And if you are forced to switch to other providers who are in the new network, then that raise can become.. well, not raise.

From that WRAL report:

Thousands of North Carolina state employees will pay more for insurance premiums, and many may need to start shopping around for health care in 2027 — including potentially leaving their longtime doctors — under new policies approved Friday by the State Health Plan board.

The changeup in doctors will save the Health Plan potentially hundreds of millions of dollars if enough people take part. State officials will try to incentivize that by offering state workers discounts to go to certain doctors, as well as by charging them thousands of dollars more if they insist on using other providers.

Already the state has taken away retiree health benefits for those hired in 2021 or later.