South Carolina public employees will be paying more for their health insurance next year.
The Budget and Control Board on Tuesday voted to increase the health care costs for agencies and employees an average of 4.5 percent each starting Jan. 1.
The increases would range from 42 cents monthly for a single employee who chooses the high-deductible health plan, to a little less than $16 monthly for an employee and spouse enrolled in the standard plan.
The increases would bring employees' total premiums to less than $10 per month for a single, non-smoker and about $367 for smokers' family coverage.
Nearly 410,000 public employees and their family members are covered under the plan. It covers state workers, educators and county and municipal employees who choose to participate.
