" Go after the small guy... Nice Nebraska. "

" The state of nebraska was already a poor place to work. The governor has no respect for the state employees. I hope he does not run for higher office because this governor is out of control. Just more money that they can waste on inmates that do not work a 40 hour week, get Free health insurance (Yes do not give free health insurance to people actually work), free dental, and free cable. The government needs to look into all the waste of the department of corrections, and how to less the cost per inmate. Expect more from your state government. Call your state senator, and govenor and tell them to end the government waste. "

" I am tired of hearing about comparability from this Union. Maybe they can explain why a single employee at the County can get their health insurance for free, while single State employees pay $92 per month? "

" Why does the state pick up so much of the premium? We could save money if the employee picks up more of the premium. Where I work my employer picks up 60%. Maybe they should consider that. "

" I really don't feel sorry for those couples. Gee - welcome to the real world. The rest of us have not been that fortunate. Our premiums are much much higher, but we are thankful we are able to get insurance. And who will pay for these expenses if they sue? Think people, who actually pays for insurance benefits for government employees? Put more responsibility on the employee like other companies/agencies. "

" I just love how the state is not giving raises to most employees yet raising everything else. Good plan to keep talented workers. "

" Oh, those premiums are small. There are a lot of people who wish they had those small premiums. They have larger premiums they have to pay, if they can't afford them, they go without insurance. I'm tired of your whining! It's getting real old. "

" When TSCI was built it was sold, in part, as a tax boon to Johnson county. Unfortunately, the reality is that unless you want the State paying wages to inmates private industry has to step up and provide avenues for inmates to work. Since NIMBY is the unofficial State motto, very few private employers have volunteered to allow inmates to work for them at all, and there isn't that much in Johnson county anyway. So, you complain about inmates sitting fallow, but unless you are helping to pressure local business to allow them to work and learn skills/trades, you are part of the problem. If the State made them work AND paid them, it would just be MORE tax money and expense that Nebraskan's would lament about going towards inmates instead of other things. They are there to serve their sentence, not to be worked, beaten, put into segregation,released with no skills or treatment, or whatever other images you non-corrections workers have allowed yourself to come up with after watching 'Shawshank' and a few episodes of 'Oz'. If they don't have skills or prospects when they get released, mental health treatment, or medical treatment, they will just get out and knock over Grandma's store, or steal your car, or make more drugs, or spread whatever disease they may not know how to treat or care for. That's why they receive medical, mental health, and sometimes work programming. "

" $92 for single coverage and $326 for family coverage seems reasonable. About what I pay as a federal employee. With the cost of health care this is a perk that couldn't go on forever. Even at that rate, it's a great benefit. I'd never complain. "

" What isn't right is the fact that these couples have been receiving this insurance since the 1970's, then all of sudden it's taken away. A better idea might have been to leave the current 700 couples alone and change the policy for new employees. Maybe the Governor should look into saving money within the agencies. Just last week it was the end of the fiscal year. Managers were scrambling around trying to spend leftover money so they wouldn't lose it in next years' budget. When an employee sees this happen, but then gets benefits and raises taken away, it doesn't help morale. I hope someday the Governor places a priority on WHO keeps the state government running, not WHAT. "

" Although I am a State employee, I don't participate in the State health care plan. I have chosen another that has much better coverage. I don't get any money from the State to help me pay my premiums. That's my choice. As usual, our "union" did not want to tackle this benefit loss, maybe because it didn't affect "them". Way to go Union, another benefit lost, increased premium costs for the employees...and thanks to you, NO pay increase, maybe for several years! And you wonder why I don't join... "

" I agree that this is a benefit that not all employees are lucky enough to get but there are very few perks to being a state employee. There's no incentive to do a good job or improve, there's no way to work your way up without leaving your job for a new one, there's no raises (if your lucky you'll get a cost of living raise that doesn't cover the increase in costs of living), and the salaries are significantly lower than any comparable position in the private sector or neighboring state positions. And you wonder why you can't get good employees to work for the state? You want the state to protect your children and other family members. You want your state to heal them when their sick, provide medicines, food, and shelter for them, and protect them when they're hurt. That's a big job to accomplish yet you don't support the people who will do it. You want to be recognized for the work you do and valued as an employee - state employees want that too and they don't get it. Morale is at an all-time low and that will show in the work they do. "

