Active Employees with Health Insurance Plans in Georgia
The administration of health insurance offered to active employees in Georgia is the undertaking of the State Health Benefit Plan or SHBP. Active employees with health insurance refer to state employees, teachers, other school personnel and several contact groups in Georgia.
In January 2009, the SHBP has already provided health insurance coverage for 693,043 members and dependents residing in Georgia. Currently, there are four existing health insurance plan options for active Georgia employees and their dependents. All four plans provide health insurance owners working in Georgia, including their dependents, a wellness benefit even without having to meet a deductible. Because of this, members are encouraged to get timely medical check-ups and tests.
The four plan options for those active employees with health insurance coverage in Georgia are the following:
Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
HRA
The SHBP offers two kinds of health insurance plans for active employees in Georgia with HRA accounts. One is the Definity HRA, and the other is the Choice Fund HRA. Both kinds offer health insurance owners working in Georgia with advantages such as national network and both in- and out-of-network benefits. Features of health insurance plans for active employees in Georgia include 100% wellness benefit, plus a yearly contribution of $500 (single) and up to $1,500 (family). Those unused funds of the HRA will be taken in the following year, and can be taken into retirement by those covered by health insurance with HRA accounts currently employed in Georgia.
HDHP
Just like the HRA, active employees covered by health insurance in Georgia get to have national network and both in- and out-of-network benefits. By and large, benefits are paid at 90% for the in-network and at 60% for the in- and out-of-network charges. Health insurance owners working in Georgia with the HDHP option may choose to take part in a Health Savings Account (HSA) obtainable through the State of Georgia Flexible Benefits Program, or by the employer of those covered by this health insurance plan actively working in Georgia. The payments made by health insurance owners employed in Georgia to an HSA are tax-deductible, and may also be used to pay for various medical expenses. Aside from the transferability of an HSA, unused funds will be taken into the following year, and the active employees covered by health insurance in Georgia may even earn interest.
PPO
Health insurance owners currently working in Georgia with this option may obtain services from either in- or out-of-network providers. Benefits include a larger network of providers, and there is no need for working health insurance owners in Georgia to present recommendations for special visits.
HMO
For 2009, there are two HMOs available for those health insurance owners actively working in Georgia. Both kinds offer a national network. Health insurance covered workers in Georgia with an HMO plan need not present recommendations to see a participating medical expert. However, health insurance owned by those actively working in Georgia does not cover services received by non-participating providers, unless during life-threatening emergency cases.
