Public workers may get benefits back

CARSON CITY -- Administrators for Nevada's public employee insurance program are proposing to restore some dental benefits and reduce a hike in health deductibles because of smaller than anticipated claims for the current year.

The Public Employees' Benefit Program Board last year voted to slash benefits for 70,000 active and retired state workers and their dependents because of a projected $111 million budget shortfall to the program.

Cuts included eliminating dental coverage except for preventive procedures like cleanings, an annual exam and X-rays. Expensive procedures such as fillings, crowns and root canals would have been out-of-pocket.

Jim Wells, executive director of the program, said Friday that claims for the current year are projected to be about $25 million less than initially anticipated.

Because of that, the board next week will consider restoring some benefits for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.

"We have been doing some of our projections for the current year and we are on track not to expend as much in claims," Wells said. He estimated reserves for the year would total about $35 million, much larger than the $10 million projected in the summer.

"I'm hoping people will recognize that we're doing what we can when we can do it," he said.

Instead of four dental cleanings a year, administrators propose reducing that number to two and reinstating some coverage that would have expired.

Deductibles for dental procedures would rise from $50 to $100 for individuals and $150 to $300 for families. Maximum annual benefits per individual would decrease to $1,000 from the current $1,500.

For in-network health coverage, deductibles that had been set to jump from $800 annually per individual to $2,000 would be reduced to $1,900. Family deductibles would drop $200 to $3,800.