Spring presentations for employees

Follow the Presentations link to the left for a spring schedule of HCF Program presentations, or to view streaming video of narrated presentations.

New UC retiree health rules

On December 13, 2010, the Regents voted to change some of UC’s retiree health and pension programs.

Beginning July 1, 2013, UC will adopt a new formula for contributions toward retiree health benefits. Approximately 46% of the current UC employee population will be grandfathered under the existing eligibility rules, while the remainder of employees will be subject to the new rules.

‘Grandfathering’ provision

UC faculty and staff will remain under current retiree health care eligibility rules if, by June 30, 2013, they meet both of the following criteria:

• Have five years of UC Retirement Plan service credit;
• Their age (in whole years) plus their years of service credit is equal to, or greater than, 50.

Three retiree health eligibility groups

As of 7/1/2013, retirees who are eligible for UC's contribution toward medical and dental insurance will fall into three graduated eligibility (G.E.) groups:

• No G.E. - Employees who originally joined UCRP prior to 1990 are generally not subject to graduated eligibility and qualify for 100% of the UC contribution.
• G.E. - Employees who joined UCRP in or after 1990 (and Safety employees hired on or after July 1, 2013) are subject to the current graduated eligibility rules if they meet the grandfathering requirements above.
• New G.E. - Newer employees who do not meet the criteria listed above by June 30, 2013 (except Safety employees, hired on or after July 1, 2013) are subject to the new graduated eligibility requirements.

For more information, see The Facts: Retiree Health.

Researching UC's health plans

If you want to know more about the health plans that UC offers to employees and retirees, you may find the following links useful:

• The UC Medical Plan Chooser lets employees and retirees price and compare medical plans; the Chooser also reports medical plan availability by zip code.
• More on UC Medical Plans: This document highlights the Davis/Sacramento-area medical providers available through the pre-paid medical plans offered by UC.
• The Medicare Factsheet compares the Medicare versions of UC's medical plans for retirees.
• For medical, dental, and vision plan details review the Evidence of Coverage for your health plan. You will find links to the left under The fine print: Where to look for health insurance coverage details.

What does the HCF Program do?

The Health Care Facilitator Program is here to help you understand and obtain the full benefits and services available from your UC-sponsored medical, dental and vision plans. The Program enables members by providing:

• Information to help you understand your UC health plan coverage and patient rights
• Education on the use of plan benefits and how they coordinate with Medicare benefits

The HCF Program assists members by:

• Intervening to resolve problems of coverage, access and administrative processes.
• Referring problems concerning contract interpretation and coverage disputes to the Office of the President.

Whom does the HCF Program serve?

The Health Care Facilitator Program serves active and retired University of California, Davis and UC Davis Health System faculty and staff and their eligible dependents and survivors.

As of Spring 2013, the two-person UC Davis HCF Program serves:

• 19,656 active employees and their covered dependents
• 6,904 retirees and their covered dependents

When should you call the Program?

If you are about to become newly eligible for Medicare, call the Health Care Facilitator Program for assistance coordinating Medicare with your UC health plan.

If you need help resolving an issue with your health plan coverage that you cannot resolve on your own, call the HCF Program for individual guidance, intervention, and help with problem resolution. Here are a few things you can do in the meantime to resolve a simple problem:

• Contact your doctor's or dentist's office. Your most important relationship is the one you have with your doctor or other health professionals.
• If you are in an HMO, contact your medical group. Most medical groups have patient assistance departments that can help you find a doctor, work out billing problems or obtain referrals. Medical groups near UC Davis include:

   

  • Golden State Physicians Medical Group
  • Hill Physicians Medical Group
  • Mercy Medical Group
  • NorthBay Healthcare
  • Permanente Medical Group
  • Sutter Physicians Alliance
    • Sutter Independent Physicians
    • Sutter Medical Group
    • Sutter West Medical Group
  • Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
  • UC Davis Medical Group
  • Woodland Healthcare

   

• Call your health plan. A customer service representative at your health plan can explain the plan's policies and procedures. Many problems can be resolved if you work with your health plan. See your health plan ID card for the customer service phone number, or use the following links:
  • Medical plan contact information.
  • Dental plan contact information.
  • Vision Plan contact information.

Many problems can be resolved by taking these steps, and remember, if you still need help, call your Health Care Facilitator Program.

Contact the Health Care Facilitator Program

Did you know?

Most of the medical plans that the University offers to employees and retirees cover 30-day supplies of prescription drugs for a flat copayment. However, if you take medications on an ongoing basis, you can save money by using University of California pharmacies or by using your medical plan's mail order pharmacy. Either way, you can get 90-day supplies of your drugs for two copayments; you pay 1/3 less!

If you are enrolled in an Anthem Blue Cross plan (Blue Cross PLUS, Blue Cross PPO, Core Medical + Medicare, or High Option) or Health Net, Health Net Blue & Gold or Western Health Advantage:

• Click here for a list of UC Davis outpatient pharmacies (in Davis and Sacramento).
• Click here for mail order pharmacy contact information.