Donna A. Merkwan: Use BCBS fine money for retirees

I’ll start by saying I am a North Carolina retiree. Since North Carolina has negotiated another contract with United Healthcare to provide Medicare Supplemental Coverage for us, our cost for better than minimum supplemental coverage has increased, co-pays have increased, pharmacy payments have increased while preferred drugs availability has decreased and deductibles have increased.

My state retirement pay has not increased but my LGERS has increased by $0.69 per month (thanks state legislature for not recognizing the retirees’ past contributions to our state residents).

Now that the insurance commissioner has levied a large fine for Blue Cross Blue Shield, my suggestion is this money be used to award retirees a supplemental plan with no co-pays, no pharmacy co-pays, no increase in premiums for better than minimum supplemental coverage and no increase in deductibles.

This would give retirees a huge boost in their monthly income without disrupting the state budget and put insurance penalties to use for insurance purposes.

This story was originally published October 6, 2016 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Donna A. Merkwan: Use BCBS fine money for retirees."