Gov. Kelly Ayotte blocked Executive Council approval Wednesday of a four-year, $27 million contract to have Anthem Health Plans of N.H. provide health coverage for 27,000 current and retired state workers, saying she wants to ensure the firm was “consumer-friendly” and “accountable” to the public.

State administration officials recommended Anthem continue to offer health coverage through the end of 2029 with an option to extend it for another two years.

This latest contract for existing state employees also covers retirees who aren’t yet eligible to receive Medicare.

Most of these workers would be first responders who retired before reaching the minimum age of 60 to enroll in Medicare.

The five-member council appeared ready to approve the contract until Ayotte invoked her authority as

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