Health care costs are on the rise for many, and now public employees and retirees in Kentucky are bemoaning possible spikes in their state supported health plans.

As lawmakers craft the state's two year budget, they'll have to decide whether taxpayers or those public workers should pay for the increases.

Our June Lefler has more from those who could see their premiums rise.

House Republicans draft budget bill House Bill 500 places a cap on state dollars towards public employee health plans.

The proposal.

Any market increase greater than 5% a year should be passed on to the employee or retiree.

Who would not only increase their premiums, which is money straight out of your pocket.

But, they might be forced to choose a plan with less benefits.

There'll be some drugs that are excluded, under those things.

It can make managing and health very difficult if you don't get a health plan that is not tailored to your needs.

A state budget official wrote that employees could see their monthly premiums increase hundreds of dollars.

For a teacher, a rank three teacher in Kentucky.

This means losing $486 a month.

That's nearly $5,800 a year, down from a paycheck that is already weakened in buying power.

Kentucky's teachers union and others are asking lawmakers to scrap the cap as the budget process continues.

It's simple.

It's specific, and it demands a straight answer.

The pledge reads all pledge to vote no on any budget that shifts more of the burden of health insurance cost to employees and retirees to caps significant premium increases or benefit reductions.

Yes or no.

Public employee representatives say keeping the cap would be a slap in the face for current prospective and retired workers.

And retired and living on a fixed income.

You don't have the option.

You're going to ask for a raise.

You don't have the option to switch jobs.

You're living with the decisions you made 20 and 30 years ago.

Decisions were based on promises the state made to you.

Kentucky House representatives will be the first to vote on the budget.

So far, the executive branch spending plan hasn't had a standing committee vetting or vote.

Kentucky's speaker of the House blames the Beshear administration for any delays in revising the budget, saying, quote, the administration failed to provide the necessary information and data.

Without the requested information, it is impossible to make evidence based decisions.

But we will continue our efforts in subcommittees and with stakeholders and advocates.

When they say that this isn't the final form, I absolutely believe them.

I just don't know what the final form will look like yet.

Lawmakers are more than halfway through the 60 day legislative session.

Today is day 32 for Kentucky edition.

I'm Jen Leffler.