" As a spouse of a State Employee, I agree with Concerned. How would you expect to get any morale when all of the employees have to watch the state throw away money for nothing. We wouldn't mind paying more for insurance premiums but since he hasn't gotten a raise in 5 years I think they actually have a valid reason to complain. If an outside source would go through and really get rid of the jobs not needed then there would be tons of money for better roads, benefits, salaries, etc. "

" This latest move by the State of Nebraska reflects poorly on their committment to the employee. Last year my wife and I decided to cancel her health insurance with the state and add her to my county health plan. We found the county plan was cheaper for the both of us and provided better coverage. Personally, the State of Nebraska does not care about their employees, which has fostered complacency among them. Frankly, it's my belief there are to many employees in relation to the state population. There is no incentive to out perform a coworker or do a good job because there are no merit raises. Some employees receive quarterly and yearly evaluations and others do not. A new state employee will most likely make the same as someone who has been employed with the state for several years. The Govenor chooses not give raises to a certain group of employees however, gives a raise to others. The State of Nebraska needs a complete overhaul, audit, etc. Reinstitute merit raises, adjust the pay scale to reflect those of surrounding state agencies, significantly reduce department budgets, reduce the personnel through attrition, require employees to do more with less, and hold people accountable. The fraud waste and abuse within the state is disgusting. The per diem rate for an employee when they travel needs to be trimmed. The given rate allows employees to buy steak and lobster dinners. Place more emphasis on the utilization of operating state vehicles and not personal vehicles. Recently, a person received an $500.00 extra dollars on their last pay check for driving their personal vehicle to required in-state conferences. Reduce the amount of unneeded travel for department employees to in-state conferences. To many times have seen departments hold conferences on the opposite end of the state just for the sake of holding them. There is no accountability. In some departments through out the state there are a select group who operate efficiently and take care of their employees to the best of their ability. However, as a whole from the Governor on down to the pencil pusher the ship is barely staying afloat, and we as tax payers suffer. $190 million dollar surplus was recently announced but it goes into savings. Yet, taxes remain the same, fraud, waste, and abuse continues, Nebraska's population continues to decline, and the list goes on. I wonder what the state will do next? It's a good thing I don't work for the state. "

" Yeah, all you non-state employees say oh, those premiums aren't bad. I wouldnt complain. But, when I make $9.581 an hour, and have been here for 10 years, it makes me wish that I would actually get a fair raise soon. "

" It is odd that Mr. Wood quoted the "popular Blue Choice Plan" which is not available to people who live in Lincoln or Omaha area Zip codes. Another bungled DAS decision. "

