BOISE - State leaders plan to increase the cost of health care coverage for part-time employees by next month.

It's a decision that has some workers worried that they may have to drop their insurance altogether.

Kim Pierce, a part-time administrative assistant in the history department at Boise State, says she's worked at the university for 20 years. And in that time, her health care premiums cost a little more than $100 a month.

But under the state's changes, Pierce says each monthly payment will increase by 250 percent. She says BSU Human Resources informed her that working 40 hours a week will result in a paycheck of about $76.

"I was thinking about my two children and my husband who I cover, that was my first impulse," Pierce said. "And then when my children overheard us talking about it one of my children hugged me and said 'thank you mom for carrying the insurance.'"

Pierce and others have written local lawmakers concerned about the decision made by the Idaho Department of Administration before it takes effect.

The Idaho Department of Administration has yet to return phone calls seeking comment.