MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) Vermont state employees' health plans will look different starting January 1.
"A lot of fear, a lot of concern, a lot of tears. People really concerned about what the impact of this decision will be," said Steve Howard, the executive director of the Vermont State Employees' Association.
The administration is making changes to the plans, including a new list of more than 160 excluded brand name medications. Listed drugs-- like Adderall, Prozac and epinephrine-- won't be available under the new plan, but generic versions or alternative treatments will be.
"Our proposal to the labor board, which they accepted, proposed some minor modifications to our health care plan, which is a platinum plan and will remain a platinum plan," said Beth Fastiggi, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Human Resources.
Officials say excluding the name brand drugs will save $1.5 million a year, savings that will pay for modest salary increases. But Howard says the savings aren't needed to cover raises.
"In their effort to save money they are potentially putting people's health at risk," Howard said.
The administration says state spending should not grow more than 2.3 percent, the growth rate of the state's economy. Even with the prescription changes, the administration says workers will be cared for.
"People's medications are not going to get cut off and there's a process to make sure everybody gets what they need to have," Fastiggi said.
The administration says workers will continue to receive a platinum-level health plan and have better benefits than most taxpayers.
"Our employee health care plans are fantastic and they will continue to be among the best benefit plans in the country," Fastiggi said.
Some copays will also rise. Primary care visits will cost $5 more. A specialist visit will cost another $20. MRIs will have a new $50 copay and ER visits double to $100.
"All in an effort to maintain the no new taxes, no new fees proposal, political proposal," Howard said.
Howard says the higher costs will cause deferred care and potentially more health problems.
