Alabama Teachers Health Insurance Premiums Increase

The Public Education Employees Health Insurance Program (PEEHIP) has voted to increase the premiums of teachers in Alabama for their health care premiums. The teachers have paid minimal premiums since 1983 though board members at the PEEHIP claim the increase is necessary as the program was becoming severely constrained by budget restrictions. Teachers wishing to take out the private medical cover will now have to pay a 15 dollar monthly premium rather than the 2 dollar premium they have been paying, while dependent coverage premiums will go up from 134 dollars to 162 dollars, while co-payments for prescriptions and doctors will also rise.

The increases are not as drastic as had been feared, with the president of the Jefferson County branch of the American Federation of Teachers, Vi Parramore, describing the size of the increase as a victory for teachers. Parramore also said that the increases will also more money to be used to offset any losses from the insurance plans, while also ensuring there is money available to maintain the standard of education in Alabama.

The PEEHIP is entirely separate from the federal health care legislation that has recently been passed, with aims to allow poor Americans to afford hospital treatment.