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Which medical plan is right for you in 2026?
Open Enrollment
Thursday, Oct. 30, at 8 a.m. to Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at 5 p.m.
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Note: The charts below show what the member pays at the time of care. See employee medical plan premium contributions or retiree medical plan premium contributions for your share of premium costs for each plan.
Download Which medical plan is right for you? PDF
This is a summary only. Important details — such as limitations, exclusions, exceptions, and other qualifiers — may not be included. For detailed information, call the plan or see their website for specific benefits, benefits when traveling overseas, provider information, and plan booklets. If any information on the website conflicts with plan documents, plan documents prevail.
| Plan | Calendar Year Deductible | Health Savings Account (HSA) UC contribution | Annual Out-of-Pocket Maximum1 |
| UC Blue & Gold HMO | $0 (in-network coverage only) | Not applicable; can be paired with Health FSA | Individual: $1,000 Family (3 persons or more): $3,000 |
| Kaiser HMO | $0 (in-network coverage only) | Not applicable; can be paired with Health FSA | Individual: $1,500 Family (2 persons or more): $3,000 |
| UC Care | |||
| UC Care Tier 1 In-network: UC Select | $0 | Not applicable; can be paired with Health FSA | Individual: $6,1002 Family: $9,7002 |
| UC Care Tier 2 In-network: Blue Shield | Individual: $5002 Family: $1,0001 | Individual: $7,6002 Family: $14,2002 | |
| Out-of-Network | Individual: $7502 Family: $1,7502 | Individual: $9,6002 Family: $20,2002 | |
| HealthSavings+ | |||
| In-Network | Individual Coverage: $2,5003 Family Coverage: $5,0003 (You may use your HSA funds to pay for your deductible and other eligible out-of-pocket expenses.) | Employee: up to $7504 Employee & Adult: up to $1,5004 Employee & Children: up to $1,5004 Family: up to $1,5004 | Individual Coverage: $6,700 Family Coverage: $13,400 |
| Out-of-Network | Individual Coverage: $4,0003 Family Coverage: $8,0003 (You may use your HSA funds to pay for your deductible and other eligible out-of-pocket expenses.) | Individual Coverage: $8,000 Family Coverage: $16,000 | |
| Plan | Inpatient | Surgeon | Emergency Room | Ambulance | Urgent Care |
| UC Blue & Gold HMO | $250 copayment per admittance | No charge | $125 (waived if admitted) | No charge | $30 |
| Kaiser HMO | $250 copayment per admittance | No charge | $125 (waived if admitted) | No charge | $30 |
| UC Care | |||||
| UC Care Tier 1 In-network: UC Select | $250 copayment | No charge |
Facility: $300 copay per visit not resulting in admission, $250 if admitted ER Physician Services: No charge (not subject to calendar year deductible) | N/A (services covered under UC Care Tier 2) | $30 |
| UC Care Tier 2 In-network: Blue Shield | 30% | 30% | $200/trip (not subject to calendar year deductible) | $30 (not subject to calendar year deductible) | |
| Out-of-Network | 50% (non-preferred hospitals subject to maximum payment of $300/day) | 50% | 50% | ||
| HealthSavings+ | |||||
| In-Network | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% after deductible |
| Out-of-Network | 50% (out-of-network hospitals subject to maximum payment of $360/day) | 50% | 50% after deductible | ||
| Plan | Office Visit | Hospital Visit | Preventive Physical Exam/Well Baby Care | Maternity Outpatient Care | Maternity Inpatient Care |
| UC Blue & Gold HMO | $30 | No charge | No charge | No charge | $250 copayment per admittance |
| Kaiser HMO | $30 | No charge | No charge | No charge | $250 copayment per admittance |
| UC Care | |||||
| UC Care Tier 1 In-network: UC Select | $30 | No charge | No charge | $20 (initial visit only) | $250 copayment per admittance |
| UC Care Tier 2 In-network: Blue Shield | 30% | 30% | No charge (not subject to calendar year deductible) | 30% | 30% |
| Out-of-Network | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% (non-preferred hospitals subject to maximum payment of $300/day) |
| HealthSavings+ | |||||
| In-Network | 30% | 30% | No charge (not subject to calendar year deductible) | 30% | 30% |
