Experts say the best way for cities and states to get out from under crippling pension debt is to close their pension plans to new hires and move employees to lower-cost defined contribution plans.

Texas continues to have the highest uninsured rate in the country, with about one in four people having no coverage of any kind. Massachusetts, which requires residents to have coverage, has the lowest uninsured rate in the nation at 4.9 percent.

Strong investment performance has help lower the New York state pemployer contribution rate for 2014-15.