The cost-sharing changes – which will be available in detail on UM’s Benefits Stewardship website Friday – will also be discussed at a series of forums to be held later this month, Coleman said. No changes in benefits are planned.

Coleman described health care costs as the university’s fastest-growing expense. The Committee on Sustainable Health Benefits was appointed late last year to look at the situation and propose recommendations to the administration. The goal of that committee was to provide a way to achieve cost-sharing in which the university contributes 70% of health care costs with employees paying 30% – an amount that includes health care premiums, out-of-pocket co-pays and deductibles. Currently, employees contribute 20% toward their health care expenses, according to the university. A similar committee was looking at retiree health care costs.