The cost of health benefits for state and education workers is going up in 2014.
At the recommendation of a board that oversees benefits for most public workers, Office of Management and Enterprise Services Preston Doerflinger approved the increase in premium rates on Friday.
The Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Board recommended an overall increase of 3.6 percent for the self-funded HealthChoice Plan and a 2.2 percent hike in the monthly premium for the HealthChoice Medicare supplement plan.
An actuary told the board the increases were below both initial projections and the national average.
Also approved were changes to the pharmacy benefits and slight increases in some life-insurance plan costs. The dental and disability plans in HealthChoice did not change.
