(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission approved the renewal of health and dental insurance plans for city employees Monday night.

City Administrator Brad Scott recommended renewing the city's health insurance coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, with a total annual premium of nearly 415-thousand dollars.

The city's share will be about 344-thousand dollars, which is within the 381-thousand dollars budgeted for health insurance in 2027. Health insurance costs increased 13 percent for the coming year.

The city currently pays 100 percent of employee health insurance premiums and 74-point-5 percent of dependent coverage. Employees may choose plans with lower deductibles but are responsible for the additional cost.

The commission also approved renewing the dental plan, which will cost more than 26-thousand dollars. Dental rates increased 7 percent for the coming year.

Scott said the city may need to consider requiring employee contributions toward health insurance in the future as healthcare costs continue to rise.