March 28, 2001 — A public hearing on the status of health insurance for government employees and retirees will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29 in the Senate chambers on St. Thomas, Finance Committee chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen announced.
At issue is the government employees' $36 million health insurance contract that expired September 30, 2000, with an extension until Saturday, March 31, at an $8.4 million increase. Though the Health Insurance Board has redesigned a one year $40 million agreement with reduced benefits which would "buy time" for the board to find the best insurance carrier, Hansen said she has not seen the plan. It must come before the Legislature for ratification.
"To date, no proposal has been submitted to the Senate," Hansen stated, adding, "We cannot afford to just sit back and watch the government insurance lapse."
The senator asked anyone wishing to testify on the issue to contact Alicia Leerdam at 774-0060.
