University of Kentucky health insurance costs are going up

The University of Kentucky is upping health insurance costs for employees on its HMO plan, along with other adjustments.

In a campus-wide email Wednesday, UK said health care costs have been "greater than the premiums paid by the university and its employees in recent years" — and a number of changes are coming in 2025-26.

Employee-only HMO monthly coverage will go from $45 to $55. Employee plans including children, spouses, and families will also see increases, topping out at $530.

UK Retail Pharmacies will become the exclusive pharmacy for ongoing prescriptions on the HMO plan. There are currently eight on and off campus locations.

In addition, deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance costs will also see some increases. UK will end the Regional Health Plan, or RHP, and the EPO plan.

Open enrollment takes place April 28-May 16.

From the email:

Among this year’s changes:

• We will reduce the cost of employee-only coverage on our Saver plan — a high-deductible plan with a health savings account — to $30 per month. Costs for family coverage will range up to $432 per month. On the Saver plan, UK provides $1,000 or $2,000 in a health savings account to help you meet your deductible. 

• UK HMO costs will range from $55 per month for individuals to $530 per month for families. UK Retail Pharmacies will also become the exclusive pharmacy for ongoing prescriptions on the HMO plan. 

• UK PPO costs will range from $99 per month for individuals to $682 per month for families. 

• The HMO and PPO plans will also have some increases to: 

• Deductibles (the amount you pay before insurance begins coverage) 

• Co-pays (a flat fee for services) 

• Co-insurance (a percentage of the cost of services)  

Additionally, we will no longer offer the Regional Health Plan (RHP) or EPO plan. These plans were the most expensive to operate and would have required substantial cost increases to make them sustainable. If you are on one of those plans, you can still remain on UK health insurance, such as the Saver and PPO plans. These plans offer lower monthly costs and still allow access to any health care provider nationwide in the Anthem network.