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Variety in the Heartland |
Panel Reviews Health Care
03/03/10 MRC/AP
An effort to protect health care benefits for Kentucky's retired teachers got a public hearing Tuesday, when a House panel reviewed a bill that would enlist current teachers, some retirees and school districts in helping preserve the coverage.
Under the proposal, active teachers would contribute more of their pay. Retired teachers under age 65 who currently pay nothing for basic health coverage would begin contributing. Public school districts would start picking up a share of retired teachers' health coverage.
Gary Harbin, executive secretary of the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System, said the legislation promotes "shared responsibility" that will benefit all those groups.
The House Education Committee did not vote on the bill Tuesday.
The cost of retired teachers' health care has escalated sharply in recent years. The state has redirected about $562 million since 2004 from the teachers' pension fund to help cover health costs. Only a portion of that has been repaid, Harbin said.
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