State employees’ insurance skyrockets

TOPEKA State employees and retired state employees will see increases in the health insurance premiums that they pay, ranging from 12 percent to 46 percent, starting Jan. 1.

The increase was approved today by the Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission. The only vote against the increase was State Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, who is the Democratic candidate for governor.

Kyle Wendt, health benefits administrator for the state, said the increases are needed to cover increased health care costs.

He said the increases are high because there was no increase in premiums last year. Last year, benefits were changed.

The increases will affect approximately 35,000 state employees, 7,000 retirees and their dependents

A state employee with the most common coverage called Kansas Choice and three dependents will see an approximately $90 increase, or 27.6 percent, in the monthly premium, Wendt said.