(The Center Square) – Monthly premiums may go up as much as $50 per month in 2028 for members of the North Carolina State Health Plan regardless of their healthcare provider, says the administrator of the plan.
Following denial of a temporary restraining order on Tuesday, Atrium Health remains greenlighted to go forward with its Affordability Protection Program. That’s an option added by the healthcare provider that first-term Republican state Treasurer Brad Briner says violates the state law.
He also indicated more legal pathways will be explored.
Nearly 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, lawmakers active and retired, and members of higher education are part of the State Health Plan. Not all choose Atrium Health.
Judge Matthew Houston, special Superior Court judge for complex business cases on the North Carolina Business Court, on Tuesday ruled after arguments for and against on in Sanford at the Lee County Courthouse.
Atrium says it created the additional program to “preserve access, patient choice and affordability for enrolled North Carolina State Health Plan members.” Briner’s office said it could lower out-of-pocket costs for some members at Atrium facilities, but it is not “affordable” for the State Health Plan as a whole. He says it could lead to bankruptcy.
Monthly premiums range from about $35 to $80 for the Standard PPO (70/30) and $66 to $160 for the Plus PPO (80/20) plan.
“Every action we take is guided by the commitment to protect our members’ ability to access high-quality, affordable health care,” said Briner, who chairs the State Health Plan Board of Trustees. “The State Health Plan is funded by member and taxpayer dollars and those resources are finite. When a single provider can manipulate the plan’s cost structure, dictate how benefits are designed or undermine our tiered network, it won’t just be disruptive, it could be catastrophic for the Plan, its members and taxpayers.”
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