" I totally agree with "Concerned" in that morale is at an all-time low among State employees. My Dad worked for the State for 35 years, retired in the late '80's, and was always treated with respect and rewarded in kind for his hard work and dedication. He always said the State was the best employer anyone could ask for. I, too, work for the State and I can tell you that it is no longer like that. Times have changed....the State no longer cares about its employees.....they no longer care about "longevity" and a dedicated work force. Average raises over the past several years don't even begin to keep up with inflation and rising insurance costs. There are no "merit raises".....no "bonuses". We get a couple more holidays that other workers but hourly wages and annual raises are a joke. Those of you who think working for the State is such a "cushy" job have no idea what you're talking about. Which is why, you would think, a Labor Union would be an asset to the employees. But you would be wrong. Over the past several years they've agreed to the elimination of our "step" pay raises and they've agreed to reduce our sick leave benefit. This year, in an effort to obtain a sizeable pay increase for those select employees that fall below out-state comparability levels, they agreed to increased insurance co-pays for ALL employees. The Union also agreed in negotiations this year to NOT file any grievances on behalf of State workers should the State decide drop the married couples insurance benefit, which they have now done. Even though that benefit was never part of the labor contract, grievances could have been filed by affected employees on the basis of "past accepted practice and/or policy" which I believe is the reason the State didn't remove this benefit long ago. The smaller employee co-pays and the married couples insurance benefit put Nebraska State Employees ABOVE comparability with surrounding states on insurance costs and the Union certainly couldn't let that continue because how could they then ask for comparable wages? So the Union agreed to increase the employees insurance cost....to bring it closer to comparability with other states. Complicated? Not really. The Union sold out half of the State employees to placate the other half. A great many of us, after all is said and done, will not be receiving the larger pay increases promised by the Union....we will be getting our usual 2 1/2%, as there are many, many job classifications that are already comparable to other states. And just one more thing.....if that wasn't enough of a kick-in-the-rear, I tried to cancel my Union membership this week only to find that there is only one month during the year that I'm able to do that and that is during the month of June. So the joke's on me. I pay over $300 a year in Union dues and have a feeling I'm going to need that extra money in the coming year, however, the automatic deduction from my paycheck for Union dues will continue for the next 12 months whether I want it to or not. Not. "

" Thanks Dave for the Charitable Giving Campaign packet. We don't get a raise we deserve but you want us to donate to a charity. Ha what a joke. "

" I think it is only fair that married couples working for the state pay the same premium for their health insurance as another state employee doing the same job who either isn't married or doesn't have a spouse employed with the state. I know for a fact that some state employees have specifically pushed extra hard for their spouses to be hired by the state so they could both obtain FREE health insurance. I'm sorry, but that just isn't right. I think I read that 700 married couples are currently both employeed as state workers in Nebraska. Is it just me, or does that seem ridiculously high. I consider this decision to be one of the fairer ones the state has made in recent years. "

" maybe the good old union will kick in some money. Oh yea they only take and give the leaders the cash "

" As a single mother of 2, who has been with the state for over 11 years, I say YEA. It is about time that single parents quit having to 'carry' those state workers forutnate enough to have a 2 income family. I wish those 700 couples and their families all the best, and encourage them to take pride in the fact that they will now be contributing their fair share, right along with the rest of us. "

" We are lifers – each with 25+ years of service to the State and the recipient of free health insurance. We knew that this benefit would be ending at some point, and that’s okay. We looked at this benefit and others provided by the state as a way of balancing out a total employment package with the benefit package worth more than the wages. In the last ten years, we have set back and watched the erosion of benefits and the downward slide of wages in terms of living wage or purchasing power compared to inflation. Its like watching those cliff-side homes where the ground slowly erodes out from under them until finally the house slides down the hill. That is what has taken place in the last 10 years. People have complained about our 12 holidays. You should also complain to your NE County officials. They receive 12 holidays. Your Post Office and Federal Agencies receive 11 holidays. Did you know there is a Nebraska statute that ties our holidays to Federal holidays except for Arbor Day? Did you know that exempt employees loose sick time hours after a certain balance and non-exempt “lifers” had their sick hour earning slashed by half a few years back? What about the multitude of exempt employees who work 50-60 hours a week but only get paid for 40 hours under the “doing more with less” attitude? My concern is for those couples whose jobs are at the low end of the pay scale. This move will price them right out of health insurance and when they need health care the emergency room will be their option and who will pay? People with insurance, so the vicious cycle continues. For all the commenters who feel that we have such great jobs, check out State job website and apply on-line, we always need good people. "

" Self employed and I pay $438.00 per month with a $5000.00 Deductible. Sorry state people "

" one would think that everyone who lives in Lincoln is an employee of the state...oh, my mistake... "