| Out-of-Network | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% (out-of-network hospitals subject to maximum payment of $360/day) |
| Plan | Home Health Care | Skilled Nursing Facility | Outpatient X-Ray and Lab | Chiropractor | Acupuncture |
| UC Blue & Gold HMO | No charge | No charge (up to 100 days/ calendar year) | No charge | $20 (24 visit limit/calendar year combined with acupuncture) | $20 (24 visit limit/calendar year combined with chiropractor) |
| Kaiser HMO | No charge (up to 100 visits/ calendar year) | No charge (up to 100 days/ calendar year) | No charge | $15 (24 visit limit/calendar year combined with acupuncture) | $15 (24 visit limit/calendar year combined with chiropractor) |
| UC Care | |||||
| UC Care Tier 1 In-network: UC Select | N/A (services covered under UC Care Tier 2) | N/A (services covered under UC Care Tier 2) | $20 | N/A (services covered under UC Care Tier 2) | N/A (services covered under UC Care Tier 2) |
| UC Care Tier 2 In-network: Blue Shield | 30% | 30% (up to 100 visits/calendar year) | 30% (up to 100 days/calendar year) | 30% (preferred providers and 24 visit limit/calendar year combined with acupuncture) | 30% (preferred providers and 24 visit limit/calendar year combined with chiropractor) |
| Out-of-Network | 50% (up to 100 days/calendar year). If authorized, paid at UC Care Tier 2. | 50% (up to 100 days/calendar year). If authorized, paid at UC Care Tier 2, subject to maximum payment of $300/day. | 50% | 50% (up to allowed amount and 24 visit limit/calendar year combined with acupuncture) | 30% (up to allowed amount and 24 visit limit/calendar year combined with chiropractor) |
| HealthSavings+ | |||||
| In-Network | 30% (up to 100 visits/calendar year) | 30% (up to 100 days/calendar year) | 30% | 30% (24 visit limit/calendar year combined with acupuncture) | 30% (24 visit limit/calendar year combined with chiropractor) |
| Out-of-Network | Not covered unless prior authorized. If authorized, in-network benefit applies. | 30% (up to 100 days/calendar year) | 50% | 50% (up to allowed amount and 24 visit limit/calendar year combined with acupuncture) | 30% (up to allowed amount and 24 visit limit/calendar year combined with chiropractor) |
| Plan | Retail (up to 30-day supply) | Mail Order (up to 90-day supply) |
| UC Blue & Gold HMO | Generic: $105 Brand: $305, 6 Non-Formulary: $505, 6 Specialty: 30% coinsurance up to $150 per prescription | Generic: $20 Brand: $606 Non-Formulary: $1006; Specialty: N/A |
| Kaiser HMO | 30-day supply—Generic: $10; Preferred brand: $30; Non-preferred brand: $30; Specialty: 30% coinsurance up to $150 per prescription | Up to a 100-day supply—Generic: $20; Preferred brand: $60; Non-preferred brand: $60; Specialty: availability varies |
| UC Care | ||
| UC Care Tier 1 In-network: UC Select | At Navitus network pharmacies: Tier 1: $105, 7, 8 Tier 2: $305, 7, 8 Tier 3: $505, 7, 8 | Tier 1: $207, 8 Tier 2: 6507, 8 Tier 3: $1007, 8 |
| UC Care Tier 2 In-network: Blue Shield | At Navitus network pharmacies: Tier 1: $105, 7, 8 Tier 2: $305, 7, 8 Tier 3: $505, 7, 8 | Tier 1: $207, 8 Tier 2: $607, 8 Tier 3: $1007, 8 |
| Out-of-Network | 50% (of billed charges per prescription)8 | Not covered |
| HealthSavings+ | ||
| In-Network | 30%5, 8 | 30%8 |
| Out-of-Network | 50%8 | Not covered |
| Plan | Mental Health Inpatient9 | Mental Health Outpatient9 | Substance Abuse Inpatient9 | Substance Abuse Outpatient9 |
| UC Blue & Gold HMO |
$250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment (preauthorization required) | Visits 1–3: No copayment | $250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment (preauthorization required) | Visits 1–3: No copayment Visits 4+: $30 |
| Kaiser HMO | Kaiser: $250 copayment per admittance Optum: $250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment (preauthorization required) | Kaiser: $30 for individual visit; $15 for group visit. | Kaiser: $250 copayment per admittance Optum: $250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment (preauthorization required) | Kaiser: $30 for individual visit; $5 for group visit. Optum: Visits 1–3: No copayment. Visits 4+: $30 |
