(The Center Square) – North Carolina state employees and retirees could soon have health insurance premiums nearly doubled, state treasurer Brad Briner said Tuesday.
The state insurance plan is projected to have a $500 million shortfall in 2026 which will increase to $800 million in 2027, Briner said during a meeting of state leaders Tuesday. The State Health Plan has about 750,000 people who are retired or employed by the state, including teachers, and their dependents.
“We have a real financial challenge on our hands in the state health plan,” Briner said during the Council of State gathering. “This is not a ‘let’s hope we can fix it in the next couple of years problem.’ It’s a ‘we need to fix it today kind of problem.’”…