The VGEA secured passage of the first State Employee Hospitalization Insurance program in 1971 and protecting that program has been at the core of the VGEA mission ever since. The Association works to keep the employee share of premiums low, while ensuring that high-quality health insurance plans are offered to active employees and retirees through the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM). The VGEA also secured passage of the first retiree Health Insurance Credit (HIC) to help State retirees offset the cost of health insurance after they leave State employment, and has been successful in periodically increasing the amount of the HIC.
State employee and retirement health insurance plans are self-funded through a combination of employer and employee contributions. These funds are placed in the Health Insurance Fund (HIF), a trust fund designed to ensure that sufficient funds are available to pay all employee and retiree claims on both a routine and catastrophic basis. The VGEA is ever vigilant in ensuring that the fund is managed in a sound manner and sufficiently funded to ensure its financial integrity. (Click on the link below to see the Auditor of Public Accounts Report on the HIF.)
VGEA also monitors the third party-administrator (TPA) contracts managed by the DHRM for administration of the health insurance plans to ensure that State employees are receiving the best coverage available at the most efficient cost to taxpayers. TPAs are private vendors hired to develop health care provider networks across the state for the various health insurance plans offered through DHRM and to process all claims and payments. Read more about the plans, health insurance costs and related information by clicking on the links below to the annual plan reports.
VGEA achieved the following victories recently regarding the State employee and retiree health insurance program:
Auditor of Public Accounts Report on the Health Insurance Fund:
http://www.apa.virginia.gov/reports/HealthInsuranceFundSR2011.pdf
DHRM Annual Health Benefits Report for Employees and Non-Medicare Retirees:
http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/hbenefits/ohbcommunications/reports/annualreport2013.pdf
DHRM Annual Health Benefit Report for Medicare Retirees:
http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/hbenefits/ohbcommunications/reports/MedicareAnnualReport2011.pdf
This organization (VGEA) provides highest quality support for active and retired public employees…
Dan MoonVGEA is our Voice in Richmond!
Judy FranklinVGEA is Your Connection that has the strength of numbers and influence to demand that our issues are addressed.
April MelaI’m impressed with the VGEA’s General Assembly accomplishments, particularly in the last few years.
Terry AlfredThank you, VGEA, for all you do for State employees. Your effort and dedication are much appreciated.
Jayne Fanshaw, Longwood UniversityVGEA is wonderful and has our best interests at heart…it is truly the voice of the people.
Joan Stromberg, ABCThank you, (VGEA) you do a great job representing us!
Karen PoffThe cellphone discounts I’ve gotten through VGEA have probably been enough to pay my association dues for the rest of my life!
L.F., Department of Corrections“I saved $200 this year just by changing to Liberty Mutual for car insurance. That’s how much the VGEA insurance discount was – twice my dues!”
J. L. StoneGreat organization and I’m proud to be a member. VGEA worked tirelessly to ensure state employees received a 3% raise this year and not tied to revenue projections. VGEA is our voice to state government. I wish more state employees would join, there is strength in numbers.
Carolyn Bethea