Few NJ Public Workers Opt For Cheaper Insurance

Fewer than 1 percent of public employees in New Jersey opted for cheaper insurance coverage offered under Gov. Chris Christie’s health care reforms.

Treasury Department figures show nearly all of the 397,809 eligible workers kept health plans with higher premiums. Only 15 of the 309 workers who did switch selected the highest deductible.

Treasury spokesman Andrew Pratt told the Statehouse Bureau of The Record and Star-Ledger of Newark the state is not going to see a large or significant savings in health care costs by the time the fiscal year ends in June.

Officials expect that to change as public employees begin contributing more toward their health care starting next summer.

Workers will end up paying an average of 20 percent of their health premium costs by 2014.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)