" For almost 20 years now, I have been employeed by the Department of Correctional Services, which I can honestly say, I love the job I do. Considering what my fellow co-workers and myself go through on a daily basis, a little respect would go a LONG WAY. Corrections has always been looked down on. Lincoln Police and the State Patrol all carry weapons. We do not. My life is on the line every day I walk thru those doors. Would you put your life on the line to Protect the People of Nebraska for $12.89 an hour ?? Would you ?? Like I said, I love the job I do and will continue to do so, but when the so called "union" and the the state have their foot on your neck, not a whole lot you can do. So I've dropped out of the union, giving myself a $16.50 raise every payday, hoping that will at least stop some of the bleeding brought on with the new insurance premiums, co-pays, etc. Oh yeah, I get a 2.5% raise and those in management (some of whom have considerable less time than I do) get a 3% raise ?? And the slogan for Nebraska is the " good life " ?? C'mon, what a joke...the good life could very well be in Kansas or even Iowa. Definately not here in Nebraska. "

" All you pouters should join the military. After 20 years, free medical for yourself, about $25 a month for your family. Thanks. "

" Let's think about this, first we should publish how much we pay, to whom, & what we receive for this. Then, document how this goes up as the "Federal" minimum wage is increased. I'd be willing to bet that insurance cost goes up / employer contribution goes down..Nope, not rocket science, seems that big insurance has it's finger on the right button, but if you NEED insurance, & don't have it... Welcome to the 45+ million (& growing) "

" I applied for a job with the state and discovered they were not going to pay me a PENNY more for my 20+ years of experience. I realized then that this state see's their employees as a hardship rather than an asset. Glad I dodged that bullit............. I'm also a health care provider who has raised his fee one time in the past 16 years. Where is all the 'rising expense' in health care coming from??? Well, I can tell you this much: the retail price of my prescription has gone up 400% in the last 7 years. I've since made a good friend in CANADA who helps me with that problem. The pharmaceutical industry in this country is bankrupting the health care system. They're the culprits. Maybe they need the "Hugo Chavez" treatment? "

" I believe paying the full cost of insurance for married couples was originally instituted not particularly as an employee benefit but because the policy saved money for the State. Paying the entire premium for a two party insurance policy for a married couple was less costly for the State than paying the employer's share of two single policies...a choice the couple would probably have made since the employee's cost for two single policies was usually less than the employee's cost of a two party policy. Over time, the premium structures have changed and now the state does, indeed, lose money so I can understand why they want the change. But, another part of the story...the announced cost of prescription coverage changes more than wiped out the meager salary increases for those lucky enough to get them. I don't believe the old and new rates were printed in the paper. Rather than continuing to compare benefits with other states, I wish NAPE & the Journal Star would compare benefits provided to other government employees in the state. For example, in Lincoln, I would like to know what City/County employees pay for health insurance and their Rx costs...as compared to State employees cost who live in Lincoln. I have heard City/County employees get a cost of living raise each year AND a second merit raise. State employees only get a cost of living raise...if they get one at all. I understand City/County employees can put money in a fund to pay their medical expenses when they retire. How do the retirement plans compare? "

" I am a state employee of nearly 18 years. I really can't say that I feel sorry for the married couples that will now have to pay for their insurance. I have had to do it all along! I have heard several of my co workers comment, "might as well quit, since we have to pay for insurance. What is the use of working here now? Well people, let me tell you this. Unless you plan on going on welfare, One or the other of you will end up paying for health insurance for your family anyway no matter if you work here or somewhere else. It doesn't matter where you work, someone has to carry the insurance. And you know what? It is gonna come out of your check. All state employees have the same benefits, except for the insurance costs, which has now changed. I just don't feel sorry for you to have to begin to pay for your insurance like the rest of us. I never thougt it was fair anyway. and if you don't want to continue working here because of the change, and the only reason you were was because of the free insurance, than mabe it would be better for the people we take care of to have you quit and get someone in here who is here for the individuals. "

" I think the one employee's suggestion was the best, give so many dollars for health care, and let the employee decide how to use it. If you had a medical savings account and bought a high deductible policy, if could work out pretty well. Too many things that are "free" cost somebody somewhere a lot of money, and if some one can go visit the doctor any old time they want, whether they are really sick or not, and it doesn't cost them anything, what incentive is there to be frugal? Guess I am self insured at the moment, cause I don't have any coverage, so I only go for visits when I really need to. A little competition could bring prices to lower level maybe. "

