State and county employees, still feeling the impact of wage cuts in the latest round of labor contracts, now have only until October 21, just over two weeks, to select their preferred health insurance plan that best balances affordability and coverage.

But although the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, or EUTF, started holding informational meetings on Monday to explain the choices and tradeoffs, critical information needed to make the choice has yet to be provided.

Actual premiums for each of the health insurance plans, including medical, drug, vision, and dental plans, have been delayed and are still unavailable.

A memo from EUTF administrator Barbara Coriell, dated Monday, October 3, said the agency hopes to make most rates public by today, Wednesday, October 5. Premiums for the prescription drug plan remain uncertain because of an unsuccessful bidder’s challenge to the new contract awarded CVS. Actual drug premiums depend on the outcome of that appeal.

As of early this morning, rates are still listed on the EUTF web site as “coming soon.”

The lack of information on premiums complicates an already difficult choice for public employees, who have to find ways to cope with an increased share of total medical premiums, up from 40% to 50% in the latest contracts. The increased share of costs, coupled with rising premiums, are likely to prompt many public workers to reevaluate their needs and consider shifting to plans that offer lower premiums, but carry the risk of higher out-of-pocket costs for treatment.

EUTF has information meetings scheduled daily at locations across the state, continuing right up to the October 21 deadline. Presumably this means that many employees who attend the final information session from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the State Capitol Auditorium on October 21 will have just hours to evaluate the options, make a choice, complete the paperwork, and turn it in before the deadline passes.

The new premiums and plans will go into effect on January 1, 2012, and extend through June 30, 2013.