Health Benefit Programs Overview The County’s medical benefits are designed to help maintain wellness and protect you and your family from major financial hardship in the event of illness or injury. The County offers a choice of medical plans through Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente.
Employees represented by Operating Engineers Union Local 3 have the option of enrolling in either the County program outlined below or medical, dental, and vision benefits provided by the Operating Engineers Trust Fund program. For more information on that program, please contact the Union.
Blue Shield PPO
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is a plan that allows you to seek care from any provider, but offers significant savings if you choose a Blue Shield network provider. The plan benefit is generally a percentage of the allowed cost for a service after you have satisfied the deductible. Staying in network ensures you’re charged the lowest amount your plan offers, but knowing you can go out network, if you wish, gives you that added flexibility.
Kaiser Permanente HMO
A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in which patients seek medical care within the plan’s own facilities. Under this plan, most services and medicines are covered with a small co-payment. You select your doctor, or Primary Care Provider (PCP), from the staff at a local Kaiser Permanente facility. All of your care is provided at a Kaiser facility. Services outside of a Kaiser facility are not covered except if it is a life-threatening emergency.
Delta Dental PPO plus Premier
When you enroll in any County-sponsored medical plan, you are automatically enrolled in dental coverage through Delta Dental. You may use any dentist at any time, but if you use a Delta Dental provider you will save money on your share of the expenses.
Vision Coverage
As with the dental plan, when you enroll in any County-sponsored medical plan, you are automatically enrolled in vision coverage through VSP. You may use any eye doctor at any time, but if you use a VSP provider you will save money on your share of the expenses.
For assistance with your health benefits, contact Human Resources at:
(530) 621-7525 or employeebenefits@edcgov.us