Long Island's towns and cities spent $341.3 million on employee and retiree health care premiums in 2024, nearly 12% more than in 2023, while state-set rate hikes quadrupled in recent years, a Newsday analysis found.

Premium costs for Long Island's 13 towns and two cities have climbed since 2021, according to data from the state Department of Civil Service, which administers health insurance to town and city employees. The municipalities paid a total of $341.3 million in 2024, an 11.8% increase over the 2023 Islandwide total of $305.4 million.

The increased spending comes as the state has hiked premiums between 2021 and 2024 by a larger amount each year. Rates for the New York State Health Insurance Plan rose by 2.2% in 2021, 7.4% in 2022, 8.6% in 2023 and 8.9% in 2024.

The rate hikes a

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