" I think the state should do whatever is most economical. If the state pays 79% of the premium for everyone, then married couples should also be expected to pay 21% of their insurance costs, just like everyone else. However, I think in the case of married couples, if it is less expensive to have a plan with one employee plus spouse versus two separate single employee plans, then I would encourage that option. If it meant that the couple would pay less for the second person to be insured, that's fine with me, because the state would also be paying less for the second person to be insured. While I am not generally for giving perks to people because they happen to be married, I figure that this particular instance would be the state utilizing the fact that two employees happen to be married, and thus could be insured more cheaply. "

" One telling thing is that a large number of public employees posting their opinions quote number of years in the job as an assumed reason for higher income. Not one of them yet has mentioned that they deserve higher pay for doing the job better and more efficiently. This is very different in most of the non-unionized private sector. Few jobs are so complex that they take more than, say, a year to gain competency. After that why is a person who has done a clerical function for 25 years any better than one who has done it for five? I suppose for highly varied jobs where experience is the best teacher such as cops I could see the point. But for clerical, administrative, technical and menail work? Not at all. I'd much rather pay more for a clerk with 3 years experience who has demonstrated an ability to understand and apply process improvement techniques than one with 30 years experience who is content to do it the way old Doris taught him back in the 70s. Pay for performance is a win win. The better employees make more money, the worse ones get annoyed and leave. Sometimes the best and the most experienced are the same thing, but I've managed hundreds of people in different jobs and companies over many years and it's certainly not MOST often that way. "

" and so is my husband. Look at it this way. A state worker with the family plan gets a benefit of roughly $1100 per month. An employee taking single plus dependent coverage gets a benefit of about $800 per month. An employee with single coverage gets a benefit of about $300 per month. Those figures are basically what the state pays for the state portion of the premium. My husband and I are on the family plan, so my benefit is about $700 per month, and his is $700 per month. Now, who is getting the best benefit? 1. Someone on a family plan 2. Someone taking single plus dependents 3. Married state workers 4. Single people In that order. After the first of the year, there will be 700 state employees THAT GET NO INSURANCE BENEFIT!! How fair is that? I know my husband is already looking for another job. It will take something about $2 per hour more than what he is currently earning (which won't be to tough to find). I'll be on a family plan (which will cost the state $1100 per month). The state will have to hire a replacement for my husband, and chances are the new hire will take insurance. Even if it's only single coverage ($300 per month), the state will be paying the SAME amount for the 2 policies (1100 for mine, 300 for the new hire) that they were paying for my husband and I. The state will lose a great four employee and incure training costs on the new hire. Way to go state!!! I also found it interesting that the insurance co-pays will be going up - TO BE MORE COMPARABLE TO WHAT OTHER STATE INSURANCE PLANS ARE! Pretty agreeable to doing it for that but not for the wages.. "

" I am a state employee who gets free health care insurance. There is a state statue stating the state pays free health insurance for married couples. What do you want to have two people paying two premimums out of each check what kind of savingings is that. Remember a couple of years ago that Dianna Schmiek introduced a bill to have it changed well it never went through and all of a sudden das is changing ways. It is against the law to just revert a state statue. It's illegal. State of Nebraska better be prepared for what is coming. "

" I am the highest paid person in my state work area. I got a 3% raise. Not one of the people I work with got a raise at all. Further, my health has been fortunately stable, yet, several of my fellow workers have medical costs which are expensive, and are not going to be covered by the state's plan. Their expenses are going up, their morale is going down, and their opportunities elsewhere are real. Most already knew they could get a $2 raise by going elsewhere. With the change in insurance and no raise, the difference is much greater. I have heard now, of several talking about leaving. We have nearly 15% of our positions unfilled right now. And, we're the ones keeping the "bad guys" behind bars so the rest of Nebraska can enjoy their good life. It's actually quite likely that a person can leave the state, go back to community college for two years, and get immediately hired to a safer, better paying, higher insured job. I hope, that if they do decide to leave, that someone else is willing to do their job for the starting $9+/hr working with the toughest clients in the state. By the way, who is paying for the new prison? And who cut the funds for the drug treatment programs? The state. So, we need more people, not less. This is not good manangement. We already need a new governor. Next one, please have some experience managing people, instead of just pandering for another polical appointment. "

