Public Notices Portal - Government of Guam

Delaying Implementation of Self-Insurance Means Higher Rates

PRESS RELEASE

Posted on: 08/31/2023 05:29 PM
Posted by: Daylin Pelletier
Department(s): OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF GUAM
Division(s): COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Notice Topic(s): PRESS RELEASE
Types of Notice: PRESS RELEASE
For Audience(s): PUBLIC
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Hagåtña, Guam - The self-insured health insurance contract for Government of Guam employees is set to begin on October 1, 2023. If lawmakers delay implementation, it will cause higher rates and premiums for GovGuam employees with SelectCare. This is because the self-insured contract reduces premiums for SelectCare members by anywhere from 96% to 48%, depending on the specific plan.

Delaying the implementation of self-insurance will also affect how deductibles are calculated. Typically, patients could begin meeting their deductible by October 1st. If self-insurance is delayed until January, patients cannot start meeting their deductibles until January 1st, resulting in less time through the fiscal year to meet their deductible.

According to Milliman's independent third-party actuarial analysis, health insurance premiums for this fiscal year would have increased by 15%. A previous version of the rates would have required a slight increase for those with TakeCare who are moving to self-insurance by roughly 5% to 8%, which is still far better than a 15% increase.

However, after retooling the rates, GovGuam has developed a rate structure that keeps the premiums for those who currently have TakeCare the same while reducing rates for those who currently have SelectCare if we self-insure the health coverage.

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