The current premium rates for all County and union-sponsored medical and dental insurance plans will end on December 31, 2023. New rates negotiated between County representatives and insurance carriers will take effect January 1, 2024. It is important for active PPOA members to take these increases into consideration as open enrollment starts this Sunday (October 1, 2023) and ends on October 31, 2023.
As many of you are aware, medical and dental plan rates for 2024 are increasing nationwide and Los Angeles County is no exception. In fact, the new 2024 medical plan rates for County employees will be subject to an average increase of 10.4% more than the 2023 rates. According to a letter sent from the LA County CEO to the Board of Supervisors on 9/12/23, insurance carriers have determined that health plan increases "are anticipated to be required to address projected price inflation, technology advances, plan utilization patters, and cost shifting from public to commercial payers."
The increases for 2024 include the following:
- Cigna HMO will increase 12.7 percent
- Cigna Point of Service will increase 12.8 percent
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Kaiser will increase 14.3 percent for the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) Choices* plan
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Kaiser will increase 14.5 percent for the SEIU Local 721 Options plan
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ALADS Anthem Blue Cross Choices plan will increase 5.7 percent
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CAPE Blue Shield Choices plan will increase 17.6 percent
- Delta Dental PPO will increase 4.5 percent
Please note that the 2.5% negotiated County contribution increase for plan year 2024 will result in an increase from $1,099 to $1,126 for an employee only; $2,005 to $2,055 for an employee plus one; and $2,369 to $2,428 for an employee plus two or more. Unfortunately, the County contribution increase will not come close to offsetting the majority of medical premium increases. PPOA members will have this additional 2.5% County contribution to use during the October 2023 Open Enrollment for their plan year 2024, which will become effective January 1, 2024.
PPOA cannot stress enough the importance of reviewing your open enrollment packet. If you have questions, please call the LA County Benefits Hotline at (213) 388-9982.
*PPOA is a member organization of the CCU, which offers Choices health and dental plans to CCU members.
