Written by: Mike Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Some state Board of Finance members on Tuesday contemplated asking the Legislative Council for more money to put into the health insurance plan for public schools next year beyond the $35 million the council authorized on Friday.

But the board stopped short of giving a recommendation to state lawmakers on changes to make in the insurance plan for 2022. The plan covers more than 100,000 public school employees, retirees, and their dependents.

The board reviewed an option under which the premiums would increase by 5% next year and a second option under which premiums would increase by 10%.

The board also reviewed a third option, under which the premiums for current employees would increase by 5%; those for retirees younger than 65 would increase by 10%; and those for retirees 65 and older would increase by 15% next year.

Read the full article HERE.