Big changes. New choices.
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, UC is making important changes to the PPO plans for UC faculty/staff and non-Medicare retirees.
Read the message about the 2026 medical plan changes from the VP of Systemwide HR.
A new PPO plan — HealthSavings+ — will replace UC Health Savings Plan (HSP) and CORE
UC is introducing a new PPO plan called HealthSavings+ that is designed to offer features of both CORE and HSP and provide a more affordable, Health Savings Account (HSA)-compatible PPO choice.
What this means to you
If you’re a CORE or HSP PPO member
If you’re a CORE or HSP PPO member
If you’re a CORE or HSP PPO member and do not choose another plan for 2026 during Open Enrollment, you and your currently enrolled family members will automatically be enrolled in HealthSavings+.
One exception: If your household includes both Medicare and non-Medicare members, HealthSavings+ is not available to you. If you don’t make any medical plan changes during Open Enrollment, the non-Medicare member(s) will be enrolled in UC Care, and Medicare member(s) will remain enrolled in the Anthem Medicare Supplement PPO plan. In late October, UC will mail letters to affected households explaining your coverage options. See UCnet for details about coverage for split families (families with both non-Medicare and Medicare members).
Key features of HealthSavings+
Key features of HealthSavings+
- The lowest premium of any of the UC medical plans.
- A Health Savings Account (HSA) with UC’s biggest contribution ever — up to $750 for self-only coverage and up to $1,500 for family coverage for 2026. You can also contribute up to $8,750 (including UC’s contribution) through convenient pretax paycheck deductions, and $1,000 more if you’re age 55 or older.
- Comprehensive coverage across California, the nation and the world — including UC Health providers.
- No-cost in-network preventive care. For most other in-network services, you’ll pay 30% after meeting the deductible ($2,500 for self-only coverage and $5,000 for family coverage).
Get to know HealthSavings+
Blue Shield of California will Replace Anthem Blue Cross
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Blue Shield of California will replace Anthem Blue Cross as administrator of the UC PPO plans for faculty/staff and non-Medicare retirees. As a nonprofit with deep roots in California, Blue Shield of California aligns with UC’s values to improve the health of our communities and shares our commitment to provide high-quality, accessible care for all Californians. Blue Shield offers a large provider network and comprehensive coverage at home and abroad. Learn how you’re affected by this transition.
International travel
If you receive medical care outside the U.S., your coverage will still be coordinated by Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core. For HealthSavings+ members, after meeting your deductible, you’ll pay 30% of the cost of covered services. For UC Care members, you'll pay 20% after meeting the Blue Shield PPO Tier 2 deductible.
Pharmacy changes
New criteria for coverage of weight loss and appetite suppressant medications
New criteria for coverage of weight loss and appetite suppressant medications
Coverage for prescription weight loss medications — such as GLP-1s — will be limited to members who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. If you or a covered member on your plan is already undergoing treatment, you or they may continue treatment if there was a “pre-treatment” BMI of 40 or greater. Coverage for GLP-1 medications for the treatment of diabetes and other will not change. (Exceptions may apply. Contact Navitus or review the 2026 Navitus plan documents for more information.)
To explain the upcoming changes, Navitus will mail letters in late October to members who are currently prescribed the affected medications.
New program for high-cost prescription drugs, Navitus Access Guidance Services
New program for high-cost prescription drugs, Navitus Access Guidance Services
To help reduce your out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, Navitus will help you enroll in Navitus Access Guidances Services, which will significantly lower what you pay for certain eligible medications, such as specialty, HIV and GLP-1 medications.
To learn more about this program during Open Enrollment, contact the Navitus Customer Care at (833) 837-4308.
If you’re identified as a member who will benefit from this new program, Navitus will mail you a letter in late October with more details, including how to sign up. After January 1, 2026, you can contact Lumicera Access Team at (833) 210-5967 to enroll in the program for your eligible prescriptions.
Important: To receive the lowest possible pricing available through your Plan, you must stay enrolled in the Navitus Manufacturer Copay Assistance Program. Any amount paid by the manufacturer or a third party will not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.
WINFertility program changes
WINFertility will continue to be UC’s infertility care management vendor, but there will be a couple changes to how the benefit is administered.
- In-network care. Only providers contracted with WINFertility will be considered in-network. If you’re currently receiving treatment from a provider outside the WINFertility network, UC will continue to treat that care as in-network until your treatment is complete.
- Medication access. Members will no longer pick up infertility-related prescriptions at local pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS. Instead, WINFertility providers will send prescriptions to the WINFertility mail-order pharmacy, which will coordinate with you and your WINFertility care team to ship your medications directly to you.
As a reminder, all treatment must be authorized in advance by WINFertility’s Medical Management Program. And the cost of medical treatment and prescription drugs to treat infertility does not count toward the medical plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum.
To explain the changes in more detail, WinFertility will mail letters in late December to members currently seeking treatment.
Navigate the changes with confidence
Accolade Care Advocates are here to help
Accolade can help you understand how the changes affect you, your benefits and the providers you receive care from. If you need to speak with someone who can help, call an Accolade Care Advocate at (866) 406-1182, Monday–Friday, 5 a.m.–8 p.m. PT, or use messaging on the Accolade member portal or on the Accolade app.
Attend a webinar to learn more about the changes and how Accolade can support you during Open Enrollment and throughout the year. View dates, times and register.
Findhelp
If you or a family member needs extra support with social, financial or physical well-being issues, findhelp makes it easy to search for free and low-cost food, housing, transportation, health care, child care, education and other resources in your community. Just enter your ZIP code and select the type of support you need.
Boost the power of your HSA
Join a 30-minute HealthEquity webinar and learn how to turn your Health Savings Account (HSA) into a savings tool for today and tomorrow. What you’ll get:
- Tips to maximize tax savings on your contributions
- A clear guide to qualified medical expenses your HSA can cover
- Who you can spend HSA funds on, plus eligibility rules and must-know features
What’s next
Watch for additional communications from UC, including emails and mailers sent to your home.
When Open Enrollment begins on Oct. 30, go to ucal.us/oe to compare all UC medical plans, review 2026 costs, and find campus webinar and benefit fair dates so you can make an informed choice. You’ll make any 2026 changes in UCPath (employees) or UCRAYS (retirees).
Don’t miss out. Open Enrollment is Oct. 30 – Nov. 21, 2025.
If you move or experience a life event, such as marriage, adoption or loss, notify UCPath or UCRAYS to update your personal information and/or make appropriate benefit changes.