{"id":5555,"date":"2026-07-10T12:05:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5555"},"modified":"2026-07-10T12:05:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:05:08","slug":"nc-state-health-plan-board-to-vote-on-premiums-benefit-changes-affecting-750000-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5555","title":{"rendered":"NC State Health Plan board to vote on premiums, benefit changes affecting 750,000+ members"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN<\/strong>) \u2014 More than 750,000 North Carolina state employees, retirees and their family members could soon learn how much they will pay for health insurance \u2014 and whether changing doctors could save them money \u2014 as leaders overseeing the State Health Plan prepare to vote Friday<\/strong> on a sweeping package of changes scheduled to take effect in 2027.<\/p>\n

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The State Health Plan Board of Trustees is expected to consider and vote on 2027 premium rates, benefit changes, provider contracts and new contracts for the plan\u2019s third-party administrator and pharmacy benefit manager during its meeting on Friday morning, according to the Friday meeting agenda<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

N.C. State Treasurer Brad Briner underscored the significance of Friday\u2019s meeting during the board\u2019s June session, calling it \u201cperhaps the most consequential meeting this board has ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the most significant proposals is a new provider network that would reward members who receive care from designated \u201cpreferred\u201d hospitals, physician groups and clinics with lower deductibles, copays and other out-of-pocket costs. Members who continue receiving care from providers placed in a \u201cnon-preferred\u201d tier could instead see their costs increase.<\/p>\n

Briner has previously said the proposal is designed to reduce overall healthcare spending while encouraging providers to compete for State Health Plan members by offering lower prices. During the board\u2019s June meeting, Briner estimated the changes could save the State Health Plan roughly $54 million while also lowering costs for many members who choose preferred providers.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery one of our active members on this plan should have the opportunity to save material amounts of money under this new strategy,\u201d Briner said during the June meeting.<\/p>\n

Under the proposed system, providers would fall into one of four categories:<\/p>\n