Medical plans

Medical plan changes for 2025

Premium increases

See this year’s employee premium contributions.

To ensure medical costs are shared fairly, the CORE PPO plan will require an employee premium contribution next year. CORE members should consider carefully if that plan best fits their needs.
For the remaining plans, employees with 2024 annual salaries up to $140,000 will see 9% premium increases, and employees with 2024 annual salaries over $140,000 will see 11% premium increases.

PPO plan changes

For UC Care, copays will increase from $20 to $30 for outpatient visits in UC Select/Tier 1 and urgent care in Anthem Preferred/Tier 2.
Prescription drug copays will increase by $5-$15 for UC Care, Tiers 1-3.
For UC Health Savings Plan:
- Accolade Care telehealth visits will have a $30 charge, which will be applied to the deductible.
- The in-network deductible is increasing to $1,650 and $3,300 for self and family coverage, respectively.
- Health Savings Account contribution limits are increasing to $4,300 for self-coverage and $8,550 for family coverage.

HMO plan changes

UC Blue & Gold HMO and Kaiser HMO will cover doula services with no copay, for up to 11 visits per pregnancy.
The Kaiser HMO network will expand into Monterey County.

Cost-sharing increases

Office visit copays will increase from $20 to $30 for UC Blue & Gold HMO, Kaiser HMO, and Optum Behavioral Health. Kaiser group mental health visits are increasing from $10 to $15.
Prescription drug copays will increase by $5-$10 for a 30-day supply on existing tiers for UC Blue & Gold HMO and by $5 for a 30-day supply on existing tiers for Kaiser HMO.
There will be a new specialty drug tier with 30% coinsurance, up to $150 per prescription, for UC Blue & Gold HMO and Kaiser HMO.
Optum, which offers behavioral health coverage for Kaiser members (in addition to Kaiser’s coverage), is increasing its emergency room copay to $125 to align with Kaiser’s current copay.

Need help deciding?

Compare your costs for care with Which medical plan is right for you?
Compare premium costs for UC’s medical plans

CORE PPO (Anthem Blue Cross)

High-deductible plan, with an employee premium contribution in 2025, with access to UC Health and other quality providers. Can be paired with UC’s Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Kaiser HMO (Kaiser Permanente)

Predictable costs for integrated care within the Kaiser network. Can be paired with UC’s Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

UC Blue & Gold HMO (Health Net)

Predictable costs, with access to UC Health and other quality providers in the UC Blue & Gold network. Your care is managed by the medical group you choose. Can be paired with UC’s Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

UC Care PPO (Anthem Blue Cross)

Higher premium for choice of provider tiers, with UC Health providers available in the lowest-cost UC Select tier. Can be paired with UC’s Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

UC Health Savings Plan PPO (Anthem Blue Cross)

Higher out-of-pocket costs are offset by UC’s contribution (up to $500 for single coverage and up to $1,000 for family coverage) to a tax-advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA). Offers access to UC Health and other quality providers.

Open Enrollment

Medical plan changes and choices