or hypertension, will receive a $100 cash payment and reduced co-pays on certain prescriptions.

"[The program] will help our workforce and their families live healthier lives by identifying medical issues early through prevention and better management of chronic conditions," Lembo said.

According to the press release, employees were notified of requirement to enroll by Sept. 15. Efforts to inform employees included open enrollment fairs at worksites, direct notices to employees and an informational link on the comptroller's website.

A representative for the state of Connecticut could not be reached for questions on how the new program could affect UConn students or employees.

"I'm glad to see such a large amount of employees taking advantage of the health benefits that the state is offering," said Caitlyn Schultz, a 7th-semester accounting major. "I hope that the money it saves in the long run will go towards our state schools and hospitals."

"It's good that more options are being available for more workers," said 7th-semester psychology major Rachel LaMarche. "Prevention is key when you want to reduce pre-existing conditions. If you prevent health issues now, you will have less later. I don't think it'll be less money spent necessarily, but money spent more wisely."