| UC Care | ||||
| UC Care Tier 1 In-network: UC Select | $250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment | Visits 1–3: No copayment Visits 4+: $30 | $250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment (preauthorization required) | Visits 1–3: No copayment Visits 4+: $30 |
| UC Care Tier 2 In-network: Blue Shield | $250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment | Visits 1–3: No copayment Visits 4+: $20 | $250 copayment per admittance or course of treatment | Visits 1–3: No copayment Visits 4+: $30 |
| Out-of-Network | 50% Additional $250 copayment for failure to preauthorize | 50% | 50% Additional $250 copayment for failure to preauthorize | 50% |
| HealthSavings+ | ||||
| In-Network | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Out-of-Network | 50% Additional $250 copayment for failure to preauthorize | 50% | 50% Additional $250 copayment for failure to preauthorize | 50% |
Definitions
Calendar year deductible: The amount you must pay for medical services before the plan will provide benefits.
Annual out-of-pocket maximum: The amount you must pay during the calendar year before the plan will pay 100% of covered charges. Some expenses do not apply toward the maximum; see the plan’s evidence of coverage booklet.
Copayments: Shown in dollars; represents the amount you pay after the deductible (if any) has been met.
Coinsurance: Shown as a percentage; represents the percentage of the allowable amount you pay after the deductible (if any) has been met.
Allowable amount: The dollar amount considered payment-in-full for services provided by the health plan carrier’s network of healthcare providers. (Out-of-network providers may bill members for amounts in excess of the allowable amount.)
Footnotes
1 The annual out-of-pocket maximum combines medical, behavioral health and prescription drugs. Kaiser and Optum do not coordinate costs for behavioral health services.
2 UC Care deductible and out-of-pocket maximums do not cross-accumulate for in-network and out-of-network services. The UC Care Tier 1 and Tier 2 out-of-pocket maximum do cross-accumulate.
3 In-network expenses count toward meeting the out-of-network deductible, but out-of-network expenses do not count toward meeting the in-network deductible (except for authorized ambulance and emergency medical services).
4 This assumes you are covered Jan. 1, 2026. If you enroll later in the year, the UC contribution is prorated.
5 90-day supply available for maintenance medication at UC Medical Center pharmacies at plan’s mail order copay benefit level. UC Blue & Gold HMO plan members can access this benefit at CVS walk-up pharmacies. UC PPO plan members can also access this benefit at additional Navitus Preferred Retail Pharmacies.
6 When a generic drug is available and you or your physician choose the brand name drug, the drug will not be covered by the plan. If you obtain a brand name drug in this scenario, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost and it will not count towards your annual out-of-pocket maximum. With prior authorization, exceptions for medical necessity can be made and you pay the non-formulary (Tier 3) copay.
7 The Navitus prescription drug formulary classifies (and charges for) medications by tier, as follows:
- Tier 1—Preferred generics and some lower-cost brand products
- Tier 2—Preferred brand products and some high-cost non-preferred generics
- Tier 3—Non-preferred products (could include some high-cost non-preferred generics)
8 When a generic drug is available and you or your physician chooses the brand-name drug, you must pay the applicable brand copay plus the difference between the cost of the brand-name drug and the generic equivalent. With prior authorization, exceptions for medical necessity can be made and you pay the Tier 3 (Non-preferred) copay.
9 PPO members receive behavioral health benefits through their medical plan. UC Blue & Gold HMO members receive behavioral health benefits from Health Net Behavioral Health. Kaiser members have access to the Kaiser benefit shown, in addition to the Optum in-network benefits and network of providers.