NEWSROOM

Here is an overview of updates and news you can use from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any), or contact your Word & Brown representative.
 

Bonus Updates

• Delta Dental​
  • Broker Rewards: It’s not too late to earn a small business sales bonus and a retention bonus when selling eligible groups of 2-99 lives. Download the Delta Dental flyer for details.
• Health Net
  • Large Group Incentive: The countdown is on for the end of Health Net’s incentive on Large Group business. It’s still available on groups with an effective date through 12/1/2025. Download the Health Net flyer for details.
• Kaiser Permanente ​
  • Small Group Bonus: Starting this month, Kaiser Permanente is offering a new Small Group bonus. For groups effective through January 1, 2026, you can earn $1,000 when you enroll 25 new members – and unlock $25 for each additional member beyond 25 with a Group Production Reward. Visit our Newsroom for more information.  

Medical​ Coverage

• W&B Updates
  • Q4 Quoting: Allof our California carrier and administrator partners are now quoting for the fourth quarter, and some are available for Q1 2026. Get a jump on peak season business; contact your W&B rep or login and start quoting today.
• ​​Anthem Blue Cross​
  • Network Update: Anthem and Stanford Medicine have reached a new provider agreement effective 9/1/2025. The previously announced notice of termination (effective 8/31/2025) has been rescinded. The new multi-year agreement allows Anthem HMO, EPO, and PPO health plan members who are patients at Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, Stanford Medicine Partners, and Standard Medicine Children’s Health to continue to receive in-network care from Stanford’s physicians and clinics across California.
• Blue Shield of California​
  • Virtual Care Flyers: Collateral pieces focused on virtual care benefits are now available from Blue Shield; download your copies today: DispatchHealth® in-home medical care; Teladoc® mental health and other services; and Wellvolution®, BSC’s digital platform.
• CaliforniaChoice​
  • Q4 Quoting: CaliforniaChoice is quoting all participating plans for fourth quarter. Contact your CHOICE representative, preferred GA partner, or login to quote now. Watch for an email about CHOICE’s 10/8 webinar on 2026 plan changes, including new plan options from Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente 
• Health Net​
  • New Provider Tool Launch: Health Net is rolling out a new “Find a Provider” tool this month. It offers a single point of entry and streamlined process for users. To support the transition, members visiting HealthNet.com and MyHealthNetCA.com will see a pop-up message during the September rollout.
  • Q4 Cheat Sheet: An overview of Health Net’s portfolio, underwriting promos, and differentiators is available in the Word & Brown online Insurance Forms Library. Download your copy today.
  • Underwriting Promo: Health Net’s Underwriting promo continues for groups with 10 enrolling subscribers. No DE 9C, no payroll, and no ownership docs required. Contact us for details.
  • Large Group Portfolio Refresh: Health Net has refreshed its Large Group portfolio for 2026. The “Pick Your Plan, Pick Your Network” strategy will continue. Employers can choose from 22 standard plan designs. Ask us about Infertility and Fertility Treatment Coverage, Weight Loss Drug coverage, new pharmacy plan designs, and updated deductible options.
  • Quoting for Q1 2026: Health Net rates for Q1 2026 will be available in September. Login now to quote or contact our team for assistance.
• Sharp Health Plan​
  • Rate Sheet Error: Sharp Health Plan has reported an error in its Q3 and Q4 2025 rate sheets affecting off-exchange plans that include infertility coverage for members aged 57 to 63. If you have groups with members in that demographic, you may want to rerun quotes generated before August 8, 2025.
• ​UnitedHealthcare​
  • Alliance Reminder: UHC reminds brokers that the Alliance HMO is only available to employers with 1-100 employees in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties.
  • Small Group HMO Updates: Beginning 10/1/25, UHC will offer an enhanced, modernized experience to California Small Groups with HMO plans (excluding CaliforniaChoice). For renewing clients, changes will be effective at renewal. Download the UHC flyer for details.

Ancillary & Other​ Coverage​

• Blue Shield of California​
  • 2026 Dental Plan Withdrawal: Blue Shield of California is withdrawing two small business Dental plans from Smile^SM effective 1/1/2026. Clients with the In-Network Only Dental Plan 50/1500/Endo-Perio 80%/Ortho and In-Network Only Dental Plan 50/1500/Endo-Perio 80%/No Ortho will need to move to a different plan for 2026. 
• Colonial Life​
  • Value-Adds Flyer: A flyer touting the value-added benefits offered by Colonial Life is available. Help your clients deliver more to employees without spending more. Download the flyer today. Or contact your W&B rep to begin your group quote
• Humana​
  • New Pre-Install Process: If you use Humana’s Launch My Group (LMG) online tool, you need to be aware of a processing change to apply packaging discounts prior to starting the LMG process for sold cases. Download the LMG Enrollment Guide or LMG Quick Reference Guide for more information.
  • Extended Annual Maximum: After a member exhausts their Dental plan annual maximum, Humana’s Extended Annual Max pays 30% co-insurance toward covered charges (excluding ortho) for the remainder of the calendar year. This benefit is included at no additional cost on Humana’s standard Traditional Preferred and PPO plans (excluding unlimited annual max plans).
• Landmark Healthplan​
  • 2026 Rates: Landmark Healthplan is increasing rates effective January 1, 2026, by 8.5% for all new and renewing businesses on fully insured, employer-contributory, and group voluntary plans. Quoting is available now.
• United Concordia​
  • Dental Reminders: United Concordia wants to remind brokers that its Dental PPO provider network is among the largest and offers 90% of members access to a network dentist within one mile. There are no waiting periods, no late entrant penalties, no missing tooth exclusions, and no waiver forms. Contact us today to start your quote.