Cafeteria Rates and Premiums

The County contributes a fixed dollar amount toward employee medical, dental, and vision premiums monthly, which is called a cafeteria contribution. The monthly cafeteria amount is determined by your bargaining unit. Benefit premiums and the associated Cafeteria contributions are accounted for on a semi-monthly basis or 24 times a year. The per pay period amount is the amount applied to and deducted from each paycheck. 

If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out in employee's paychecks. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, the balance is the employee's responsibility.

Employees may waive medical insurance by providing proof of other group coverage, which could be an insurance ID card or a proof of other coverage statement from the insurance carrier. Employees that opt out of medical insurance are not eligible for the monthly cafeteria contribution, unless their MOU states otherwise. Please see the information regarding those grandfathered into the former cash-in-lieu policy below. 

To determine your out-of-pocket costs, complete the calculations below. Add the total cost of your medical, dental, and vision premiums and subtract the cafeteria contribution. Review your specific Bargaining Unit's Cafeteria Contribution, as well as the medical, dental, and vision rates below. Please note: these calculations are solely for medical, dental, and vision premiums. You may be enrolled in other benefits that will increase your out-of-pocket costs, including ancillary insurance, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts. To review your out-of-pocket costs for these additional benefits, please refer to your Confirmation Statement through BenXcel. 

Current Premiums and Cafeteria Contribution Rates

To determine your out-of-pocket costs for medical, dental, and vision, follow the steps below:

  1. Identify your specific Bargaining Unit's Cafeteria Contribution based on your medical plan enrollment. 
  2. Identify the medical, dental, and vision plans you are electing. Write the plan names in the first column. You can review the different plans with the Employee Benefits Brochure. 
  3. Write the monthly cost of your medical, dental, and vision premiums in the second column based on your dependent tier enrollment by plan, then add together to find your total cost. 
  4. Subtract the cafeteria contribution from the total cost of your medical coverage. This will calculate your out-of-pocket or cash out for the month.
  5. Divide your monthly out-of-pocket cost in half to calculate your costs coming out of the first two paychecks each month.
Example Out of Pocket Calculation and Template
Example Calculation Employee Calculation Template
Elected Plan Name Monthly Premium Elected Plan Name Monthly Premium
ADD Medical Plan (PPO, EPO, HDHP plans) ADD Medical Plan (PPO, EPO, HDHP plans)
Blue Shield Care PPO (EE + 1) $1,864.00    
ADD Dental Plan (Aetna DHMO or Delta PPO) ADD Dental Plan (Aetna DHMO or Delta PPO)
Delta Dental PPO (EE + 1) $80.67    
ADD Vision Plan (VSP) ADD Vision Plan (VSP)
VSP Vision (EE + 1) $14.54    
= SUBTOTAL $1,959.21 = SUBTOTAL  
SUBTRACT BU Cafeteria Contribution SUBTRACT BU Cafeteria Contribution
BU 06 - DAIA (EE + 1) $1,250.00    
= TOTAL out-of-pocket cost $709.21 = TOTAL out-of-pocket cost  
DIVIDE by 2 for Per Pay Period Cost DIVIDE by 2 for Per Pay Period Cost
= TOTAL per pay period cost $354.61 = TOTAL per pay period cost  
San Luis Obispo County 2024 Cafeteria Contribution Amounts by Bargaining Unit
Unit Association Classifications/County Contribution
02 SLOCEA

Trades, Crafts, & Services

Employee Only: $765.58

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

01, 05, 13 SLOCEA

Public Services, Supervisory, Clerical

Employee Only: $765.58

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

03, 21, 22, & 14 DSA

Law Enforcement, Supervisory Law Enforcement, & Dispatchers

Employee Only: $875.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

06 DAIA

DA Investigators

Employee Only: $816.07

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

04 SLOPA

Prosecuting Attorneys

Employee Only: $1,146.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

07-11 MGMT

Operations & Staff, MGMT. Elected Officials, Conf.

Employee Only: $975.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

17 MGMT

County Supervisors

Employee Only: $975.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

15 SLOCSMA

Law Enforcement Operations & Staff MGMT.

Employee Only: $1,300.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

16  MGMT

Law Enforcement MGMT.

