Refunds Due to 1,500 in Louisiana’s State Benefits Program

About 1,500 people in Louisiana’s health insurance program for state workers, public school employees and retirees have been overcharged for their coverage and are due refunds.

That’s the word from Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration, which has released the preliminary findings of an audit of the Office of Group Benefits.

The administration says some retirees who are enrolled in both Medicare and in Group Benefits coverage were charged a higher premium rate than they should have been.

Those 1,500 people will see lower premium charges on Aug. 1 and will get back any money that was overpaid.

Gregory Dupuis, a Group Benefits spokesman, said the office doesn’t yet know how much the refunds will cost. They will be paid out of the agency’s reserve fund.