Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is blaming Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration for proposed HealthChoice insurance premium increases, calling the higher rates avoidable and the result of years of delaying action.
The Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Board on Thursday recommended premium increases of 18.9% for HealthChoice Basic, 15.8% for HealthChoice High and an average increase of 19.5% for the HealthChoice High Deductible Plan. The recommendation will be reviewed by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s chief executive before going to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services director for final approval.
Drummond said the increases stem from decisions to keep HealthChoice rates artificially low instead of addressing the plan’s long-term financial condition.
“This is a hard hit, and it didn’t have to happen this way,” Drummond said.
“For years, Gov. Stitt chose to hold HealthChoice rates artificially flat rather than confront the plan’s finances head-on. That decision wasn’t fiscal discipline. He simply kicked the can down the road, and now the teachers, troopers, caseworkers and other public servants who rely on HealthChoice are the ones paying for it.”
Drummond said Employees Group Insurance Division staff and the insurance board warned the administration about the plan’s financial outlook but said those warnings were ignored.
The attorney general said the increases will be especially difficult for teachers who insure spouses or children. While state law increases the teacher Flexible Benefit Allowance to offset higher employee-only HealthChoice High premiums, he said the adjustment does not cover dependent coverage. As a result, teachers with family coverage could face roughly $1,572 to $2,716 in additional annual premium costs.
“Affordable health coverage has long been one of the few real perks of public service in Oklahoma, given how far teacher and state employee salaries lag behind the private sector,” Drummond said.
“Instead of phasing in modest, manageable increases over time, our state employees are being forced to absorb a drastic hike all at once. That’s wrong, and it was easily avoidable.”
