California Carrier Partner Updates
Here is an overview of updates from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any).
Bonus Updates
- Health Net
- 2025 Large Group Incentive: Health Net brokers can earn 2% of paid premiums for 12 months for each new Large Group employer sold. Download the Health Net flyer for details by linking to our Newsroom post.
- Sharp Health Plan
- Small Group Sales Bonus: Sharp Health Plan has extended its Small Group bonus. You can earn up to $200 for each employee enrolled from 10/1/2024 to 3/1/2025. Bonus starts at $50 for 10-19 total enrollees, then climbs to $200 for each employee when you enroll 75 or more total employee enrollees during the bonus period. Visit the Sharp Health Plan website for details.
- UnitedHealthcare
- UHC Broker Trip Incentive: For groups sold 12/1/2024 through 3/1/2025, brokers are eligible for four travel prizes based on Medical members sold and two prizes based on Specialty members sold. Download the UHC flyer for details.
Medical Coverage
- Multiple Carrier and W&B Updates
- Q2 Quoting: We are quoting 16 carrier partners for Q2 2025. Login and quote now – or contact us for quoting assistance. We’re here for you.
- Medicare Part D Rx Coverage: Word & Brown has published new information concerning creditable vs. non-creditable Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage for California. Guidance is provided for multiple carriers. Download your Small Group or Large Group summary now.
- California Rx Tier Changes: Because of a change mandated by California legislation (AB 948), you can expect to see future changes in some carriers’ Rx tiers and drug formularies. Some members may experience higher or lower copayments due a drug’s tier change by their health plans.
- Disaster Relief and EAP Resources: The Word & Brown Newsroom features two stories about California Wildfire and EAP resources available to clients. Find out what resources are available.
- Portfolio Updates: New product portfolio and broker commissions summaries for California are now available. Download the Small Group edition or Large Group edition today.
- Aetna
- IPA Updates: Aetna has several new IPAs in Southern California: Alliance Health Systems (HMO, HMO Ded., and AVN); Blue Zones Marina, formerly Access Medical Alamitos, and Lakewood IPAs (HMO, HMO Ded, and AVN); and Blue Zones Health of CA (HMO, HMO Ded, and AVN).
- Anthem Blue Cross
- 2025 Plan Updates: Anthem has announced nearly a dozen 2025 plan discontinuations. Three PPO plans and eight HMO plans have been withdrawn. Ask your W&B rep for details, or download the 2025 Anthem Medical Benefit Guide for Small Group ACA plans.
- Blue Shield of California
- 2025 Rx Updates: Blue Shield has added Amazon Pharmacy to its member benefits, replacing CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy, for Rx Home Delivery. Navitus is now managing the Blue Shield retail pharmacy benefit; some independent pharmacies may no longer be available with the modified, more strict network pharmacy criteria under Navitus
- CaliforniaChoice
- Plan Updates: A few CaliforniaChoice participating carriers are making changes. Health Net’s Salud HMO y Mas Network is adding 20 ZIP Codes. Kaiser Permanente’s Full Network is adding 14 ZIP Codes. UnitedHealthcare is making additions to its Alliance Network – with one ZIP Code added. Harmony Network added one ZIP and removed 437 ZIP Codes in Areas 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. SignatureValue Network added one ZIP Code. Ask you CHOICE or W&B rep for details.
- Centivo
- Level Funding: Take advantage of Word & Brown’s exclusive GA agreement with Centivo. Offer your California groups a fully integrated, national health plan solution with Level Funded options, Rx rebates, Pharmacy Benefit Manager carve out, 100% surplus return, and more. Ask your W&B rep for details.
- Health Net
- Reminder on Chiro: Don’t forget that all Health Net plans now have a Chiro Rider option. The cost is an additional $3.00 PMPM for both HMO and PPO plans. A new Doula Program is also available. Download the English version or Spanish version of the consumer flyer to promote this Doula program to your clients.
- Rx Benefits: Health Net offers members two ways to save on prescription drugs: the Maintenance Choice Program at CVS Pharmacy and the Mail Service Program through CVS Caremark. Download the flyer now.
- Q2 Medical Rate Update: Small business rates for Health Net Medical will have a 2.25% increase on HMO plans and no change on PPO plans. Regulatory approval is pending.
- Kaiser Permanente
- Updated Employer App: Kaiser Permanente has a new California Small Group application for 2025 Download your copy today.
- Sutter Health Plan
- Plan Change Notices: Sutter Health Plan has published 2025 Notices of Health Plan Changes. Download your Small Group summary or Large Group summary today.
- UnitedHealthcare
- Choice Simplified/Relaxed Participation: Ask us about UnitedHealthcare’s Choice Simplified Package and a staff model carrier relaxed participation promo available through 7/1/2025. There’s a minimum of 25% participation between carriers and five employees enrolling with UHC required. That excludes COBRA participants. Download the Choice Simplified flyer for network and plan details.
- Employer Application Update: UHC has modified its California Small Business Employer Application. The prior edition is longer being accepted. Download the updated form now from the W&B Insurance Forms Library.
Ancillary & Other Coverage
- Ameritas
- Forms Update: The Ameritas microsite for Word & Brown brokers offers the most up-to-date Ameritas forms for California Small Group (2-100). Ameritas forms are no longer part of the Word & Brown Insurance Forms Library.
- ChoiceBuilder
- Landmark Healthplan Chiro: Effective 3/1/2025, fee schedules are changing for Chiropractic and Acupuncture. The New Patient Evaluation & Management benefit is changing to $80 per visit. Benefits are also changing to $65 per visit for Established Patient Re-Examination & Management, Modalities, Therapeutic Procedures, Chronic Manipulative Treatment, and Special Services.
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Reduced Group Size: Lincoln Financial now writes down to 50+ eligible lives for Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity. Coverage must be paired with two core lines of coverage (Life, Disability, Dental). Minimum 5+ lives participation. Ask us for details.
- MediExcel Health Plan
- Dental Plan Updates: MediExcel Dental Plan D100 has been discontinued for new business, but it remains available for renewals.
- UnitedHealthcare
- Dental and Vision Rate Cards: UnitedHealthcare has published five new Dental Rate Cards and a Vision Rates Card for 2025; click below to download your regional edition(s).
- Activate the Savings Promo: Through 3/1/2025, UnitedHealthcare is offering a promo if you add Dental and an additional specialty plan to your group’s Medical offering. Download the “Save a bundle” flyer for details.
- United Concordia Dental
- EPO Update: United Concordia Dental’s EPO product is available for fully insured groups of 10+ employees. EPO members have the upfront cost of a copayment instead of coinsurance. No primary care dentist is required. Available in most states. EPO/PPO dual option (with minimum of 10+ employees enrolled). Pricing is slightly higher than a DHMO. A $50 deductible and $1,500 maximum apply to control costs.
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