Just fix it

The state needs to control the cost

of its health insurance program

TAXPAYERS are exasperated with efforts to get the Public EmployeesInsurance Agency in line with what private employees pay for theirhealth insurance.

An 80-20 split, with taxpayers covering 80 percent of the costsand state employees paying the remaining 20 percent, is generous. Butthe board appointed to raise employee premiums to 20 percent isreluctant to do so without an employee pay raise.

That is understandable. Private employers try to tie premiumincreases to pay …