Health

$30 Million Health Insurance Cost Increase For Gov't Employees On The Horizon; Personnel Directed To Go Back To Negotiating Table

The Committee on Finance met in St. Croix on Monday where the Department of Personnel (D.O.P.) gave testimony concerning the Government of the Virgin Islands' (G.V.I.) Group Health Insurance plan that is set to increase by 17 to 19 percent, resulting in a whopping $30 million increase that will cost the G.V.I. and its employees dearly. Kurell Hodge, strategy and organizational development officer for D.O.P., testified that the wellness program is one of many determining factors that the health insurance carriers utilizes to determine what the insurance premium cost should be.  Even though a robust wellness program is in place, D.O.P. still has to remain cognizant of the fact that the number of claims filed has a significant impact on the cost of the final health insurance premiums, she explained. Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, a non-committee member, attended the meeting and noted that there is a move to increase the G.V.I.’s health insurance program. She said she was aware that the...