The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Most teachers, state employees and retirees would pay hundreds more "out of pocket" for health care under Gov. Ernie Fletcher's scaled-back insurance plans, a legislative analysis indicates.

Fletcher said last week that the state's health insurance costs otherwise would increase 39 percent, "which is not sustainable."

Employees in most counties now can choose from an array of health plans. The administration's request for proposals for a new state contract for 2005 envisions three types of policies: premium, preferred and essential.

The analysis by economists for the Legislative Research Commission said the options make greater use than before of "coinsurance," in which an employee pays a percentage of the cost of service, not a fixed co-payment.

For minor services, coinsurance could be less expensive, according to the analysis, which was obtained Monday from the office of Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley.

Among many scenarios: A state government employee who selected a single plan coverage in 2001 and opted for an "essential" policy in 2005 could expect to pay $952 more "out of pocket." Additional costs were estimated at $890 for a school employee and $1,132 for a retiree.