Alabama teachers who smoke to pay more for health insurance

A state board on Thursday approved a number of changes to state education employee benefit plans to help offset a nearly $140 million shortfall for 2016. Changes to the Public Education Employees’ Insurance Plan will go into effect when the new year fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The changes will also affect employees with a spouse on the plan: Fees for a spouse will increase by $25 each year from 2016 to 2018 before capping at $75 a year.