The Office of Management and Enterprise Services approved premium rates for health, dental, life, disability and vision insurance products to be offered to state, education and many local government employees, retirees and dependents for Plan Year 2025.
Rates for all plans were recommended by the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Board (OEIBB) and approved by interim OMES Director Katie DeMuth.
After being presented data on industry trends, financials and claim projections for the upcoming year by the board’s third-party actuary, OEIBB suggested premium changes for 2025.
HealthChoice, the state’s self-funded insurance plan now administered by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), increased an average of 4.02% for HealthChoice High, Basic and HDHP plans for current employees and pre-Medicare retirees. For Medicare-eligible members, the HealthChoice SilverScript High and Low Medicare Supplement options remained flat. There was no increase in rates for HealthChoice’s dental, disability or life plans.
The employee benefit allowance, as set by the state Legislature, will increase by 3.86%.
“As national and state health care rates continue to rise, Oklahoma educators, public employees and retirees can depend on consistent and affordable care,” DeMuth said. “As of July, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority is now the home of HealthChoice. Together, OMES and OHCA continue to prioritize valuable plan options at the lowest possible rates, and years of previous savings and fiscal responsibility have helped stabilize HealthChoice premiums.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma’s BlueLincs HMO premium increased 7%, and its Medicare Supplement plan increased 8.97%. The BCBSOK Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan increased 6.01%.
CommunityCare’s HMO premium increased by an average of 13.15% across all tiers, and its MAPD plan increased 2.02%.
The GlobalHealth HMO premium increased 5.75%, and its MAPD plan decreased 2.01%.
The Humana MAPD plan will also be offered with a new deductible, at a 29.78% rate increase.
Government and education employees can expect to enroll in 2025 plans this fall during the state’s annual Option Period. The approved rates will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. To find all plans and rate changes, please review this chart.
