Health Care Costs Rising for State Employees

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina state employees will pay more for their health care next year after all, despite legislators passing a budget that covered premium hikes. The Budget and Control Board voted 3-2 Wednesday to split the cost of the increase between workers and their employers. Both will pay 4.6 percent more Jan. 1. The surprise move bucks the budget that took effect last month. Legislators agreed to fully fund state employees’ premium increase, so they received noticeable raises in their take-home pay. That called for a 6.37 percent increase in agencies’ contributions. But Gov. Nikki Haley, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and Treasurer Curtis Loftis voted to split the cost. Dissenting votes came from the panel’s two legislative leaders: House Ways and Means Chairman Brian White and Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman.