Dale Folwell's gutsy move on healthcare spending
What swapping Blue Cross for Aetna truly means for North Carolina
Health benefit contracts don't typically make for the most interesting stories. But it's worth taking a closer look at the decision last week to shake up the management of North Carolina's State Health Plan.
For more than 40 years, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina has been responsible for administering the benefits for some 740,000 state employees, teachers and retirees covered by the plan. Beginning in 2025, Aetna will be taking over the contract.
But this decision is more than just swapping out one big company for another. In reality, it is perhaps State Treasurer Dale Folwell's most significant move yet in his mission to reduce the cost of health care in our state.
A quick primer on the State Health Plan
The State Health Plan is the primary health care benefits system for state agency employees and their families across North Carolina. The plan has its own board of trustees and lives within the Department …