Find Your Fit

While all of the UC PPO plans cover services such as preventive care, doctor’s office visits, hospitalization and prescription drugs, there are important differences between them—both in what you pay for coverage (the premium that comes out of your paycheck) and what you pay when you get care (your out-of-pocket costs).

In general, plans that offer low paycheck premiums have higher out-of-pocket costs when you get care. That's because these plans typically have higher deductibles and coinsurance. Plans with higher premiums usually have lower out-of-pocket costs.

Find out which choice is right for you:

	HSP	UC Care	CORE
Premiums	Lower Prefer lower premiums each pay period in exchange for higher out-of-pocket costs when you get care.	Higher Are willing to pay significantly higher premiums to minimize out-of-pocket costs when you get care.	None Want no monthly premiums.
Health Care Needs	Lower Have low to moderate health care and prescription drug needs.	Higher Have considerable health care needs because you (or a covered family member) are managing an ongoing illness and/or take costly prescription medications.	Lower Expect to need only minimal health care services beyond preventive care. Don’t take any or only low-cost prescription medications on an ongoing basis.
HSA Contributions	Higher Are interested in getting $500 (self coverage) or $1,000 (family coverage) from UC in a Health Savings Account to help pay your current and future health care costs.*	None Are not interested in receiving up to $1,000 from UC in a Health Savings Account to pay current and future health care costs.	None Are not interested in receiving up to $1,000 from UC in a Health Savings Account to pay current and future health care costs.
Network Flexibility	Higher Want to be able to see a variety of different in-network providers.	Lower Live in California, in an area with enough UC Select providers to take advantage of low copayments when you get care. Live or work outside of the U.S. or have covered dependents who live outside of California.	Higher Want to be able to see any provider without penalty or referrals.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses	Higher Can afford to pay between $850 and $1,650 out-of-pocket before the plan pays benefits. You can also contribute to your HSA to cover some or all of these expenses.	Lower Most services from UC Select providers covered at a small copayment. You can save money on out-of-pocket expenses by contributing to a Health Flexible Spending Account.	Higher You’ll pay all expenses out-of-pocket until you reach the plan’s deductible. You can save money on out-of-pocket expenses by contributing to a Health Flexible Spending Account.

HSP

UC Care

CORE

Premiums

Lower

Prefer lower premiums each pay period in exchange for higher out-of-pocket costs when you get care.

Higher

Are willing to pay significantly higher premiums to minimize out-of-pocket costs when you get care.

None

Want no monthly premiums.

Health Care Needs

Lower

Have low to moderate health care and prescription drug needs.

Higher

Have considerable health care needs because you (or a covered family member) are managing an ongoing illness and/or take costly prescription medications.

Lower

Expect to need only minimal health care services beyond preventive care.

Don’t take any or only low-cost prescription medications on an ongoing basis.

HSA Contributions

Higher

Are interested in getting $500 (self coverage) or $1,000 (family coverage) from UC in a Health Savings Account to help pay your current and future health care costs.*

None

Are not interested in receiving up to $1,000 from UC in a Health Savings Account to pay current and future health care costs.

None

Are not interested in receiving up to $1,000 from UC in a Health Savings Account to pay current and future health care costs.

Network Flexibility

Higher

Want to be able to see a variety of different in-network providers.

Lower

Live in California, in an area with enough UC Select providers to take advantage of low copayments when you get care.

Live or work outside of the U.S. or have covered dependents who live outside of California.

Higher

Want to be able to see any provider without penalty or referrals.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Higher

Can afford to pay between $850 and $1,650 out-of-pocket before the plan pays benefits. You can also contribute to your HSA to cover some or all of these expenses.

Lower

Most services from UC Select providers covered at a small copayment. You can save money on out-of-pocket expenses by contributing to a Health Flexible Spending Account.

Higher

You’ll pay all expenses out-of-pocket until you reach the plan’s deductible. You can save money on out-of-pocket expenses by contributing to a Health Flexible Spending Account.

*If you are a new hire or your UC HSP coverage begins any time after January, UC’s annual HSA contribution for the year will be prorated according to this schedule. (However, the HSP deductible is not prorated.)

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