OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) - In the continuing battle over health care, retired county workers claim Contra Costa County broke its word by capping its contributions to retirees' health-care benefits.
In its federal complaint, the Retiree Support Group of Contra Costa County claims the county promised it would pay 80 percent or more of the costs of health-care benefits for at least one plan for retirees and their dependents, even if the costs were to increase.
The workers claim they "gave up wage increases and other employment benefits in order to receive [these] health care benefits."
But in 2010 the county capped contributions at a flat dollar amount and said it would pass on the increased cost of health care to the retirees.
This "will have a devastating impact on the retirees, many of whom are elderly individuals who live on fixed incomes and will be required to pay many hundreds of additional dollars a month toward their medical costs," the complaint states.
The county denied the group's Government Code Claim in June 2010.
The nonprofit support group seeks an injunction and damages for breach of and impairment of contract, promissory estoppel and civil rights violations.
It is represented by Jeffrey Lewis with Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson, of Oakland.
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