CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A new report says the state of Wyoming pays for 85 percent of state employees' health care premiums.

Nationwide, state government plans pay on average 84 percent of an employee's health care costs.

The data was released by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in a first-of-its-kind state-by-state breakdown of health plan spending for state employees.

It shows health care premiums for state employees in Wyoming are more expensive than the national average for state workers.

The report states that Wyoming spent about $100.6 million in 2013 on total health plan spending for state employees.

Ralph Hayes is program manager for Wyoming Employees' Group Insurance.

He says that the state's rural characteristics increase the cost of health insurance.

More From K2 Radio