The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California says the rising cost of health care is forcing the tribe, for the first time, to assess a premium on tribal employees.

The tribe will charge $25 every other week per employee. This puts annual premium at $650, higher than the national average.

Nationally, health care premiums have been on the rise for the past four years. According to The Riverside Press-Enterprise, the national increase was 13.9 percent while California's was 15.8 percent in 2003.

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Tribe begins charging workers for health care (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 9/29)
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