BRIEF: Galt City Council to vote on employee health care costs [Lodi News-Sentinel, Calif.]

Nov. 03--The city of Galt has not been spared as health insurance costs continue to escalate. Under its vision provider, Vision Service Plan, the city is looking at a 5-percent increase and a 24-percent increase for dental insurance from United Concordia. That rate has not increased since 2010, according to city staff.

The city council on Tuesday is expected to approve the contract for vision and dental. It is expected to cost the city a combined $16,500 for the fiscal year through June 2013.

The vision rates will be guaranteed for four years, through 2016, and some customer costs such as contact lens fitting co-pay will be eliminated in January.

An alternative could be switching vision and dental insurance providers, although staff is recommending against this because it could prove to be more time consuming that its worth, according to a staff report.

The issue of health care coverage has come up during the city council election race.

The Galt City Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Galt City Council, City Council chambers, 380 Civic Drive, Galt.

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