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Retirees

Open Enrollment

Thursday, Oct. 30, at 8 a.m. to Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at 5 p.m.

Download the Open Enrollment brochure for California retirees
Download the Open Enrollment booklet for retirees outside California

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retirees

Medical plans: Changes and choices

Health care costs are going up nationwide and for UC. We’re investing more and changing plans and benefits to help manage costs, but premiums will still increase significantly for some members, both in Medicare and non-Medicare plans.

Take time to review and compare all plan cost changes to determine if staying in your current plan is the best choice for you. If you want to maintain your current enrollment in a UC Medicare plan, then no action is required. 

CORE and UC Health Savings Plan members who don’t choose another plan will be enrolled in HealthSavings+, or in UC Care if a family member is in Medicare.

NEW: Non-Medicare retirees may enroll in HealthSavings+ during Open Enrollment, regardless of the plan they’re enrolled in for 2025. HealthSavings+ is not open to enrollment for retirees midyear.

On this page:

Medicare plan changes for 2026

  • All plans with prescription drug coverage: The Medicare Part D True Out-of-Pocket (TrOOP) will increase from $2,000 to $2,100.
  • UC Medicare Choice and Kaiser Senior Advantage: Emergency room copays are increasing from $65 to $100. Inpatient hospital copays are increasing from $250 to $350.
  • UC Medicare Choice PPO:
    • Premiums are increasing significantly.
    • The Part B drug copayment, excluding chemotherapy drugs and vaccines, will be $30 (matching the office visit copay). The $1,500 medical out-of-pocket maximum will apply since Part B drugs are covered under the medical plan. 
    • For Part D Prescription Drugs, there will be a combined $100 deductible for Tiers 3 and 4 (non-preferred brand and specialty medications) except for covered insulin products and most adult Part D vaccines. The copay for Tier 4 specialty drugs is also changing from $30 to 30% of the total cost, up to $150 per script. There will be an exception for insulin on these tiers, which is capped at $35 per month out-of-pocket before the deductible is met.
    • Fitness benefits will transition to Renew Active from Silver Sneakers, and members will have access to the Calm App, with self-paced programs for emotional health, sleep, and mindfulness.
    • Personal emergency response systems will no longer be a covered benefit.
  • Kaiser Senior Advantage: Coverage will be provided for a nine-month period without cost sharing for urgent, emergent and follow-up medical, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment for individuals who receive care following a rape or sexual assault.

Non-Medicare medical plan changes for 2026

HealthSavings+ is replacing CORE and UC Health Savings Plan

HealthSavings+ is a high-deductible PPO plan with UC’s lowest employee premiums and a Health Savings Account (HSA) with an increased contribution from UC — up to $750 for you or $1,500 for you and a family member.

CORE and UC Health Savings Plan members: You’ll be enrolled in HealthSavings+ for 2026 unless you choose another plan.

Blue Shield is replacing Anthem

Blue Shield of California is replacing Anthem Blue Cross as the administrator of UC’s PPO plans — HealthSavings+ and UC Care. With a large national network, Blue Shield will offer broad provider choice that includes UC Health providers. Navitus will continue to administer your pharmacy benefits, and Accolade Care Advocates will continue to help you find care — virtual or in-person — book appointments and more.

In early October, Blue Shield began reaching out to people whose providers are no longer in your plan’s network to help with the transition.

Coverage for weight loss medications will be more limited

Coverage of medications such as GLP-1s for weight loss will be limited to individuals with a body mass index of 40 or above. Some exceptions may be possible for those continuing a course of treatment. UC medical plans will continue to cover GLP-1 medications for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Please see your plan documents for details.

HMO plan coverage for infertility services and prescriptions will expand

As mandated by California state guidelines, coverage for Kaiser CA HMO and UC Blue & Gold HMO will include up to three completed oocyte (egg) retrievals per lifetime and unlimited embryo transfers of IVF, GIFT and ZIFT per member.

Infertility services and prescriptions will be covered at the plan-specific cost share and pharmacy tier, making them more affordable for HMO members trying to grow their families. Infertility costs will accrue to the annual out-of-pocket maximum.

Medical plans for Medicare retirees

If you need help deciding:

Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage HMO UC High Option Supplement to Medicare Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Supplement PPO UC Medicare Choice PPO UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage PPO UC Medicare PPO Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Supplement PPO UC Medicare PPO without Prescription Drugs Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Supplement PPO Medicare Coordinator Program For Medicare-eligible retirees who live outside California

Medical plans for non-Medicare retirees

If you need help deciding:

HealthSavings+ PPO Blue Shield high-deductible PPO Kaiser HMO Kaiser Permanente HMO UC Blue & Gold HMO Health Net HMO with access to UC Health and other quality providers UC Care PPO Blue Shield PPO with choice of provider tiers

Enroll or make changes

Oct. 30 – Nov. 21, 2025

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