TEACHER RALLY

• WCPO video of rally • Photos from Monday's protests • Ky. teachers cry for relief on health insurance • Teachers do the math, protest cost of health coverage • Teachers' rallies show anger throughout Ky. • Editorial: Time for Ky. legislators to focus What do you think? Will Northern Kentucky teachers who joined thousands statewide in protesting the governor's health insurance plan be successful in lowering health-care costs for state employees? E-mail us at letters@enquirer.com; fax (859) 578-5565; or send a letter to Enquirer Editorial Page, 226 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell, KY 41042

Another birth would cost him nearly $1,000, he said. That's because next year's insurance plan requires employees to pay a greater portion of medical costs out of their own pockets. It's these increases, as well as an increase in monthly premiums, that have school district and state employees irate. Not only are their expenses going up, but Kentucky state employees pay more for certain types of coverage than any other state employees in the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In a 2003 study it found that, on average, states pay about 78 percent of the monthly premium costs for employees. In Kentucky, the state pays 35 percent. That leaves employees paying as much as $490 to $550 a month for family coverage. By comparison, school-district employees in southwest Ohio typically pay $75 for that coverage.

In Kentucky, comparing next year's insurance costs with this year's is difficult, because the options have changed. In the past, employees could choose from several different carriers and plans, each costing different amounts.

For next year, only one insurance carrier will operate in each region, and employees will have three plans from which to choose: Commonwealth Premium, Preferred and Essential. The Essential is the cheapest plan, offering bare-bones coverage, Premium is the most expensive and Preferred is in the middle.

Here are some of the changes for next year, with all costs based on coverage under the Commonwealth Preferred plan:

• For the first time, monthly premiums will be based on salary levels, with people at the higher end paying more. In addition, smokers will pay slightly more for coverage.

• A non-smoking employee who earns between $36,000 and $44,000 would pay $490 per month for family insurance next year. Overall, premiums will go up 7.2 percent next year, but because of all the changes in the plans, some employees will see a bigger increase than others.

• Employees will no longer pay a set fee for doctor visits and diagnostic tests. Instead of $10 co-pays for those services, they will pay 20 percent of the bills. They also will pay 20 percent of all hospitalization costs, the same as this year.

• Deductibles are going up. Next year, the deductible will be $400 for single coverage and $800 under the family plan, compared to $250 and $500 this year.

• Because of the above two changes, employees will pay more out of their pockets. The annual, maximum out-of-pocket expense will be $2,000 for single coverage and $4,000 for families, compared to $1,250 and $2,500 this year.

•  People who opt out of state insurance will lose money. This year, employees who were not insured through the state - usually because they were on a spouse's plan - received $234 a month that was placed in a "flex account." This money could be used toward medical costs not covered by the employee's other insurance. Next year, the amount going into flex accounts will be cut to $100 a month.