All Delaware state employees, including public school ones, are “strongly encouraged” to take an online class on “Being A Wise Health Care Consumer”. I have to wonder how the data on this is being tracked! But seriously, health care costs are completely out of control. For my own job, a good chunk of my paycheck goes toward medical, dental, and vision insurance. It has risen dramatically in the over five years I have been at this job. I don’t see this trend ending anytime soon.
Dear Fellow Employees,
Recently, Governor Markell sent an email strongly encouraging all benefit-eligible state, school district and charter school employees to complete the “Being a Wise Health Care Consumer” online course by December 26, 2016. A special thanks to the more than 5,500 employees who have completed the course so far! We are asking those of you who have not completed the consumerism course to take the time to learn how you can be part of the team to help control the rising costs of health care! Learn more and access the course at de.gov/healthconsumer.
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de.gov
State of Delaware – Office of Management and Budget – Statewide Benefits Office – Health Care Consumerism
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What are employees saying about the course?
“I will make better use of all of the information available to my family using the tools offered through our health plan. The information presented about Emergency Room verses Urgent Care cost was eye-opening. Any information about prevention is especially important to me and my family. I am excited to look into having a health coach. This was all very helpful and interesting and I am glad I took the time to take this training course.”
“Thanks for providing this course. Not only will it save the State of Delaware money, it will also save me some money and I learned about ways to get medical needs addressed in a much easier and cost effective manner. Very good information…”
“I actually enjoyed this training. Reduces some of the mystique re: health care benefits. Also, it reminded me to call my PCP & schedule my yearly physical…”
“All of the information was useful, and it allowed me to see why the cost of our insurance increase. I didn’t know why it was growing so much until I learned about the facts…”
“I found the information very useful about the Telemedicine resource that is available to me. I found all of the information about prevention very interesting and I plan to use the resources available to me regarding Managing Stress and information on Cholesterol levels.”
“All of it is useful… I’ve lived in six states and DE is the only one that provides this information, so I’m grateful for the educational experience.”
Overall results from the survey of employees completing the course indicate that 93% of participants agree that they learned ways to save money and improve/maintain the health and well-being of themselves and their family! A similar percentage felt that the course helped them understand how to be an overall better health care consumer.
Why is completing the online course so important?
In addition to helping you and your family save money and be healthy, we are focused on controlling health care costs for our State. One of the biggest challenges the State of Delaware faces as an employer is the increasing cost of health care for employees.
Expenditures in the State Group Health Insurance Program (GHIP) have risen almost 50 percent since the start of the decade. This trend is not sustainable. Skyrocketing costs of employee health care mean potentially millions of dollars that the State would be unable to invest in areas important to all Delawareans such as improving our schools, protecting our environment, making our neighborhoods safer and maintaining our quality of life across our State.
The “Being a Wise Health Care Consumer” online course is one important step to help our members understand the costs of health care for themselves as well as to the GHIP. The course is designed to promote smart consumerism and increase employee’s understanding and use of wellness, disease management and preventive services and tools.
It will take a team approach with all of us doing our part as educated health care consumers to control health care costs and ensure great care is available and affordable for present and future employees. Putting our health and wellness first also means greater happiness, longevity, family time, feeling better, having more energy and maintaining independence as we get older. These are benefits to all of us, both at home and at work.
Thank you,
The State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC)
Members:
Brian Maxwell, SEBC Chair, Director-Office of Management and Budget
Tom Cook, Secretary-Department of Finance
Geoff Klopp, President of Correctional Officers Association of Delaware
Rita Landgraf, Secretary-Department of Health and Social Services
Michael Morton, Controller General
Ken Simpler, State Treasurer
Karen Weldin Stewart, Insurance Commissioner
Leo E. Strine, Chief Justice-Supreme Court
For information about the SEBC, visit www.ben.omb.delaware.gov/sebc.
The Season Of Myths 