Tulare County Employees Protest Proposed Increase in Health Insurance Premiums for Family Coverage
About 75 Tulare County employees on Tuesday met outside the chambers of the county Board of Supervisors to protest proposed increases in their monthly health insurance premiums for family coverage, the Fresno Bee reports. Under the proposal, the county would cover most of the cost of health insurance for employees but would require them to pay $200 to $355 per month for family coverage. The proposal marks the latest in a series of contract negotiations over the past year between the county and the 1,800 workers, represented by the Central California Association of Public Employees. About 15 county employees who addressed supervisors on Tuesday in a public comment period said that the proposal could force some workers to seek other employment. County officials said that a "bad combination of rising health care costs and state reductions to the county's budget" has forced the proposed increase in health insurance premiums for family coverage, the Bee reports. Jim Brinkerhoff, deputy county administrative officer for personnel, said, "Health care, in general, is becoming very expensive -- and that we have no control over" (Olvera, Fresno Bee, 12/4).
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