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Educators Who Smoke Will Pay Higher Insurance

Montgomery, AL – Alabama's health insurance plan for public education employees is going to keep the same basic rates for most participants. But smokers will pay more for coverage and much of the wellness program will be eliminated when the state's new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The board of the Public Education Employees Health Insurance Plan decided Friday to keep the same basic rates for active employees - $2 per month for individual coverage, $132 for dependent coverage and $134 for family coverage.

The board raised the surcharge for smokers by $2 per month to a total of $25. It also voted to eliminate all the wellness program except flu shots as a cost-saving measure.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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