New Jersey Abandons $100M Hike in State-Workers’ Health-Care Plan

New Jersey officials cancelled a proposed $100 million increase in the health-care plan for state employees in response to budget pressures and concerns about premium inflation, reports the New Jersey Monitor. The decision is intended to contain cost-drivers in the public-sector plan, but may shift cost-burdens onto workers or reduce benefits in the future, raising affordability risks for covered employees and dependents.