(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina lawmakers are considering several changes to the health insurance plan for teachers and other state employees. A bill approved by the House Insurance Committee would raise out-of-pocket expenses for state employees and for the first time ever, charge a monthly premium for coverage.

Republican Bill sponsor Sen. Tom Apodaca said the premiums were needed to keep the plan on solid financial ground. "We were looking at a $500 million hole and we had to find a way to plug this and we just didn't have the available resources in the state coffers to pay that out and so we all had to come in and pick up a portion of that," said Apodaca.

Democratic Sen. Doug Berger said it is unfair to ask state employees to pay a premium. "Not only are the not going to get any pay raise, but they are actually going to lose income by being required to pay four-fifths of the funding for this plan," said Berger. The exact gap lawmakers say the need to close in order to keep the State Health Plan operating is $515 million over the next two years.
 
The bill approved by the committee would also transfer oversight of the State Health Plan to the State Treasurer. In addition, the legislation repeals a wellness initiative aimed at getting people to stop smoking and better manage their weight.