Employee Only: $975.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

12 DCCA

Confidential Attorneys

Employee Only: $1,146.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee +2 or more: $1,550.00

27 SDSA

Sworn Deputy Sheriffs Association

Employee Only: $900.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

28 SDSA

Sworn Deputy Sheriffs Association - Supervisory

Employee Only: $975.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

31 SLOCPPOA

Probation Officers

Employee Only: $991.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee +2 or more: $1,550.00

32 SLOCPPOA

Probation Officers - Supervisory

Employee Only: $1,058.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee +2 or more: $1,550.00

00 TEMP, OTHER

Temp-help, Contract, Other: TBD

2024 Medical Premium Rates (Effective 01/01/2024)
Plan Name Employee Only Employee +1 Family
Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly
Blue Shield Tandem PPO $383.00 $766.00 $755.00 $1,510.00 $983.50 $1,967.00
Blue Shield Choice PPO $435.00 $870.00 $860.50 $1,721.00 $1,121.00 $2,242.00
Blue Shield Care PPO $469.50 $939.00 $932.00 $1,864.00 $1,215.00 $2,430.00
Blue Shield EPO $532.50 $1,065.00 $1,059.50 $2,119.00 $1,384.50 $2,769.00
Blue Shield High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) $378.13 $756.25 $747.63 $1,495.25 $973.63 $1,947.25
2024 Dental & Vision Premium Rates (Effective 01/01/2024)
Plan Name Employee Only Employee +1 Family
Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly
Aetna Dental DMO $15.94 $31.88 $26.36 $52.72 $38.94 $77.88
Delta Dental PPO $23.73 $47.46 $40.34 $80.67 $61.69 $123.37
VSP Vision $4.77 $9.54 $7.27 $14.54 $11.76 $23.52

Special Notice to Part-time Permanent Employees: The pro-rated cafeteria plan contribution is based on hours worked, paid leave, and/or time off granted under Voluntary Time Off Program. See below for grandfather dates by bargaining unit for part-time employees entitled to full Cafeteria benefits.

Dates for Grandfather Prorated Provision of Cafeteria Benefits by Bargaining Unit
Bargaining Unit Grandfathered if hired
01, 05, 13 SLOCEA 12/14/04
02 SLOCEA 10/03/06
03, 21, 22, 14 DSA 02/07/06
04, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 02/25/05
15, 16 Law Enforcement No Agreement
31, 32 Probation 02/28/05

For grandfathered Cafeteria Cash Out dates and amounts, please refer to your bargaining unit’s MOU.

2025 Premiums and Cafeteria Contributions

San Luis Obispo County 2025 Cafeteria Contribution Amounts by Bargaining Unit
Unit Association Classifications/County Contribution
02 SLOCEA

Trades, Crafts, & Services

Employee Only: $790.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

01, 05, 13 SLOCEA

Public Services, Supervisory, Clerical

Employee Only: $790.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

03, 21, 22, & 14 DSA

Law Enforcement, Supervisory Law Enforcement, & Dispatchers

Employee Only: $900.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

06 DAIA

DA Investigators

Employee Only: $816.07

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

04 SLOPA

Prosecuting Attorneys

Employee Only: $1,146.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

07-11 MGMT

Operations & Staff, MGMT. Elected Officials, Conf.

Employee Only: $975.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

17 MGMT

County Supervisors

Employee Only: $975.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

15 SLOCSMA

Law Enforcement Operations & Staff MGMT.

Employee Only: $1,300.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

16  MGMT

Law Enforcement MGMT.

Employee Only: $1,300.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,625.00

12 DCCA

Confidential Attorneys

Employee Only: $1,146.00

Employee + 1: $1,300.00

Employee +2 or more: $1,625.00

27 SDSA

Sworn Deputy Sheriffs Association

Employee Only: $900.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

28 SDSA

Sworn Deputy Sheriffs Association - Supervisory

Employee Only: $975.00

Employee + 1: $1,250.00

Employee + 2 or more: $1,550.00

31 SLOCPPOA

Probation Officers

Employee Only: $991.00

Employee + 1: $1,399.00

Employee +2 or more: $1,727.00

32 SLOCPPOA

Probation Officers - Supervisory

Employee Only: $1,058.00

Employee + 1: $1,399.00

Employee +2 or more: $1,727.00

00 TEMP, OTHER

Temp-help, Contract, Other: TBD

2025 Medical Premium Rates (Effective 01/01/2025)
Plan Name Employee Only Employee +1 Family
Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly
Blue Shield Tandem PPO $399.50 $799.00 $788.00 $1,576.00 $1,026.50 $2,053.00
Blue Shield Choice PPO $454.00 $908.00 $898.00 $1,796.00 $1,170.00 $2,340.00
Blue Shield Care PPO $490.00 $980.00 $972.50 $1,945.00 $1,268.00 $2,536.00
Blue Shield EPO $550.50 $1,111.00 $1,105.50 $2,211.00 $1,445.00 $2,890.00
Blue Shield High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) $394.63 $789.25 $780.13 $1,560.25 $1,016.13 $2,032.25
2025 Dental & Vision Premium Rates (Effective 01/01/2025)
Plan Name Employee Only Employee +1 Family
Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly Per Pay Period Monthly
Aetna Dental DMO $16.50 $33.00 $27.29 $54.57 $40.31 $80.61
Delta Dental PPO $23.73 $47.46 $40.34 $80.67 $61.69 $123.37
VSP Vision $4.77 $9.54 $7.27 $14.54 $11.76 $23.52