LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The governor, attorney general and other elected officials would be kicked off Nebraska’s state employee health insurance plan under a bill lawmakers discussed Thursday.
Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist told the Executive Board, a special committee, that he introduced the bill to force state officials to face the same challenges as Nebraska residents, who often pay more for insurance and struggle to afford it. No one testified in favor or against the bill.
“With this bill, these elected officials will make a statement that we will stand side by side with the constituents, and we will focus on creating an insurance system that works for everyone,” Nordquist said.
The highest deductible for a state employee is around $1,000. The state contributes 79 percent of the total cost of a health insurance plan chosen by a state employee.
Nebraska Accounting Office of the Legislative Council data shows state family coverage premiums have increased by almost 70 percent since 2003. National average annual family premiums have increased by almost 100 percent since 2002, according to a Kaiser Foundation study.