" Remember that the state implemented this policy to save itself money, not to help employees. Now, the state is doing the same thing--to save state money, not to help employees. It isn't the greedy employees who made the decisions, in fact, state employees don't even get a choice about it. The deal was cut by the insurance industry and the governor's brilliant minds. It's another short term response to a long term issue, but will surely serve the Governor well, during his term. After that, average Nebraskans, and state workers are both on your own. This really is about politics and money, not state security, service improvement, or effiecient governing. "

" State Worker-If you are working corrections you aren't making 9.00 an hour. Lets keep this all level, shall we? I made 11.86 an hour, starting, 4 years ago. "

" If the state's insurance options are so bad with the increased copays and such, why would you maintain health insurance with the state if your husband can obtain health insurance with a new employer? I'll tell you why.....your husband's insurance options would likely be more expensive. Us state workers don't realize how good our insurance benefits really are compared to private industry. Do some employers offer better health insurance benefits? Sure, but I'll bet anything that most do not. Also, can you explain to me how it is fair that for the past several decades married couples didn't have to contribute a single penny to cover the rising health insurance costs while the rest of us continued to cover those increases? I know the argument that the state was doing whatever saved them the most money, but contributing NOTHING is simply ridiculous. "

" The only way to give a relatively equal benefit to all state employees, married or single, with or without children, is to give everyone approximately the same dollar benefit. I would propose that the state pay the equivalent to a single person's premium to ALL employees and if that employee wants to cover their spouse or family under their insurance, they cover a large portion of the additional amount themselves (say 60% of this amount). If a single premium is $400 and a family premium is $1400, the state would contribute $400 towards every employee's insurance. To those employees wanting the family coverage, they would get the $400 benefit offered to all employees plus 40% of the difference between a single and family premium (in this example, another $400). Therefore, that employee would have the state contribute $800 towards their family premium, and have to pay $600 per month from their own check. "

" I didn't ever say the insurance options were bad. I made the comment at the end about copays going up because of the reasoning - comparability. I know our insurance is really good. But, we may go with my husbands insurance. One position pays for the entire premium. He may find something were it will be cheaper to keep our state policy. My gripe is, is that as it stands now, I get a $700 per month benefit. One coworker gets an $1100 per month benefit. Is that fair to me? Or how about the coworker on single coverage who gets a $300 benefit? Is it fair to her? The only true solution is to give EVERYONE the same amount for insurance - whether it's $300 per month (I bet the union would fight that one!), $600, $800 per month. Whatever. It's insulting to me that it keeps getting referred to as "free" insurance. It is a benefit I earn and it's actually less of a benefit than brobably 60-70 percent of the rest of the state workers. "

" The news article did not mention the part of the memo that has an even greater impact on all state employees - that the copay for office visits and prescription drug coverage is also increasing significantly. My out of pocket expenses for medicine will increase by more than 38% beginning in 2008. It's time for Nebraska state government and all of America to realize it's time for universal health care. "

" Yes!! Universal Health Care!! So we can wait in line for two months for a double bypass!! Back to the original subject matter...carry on. "

" No- its called triage, and anyone that truly needs care will receive it. You are perpetuating a falsehood about universal care in other countries that is a favorite amongst detractors, namely you expect that because you are 'you' and so gosh darned important you should get treated right now at the expense of others. Well, when you pay for your own individual care you can do that but if you are on everyone else's dime you can wait for non-essential treatment. In most other universal systems you can pay for the privilege to be treated by others if you want to feel more important than others, too, so really UHC is a win win for both uninsured people AND self important blowhards that have to see a specialist for every hangover, hangnail, and hangup that they have. "

