Individual & Family PPO Plans Health Net quote
Small Group (2-50 employees) Health Net quote
Medicare Supplement Medigap Health Net quote

About Health Net of California

One of the largest provider networks in the state
Health Net is one of the largest health plans in California. We have an extensive network of more than 50,000 physicians, and 4,600 pharmacies - all working together to serve more than 2.3 million members. You can use our Doctor Search feature to see if your doctor or physician group is listed in Health Net's statewide care network.

NCQA accreditation
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded its highest accreditation status of "Excellent" to Health Net's commercial and Medicare lines of business. Excellent accreditation status is awarded for service and clinical quality that meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement. HEDIS®* results are in the highest range of national performance. The NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates health plans' quality.

Extra advantages
Depending on the Health Net plan you join, you could take advantage of a wide array of programs and services designed to help keep you well. Here's just a select sampling:

WellRewards**
This program offers discounts of 10% to 60% on many products and services designed for your good health, including eye exams, eyewear and contact lenses, fitness club memberships, Jenny Craig® and Weight Watchers® programs. Also, save 30% on ongoing massage therapy, chiropractic and acupuncture with participating providers.

History of quality care
Health Net, Inc. is one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed health care companies. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. The company's HMO, POS, insured PPO and government contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits to approximately 6.4 million individuals in 27 states and the District of Columbia through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE programs. Health Net's behavioral health services subsidiary, MHN, provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs (EAPs) to approximately 7.4 million individuals in various states, including the company's own health plan members. The company's subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.

* HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance. **The WellRewards program offers discounts on health products and reduced-fee health services. It is not part of Health Net members' benefit programs and is not intended to take the place of any covered benefits and is offered to the members in addition to, rather than instead of, covered benefits.

Understanding California Medical Plan Costs

The costs of medical care in an HMO or a PPO can be hard to understand. A California medical insurance company may sell different plans with different benefits and costs. If you receive medical insurance through an employer and have a choice of medical plans, ask the employer for information that compares plan costs and benefits. Some California medical insurance companies and employers also have on-line tools and calculators to help you decide which plan is best for you.

Ask About Costs Before You Join a California Medical Plan

Talk to your employer or call the plan.

What is the monthly premium? (The amount that you or your employer pays each month.)
What is the yearly deductible? (The amount you pay for all or some services before the plan starts to pay.)
What is the co-pay or co-insurance that you pay when you have an office visit?
What is the co-pay or co-insurance for prescription drugs?
What is the co-pay or co-insurance for a hospital stay?
What is the co-pay or co-insurance for an emergency room visit?
Is there a limit on how much the plan will pay for prescription drugs in one year?
Is there a limit on how much the plan will pay for medical care in one year?
Is there a limit on how much the plan will pay for your medical care over your whole lifetime? (This is called a lifetime limit.)

You May Have to Pay the Whole Bill If:

You see a specialist without a referral from your primary care doctor and prior approval from your medical group or medical plan.
You see a provider who is not in your medical plan's network, unless it is an emergency or you have a referral and prior approval.
You go to an emergency room for non-emergency care.
You get care outside your medical plan's service area, unless it is emergency or urgent care.
You fill a prescription for a drug that is not on the medical plan's list of approved drugs.
You get services that are not part of your benefit package.

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Questions and Answers

What is a premium?
What is a co-pay or co-insurance?
What is a yearly deductible?
How can I find out how much a service will cost if I have a high deductible?

What is a premium?

A premium is the amount you or your employer pays each month for your California medical insurance. If you get medical insurance through your employer, you may pay part of the premium and your employer may pay part.

What is a co-pay or co-insurance?

These are the amounts you have to pay for a covered medical care service or prescription. In some medical plans, such as an HMO, you pay a co-pay, which is a set amount, such as $10. In other plans, such as a PPO, you pay a co-insurance, which is a percent of the cost of the service, such as 20%.

What is a yearly deductible?

A yearly deductible is the amount you may have to pay for all or some covered medical care services before your medical plan starts to pay. Once you have met your yearly deductible, you pay a co-pay or co-insurance for covered services, and your medical plan pays the rest.

How can I find out how much a service will cost if I have a high deductible?

Ask your doctor for the procedure code for the service you need. Then, call your medical plan and ask the cost for this service. Some plans with high deductibles post the costs of common services on their websites. Be sure to ask about the cost of the doctor and the hospital services.