The state Budget and Control Board on Tuesday approved a combination of premium and deductible increases and other benefit changes that will increase the amount state employees pay for health insurance.

The changes approved Tuesday will save the state about $102 million a year when they go into effect at the beginning of next year, the board said.

For an employee and spouse, rates will increase about $38 to $189 a month. And for a full family, rates will increase $34 a month to $234 a month. Rates for single employees will go up more than $19 a month to $69. Rates for an employee and children also will increase $19 a month to $106.

That's how much Susan King will pay, and she's not happy about it. King, a librarian at Wando High School, pays for a plan that covers herself and her two children.

"I don't like it," she said. "We don't get much of a salary raise, and then they increase premiums. It's like you're already minus when you were hoping you would have a little extra money in your paycheck."

The state's health insurance plan covers 370,000 people, including state workers, teachers and local government employees and their families. The plan is having the same problems as other employers' health insurance plans: health care costs are rising.

So far this calendar year, claims payments per person have gone up 12.6 percent, medical claims are up 9.1 percent and pharmacy claims have risen 20.7 percent, said state health plan director Rob Tester. To pay the claims, the state health plan required $162.5 million more from increased subscriber contributions or benefit changes, he said.

"It's sad. It's going to really impact families in the state," said Elizabeth Gressette, executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association. "But what are the choices? We're in hard times."

Also, state employees have not received raises for two years.

"Not only are they not getting an increase in pay, but more is being taken out," Gressette said. "It's a terrible thing."

Last month, the Budget and Control Board asked state workers to fill out a survey asking if they would like to deal with higher plan costs through higher premiums, reduced benefits or a combination of the two.

About 24,000 employees responded and most said they preferred some combination of the two options, board spokesman Michael Sponhour said.

Gov. Mark Sanford said he wants to consider other options for the plan next year, including possible changes in how it deals with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in administering the plan and offering benefit choices to employees.

Changes in the plan must be finalized by Aug. 15 so employees can make decisions about their coverage during an enrollment period in October.

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