" they are looking after the small guy-you the taxpayer "

" The infamous memo also included the fact that the state was going from monthly paychecks to bi-weekly. But if you look in the open enrollment information - the biweekly contribution is half of the monthly premium. Do the math - we go from 12 monthly premiums to 26 half monthly premiums or an extra month premium. This on top of the increased copays and no raise. "

" We who quote the numbers of years with state are more experienced in the work we do. And yes, we do deserve more pay. I don't sit behind a desk either. I work my arse off and get my hands dirty and sometimes get hurt at my job. Think you can do it? We have 104 direct care vacancies. Apply for a job. "

" all 1400 of these stateemployees (that is 700 married couples for those of you who choose to not do the math) can just shut up. What would they have done if the state would have said they were eliminating all those positions to save money? At least they still have jobs. and if this bothers them that much, get a different job and quit whinning. "

" Well gee, the state employees were getting a heck of a deal, weren't they? This didn't happen in any corporate business in the city where I worked!! Now we know why Nebraska taxes are nearly the highest in the nation. Wonder how much more the taxpayers are giving in freebees??!! Wait til you all retire and medicare socks their teeth into you and keeps paying less and less, then doctors inflate their prices and after medicare pays and your company you retired from & still pay premiums to sets their prices same as medicare and therefore, they end up paying NOTHING!! So your stuck with the remaining doctor overbilled difference. Its pretty sad to go to the doctor and he says "hi" and your billed $150.00. Also if married couples with two salaries, had to pay the federal income tax EACH like a single person, they'd find out what a deal, & thats been going on for my life time. And how about a retired couple with two pensions and they pay the same property tax a single person with one pension. Marrieds always get two for the price of one in everything!!! Oh yeah, my former state gave retireds exemptions in property tax, state income tax, and alot more. BUT NOT IN NEBRASKA!!!! If your single or retired you SINK OR SWIM, and they could care less as long as their getting their fine salaries!!!! "

" No, universal coverage if far from "win-win." Consider that the average hospital in Canada is five times older than the average U.S. hospital. The average wait time for a medical procedure is 16 weeks - double what is considered medically acceptable. The average Canadian doctor is paid less than half of a U.S. doctor. Many higher end medical procedures that are commonplace in the U.S. are hardly ever used in Canada. There is no incentive for them to stay on the cutting edge of technology. I do not believe that someone is a "self important blowhard" for simply wanting the best medical treatment available in a timely manner. Universal health care does not provide that. I do not want more of my tax dollars going to another ineffective government program. "

" Better go after the county and city people too. "

" Sorry to disagree with No. Universal health care is a win-win. Is it perfect no. There is good and bad in every program but what we are doing now is unsustainable. So changes must be made. We pay the most for the least of any industrilized country. Our infant mortatlity is at the bottom. Our life expectancy is in the middle. What exactly is good about this? We definately do not get what we pay for. Change is a must. "

" Okay folks the issue is that the married employees now have to pay for insurance. The reason this was done in the first place was because years ago it was cheaper for the State to pay the entire insurance for the couple under one plan then having them each sign up for single insurance in which they paid a small premiumn and the State picked up the rest. But times have changed and it is no longer in the states best interest to do this. So the State is changing it, not because they feel it is unfair but because the cost is know longer a saving for the State. This made sense in the past when it saved the State money but now that it does not so they changed it. As a tax payer this made good sense then and makes good sense now, because they were trying to save tax dollars. So please read and understand the issue before you vent. "

" When this was all brought before the legislative committee last year, these were the same type of bizarre mathematical renditions that poured forth from the married employees. One guy even stated that because he took the place of a long-term employee, he was actually SAVING the taxpayers' money by not having to pay for health insurance! This free benefit to married state employees was started over 35 years ago because it was cost-effective. Can you try to guess how long it has NOT been cost-effective? I can. Because I'm the single dad state employee who's had to pay 2-4 party coverage on a single income for me and my kids all these years, while you've had to pay zip for health insurance on a double income. I'm tired of subsidizing your free ride. The key word in the article is "equity" and it's about time. "

