[myevilalterego]

Hello, My wife and I are considering a move back to Oklahoma.

I have applied, tested, and placed on the eligible list for Special Agent II with OSBI. At first glance, health insurance coverage with the state looks to be extremely expensive! Can anyone speak to this?

Also, anyone with experience on hiring time line for OSBI or feedback on the organization?

[myevilalterego]

Anyone a state employee?? My wife is an Oklahoma native and I promise we are not moving from California, lol!

[peggydavis]

I am not nor have I ever been a state employee, so I am just giving an opinion.

I was looking at the rates, which look about right as far as costs of health insurance, then on the bottom of the page it has the employee benefit allowance. From what I can see, your monthly benefit allowance should come close to equaling your monthly cost. So, I think they have some complicated bookwork about your health insurance, but it shouldn't cost that much unless you choose the most expensive company.

I looked on this page: <Monthly> (http://www.ebc.state.ok.us/en/Benefits/PlanYear2008/Plan_Rates/Monthly_2008_planrate.htm - broken link)

[myevilalterego]

Peggy, thanks so much for your reply. I have never seen "benefit allowance" before, meaning I am used to seeing the rate I am paying as a group member.

That makes sense now and is very comforting!!

[peggydavis]

You are very welcome. I merged the two threads so you can get a better response.

Most of us here in OK consider a state job a good one. The pay is not the highest but you have good benefits and retirement.

We don't mind people from California here in OK. We even like some of them!

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

We don't mind people from California here in OK. We even like some of them!

Lets not generalize, ok?

[Synopsis]

Geez, those ARE expensive. Am I assuming correctly by looking at the details it costs over 1400 dollars a month for just an employee and a spouse, no children? Unbelievable! You'd be better off doing it on your own!

Originally Posted by peggydavis

I am not nor have I ever been a state employee, so I am just giving an opinion.

I was looking at the rates, which look about right as far as costs of health insurance, then on the bottom of the page it has the employee benefit allowance. From what I can see, your monthly benefit allowance should come close to equaling your monthly cost. So, I think they have some complicated bookwork about your health insurance, but it shouldn't cost that much unless you choose the most expensive company.

I looked on this page: <Monthly> (http://www.ebc.state.ok.us/en/Benefits/PlanYear2008/Plan_Rates/Monthly_2008_planrate.htm - broken link)

[Synopsis]

Never mind. I saw the employee benefit allowance (and your message Peggy), which offsets the cost and that's much more reasonable.

[myevilalterego]

I missed that as well. They just do not spell it out as one would expect. I just about freaked out when I first looked at the monthly cost.

Upon closer examination, nearly the entire cost is paid by the state, even with life, ect.

[Jadeswan]

Yup, you get a benefit allowance. We've been able to get good insurance coverage within our benefit allowance and actually have a little left over. Right now any you don't use, you get back but they're thinking about changing that. My husband works for Workforce Oklahoma so I can't speak specifically to OSBI.