County Health Insurance Costs Up by $8.1M
Health costs for San Joaquin County employees will increase by $8.1 million this year, the Oakland Tribune reports. The county will cover $7.1 million of the increase, but the remainder will be passed on to workers, according to county benefits manager Sandy Leighting.
The increases will range from 13.94% to 14.44% for county-run health plans, while the cost of Kaiser Permanente coverage will increase by 12.67%.
Annual deductibles are expected to begin increasing July 10. Other cost increases such as for biweekly employee contributions to health plans and prescription drug copayments also will take place.
Stephanie Batey, valley staff director for Service Employees International Union Local 790, said the county and unions currently are negotiating health care coverage (Mahler, Oakland Tribune, 3/22).