" Are you automatically better at your job than everyone who has being doing it for less time and automatically worse than anyone doing it for a greater length of time? If not then pay for seniority is rather silly. If you are so good at your job you do not need to fear pay for performance. If more years have made you better at your job you STILL don;t need to fear pay for performance as your experience has given you that ability to perform better than less experienced colleagues. The ONLY people who need to fear pay for performance are those who can't do the work as well as those with less experience and who are benefitting from pay for tenacity rather than pay for ability. Not a constituency that anyone should defend overpaying I would have thought. But hey feel free. I already have a good job with excellent pay and benefits thanks - and all without relying on seniority or collective bargaining I might add. "

" The fairest thing to do.. the State didn't think about fair when they penalized all the 685's and 683's zip codes for insurance. People just 5 miles outside for example outside Lincoln got to keep the cadillac insurance. So you talk about fair, well this was more unfair than offering free insurance. This article just shows another shaft given to State employees. I wonder if the state employee's union had just taken the lousy first offer of 2.5% for raises if this would have even been an issue or the lousy insurance to look forward to this next open enrollment. I'm sure this is just the start of what's to come the next few years from the state to it's workers. It's only going to get worse. "

" Ok, so why not pay the single coverage on a family plan (both employee's share), then the employee's make up the difference on the family plan. That way the State of NE is maintaining it from a single employee benefit and the married employees still pay for the family portion. "

" "Because I'm the single dad state employee who's had to pay 2-4 party coverage on a single income for me and my kids all these years, while you've had to pay zip for health insurance" Look at your pay stub! Your benefit is around $800 per month. Mine is $700. After the first of the year, your benefit will still be around $800 per month. Mine will be zero. It is not something I get for 'free'. It is a benefit I earn just like it is a benefit you earn. Only now you'll be earning about $800 per month more than me. Is that fair?? "

" With the amount that the majority of state employees make and no raises, and now state couples having to pay the premium. Now I will be eligible for Medicaid. Thanks. "

" The self-employed have been paying 100% premiums all along. Wish our premiums were as cheap as what is listed! "

" to "one more thing"... the memo you are referring to did say you were being converted to bi-weekly pay cycles. NEWS FLASH!!! the two months out of the year that we get three checks, they only take taxes out of the third check and not insurance payments. I love uninformed people that spew off at the mouth about things they truely have no clue about. and yes i am now taking the stand point that this happens on both sides of the fence. and to clear the air, ive been here for 2 years, make 11.48 an hour and also pay for insurance for myself and my 2 kids. unfortunately my wage and monthly cost of living keeps me from being able to cover my wife as well. It would be nice if this would at least drive our cost for insurance down some but i live in the real world where the truth of the matter is that the state will raise our premiums (already happened), our union will negotiate away good benefits for mediochre benefits that can be recieved from alot of private sector jobs (also happened) and alot of jobs will be available soon. so everyone who is complaining and thinks that these jobs are easy and the pay and benefits are good,,,,, start dusting off your resumes! "

" I was at that hearing and the guy was right. Before he was hired the state was paying $1900 per month for the 2 policies. $1100 for his wifes family plan and $800 for the person he replace. That's $1900 per month. The state paying $1400 for the 2 positions IS $500 per month less for the state. I see the logic, I don't know where you are missing it. "

" Okay, I read. I am in a non-code agency with the state, now they can give management here anywhere from 8% to 34% raises and non one knows. Yes I am a victim also of being with the state in a clerical position for over 20 years and new hires are making considerable more than myself. So take in the factors of minimal non-cost of living raises, health insurance increases and co-pay increases, guess we are losing another 3% of our salary. In cost of living comparision that is almost 10%. Remember the Gov does not run ALL state agencies. So those units are able to do as they please with huge raises for administrators "

" Richest nation in the history of the world and we can't even provide health care coverage for our citizens. Sigh. "