Benefit allowances will cushion the increase for many active employees, but retirees and workers covering family members could face substantially higher costs.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma officials have approved 2027 insurance premiums for state and public school employees, participating local-government workers and retirees, with HealthChoice increases approaching 20%.
HealthChoice provides health and dental benefits to more than 186,000 current and former state, education and local-government employees, survivors and dependents. That figure includes covered family members, not only employees and retirees.
The 2027 rate schedule takes effect Jan. 1. Monthly premiums for individual HealthChoice High coverage will rise 15.8%, from $707 to $818.66. HealthChoice Basic will increase 18.9%, from $564.72 to $671.52, while the high-deductible plan will rise 19.5%, from $492.80 to $588.82.
The effect on active employees’ paychecks will vary. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services said the Legislature will adjust state employee benefit allowances under state law to offset the increase.
The flexible benefit allowance for public school employees is tied to the employee-only HealthChoice High premium, covering that increase. It does not increase for dependent coverage. Based on the approved rates, a teacher whose district provides no additional assistance would pay about $1,570 more annually to cover a spouse or about $2,715 more to cover a spouse and two or more children.
Retirees do not receive the active employee benefit allowance and generally are responsible for the full premium, although retirement systems provide limited contributions for eligible retirees. The Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, for example, contributes up to $105 a month for the retiree but nothing for dependents.
A pre-Medicare retiree with individual HealthChoice High coverage will pay nearly $1,340 more annually. For Medicare-eligible retirees, the HealthChoice SilverScript High premium will rise 16.8%, from $437 to $510.44 a month. The low-option premium will increase from $356.06 to $415.98.
CommunityCare and Generations by GlobalHealth Medicare Advantage premiums will remain unchanged at $217 and $220 per person, respectively. Humana’s Medicare Advantage premium will increase 2.8% to $281.10.
OMES Director Mark Wood said the adjustment was necessary because previous premiums had not kept pace with rising health care costs. HealthChoice premiums were held flat for 2026. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma also has elected not to offer its health plans during the 2027 enrollment period, which begins this fall.
