Accepted Plans and Groups
When it comes to connecting with NorthBay Health, our patients have plenty of options.
NorthBay now accepts more plans than ever — including Blue Shield Access+ HMO, Health Net HMO, WHA and United Healthcare. And our network of doctors continues to grow.
The Western Health Advantage health plan was created to serve local employers and better control premium costs. Now co-owned by NorthBay Health and Dignity Health (formerly known as Mercy Healthcare), it continues to grow and provide expert care for individuals and families in nine Northern California counties: Solano, Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Yolo, Colusa, Napa, Sonoma and Marin.
The WHA network includes major hospitals and medical centers, thousands of local, trusted doctors and specialists from several medical groups, including all of NorthBay Health’s providers and facilities.
CalPERS offers NorthBay Health through WHA
NorthBay Health services are available to thousands of California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) employees in Solano County through Western Health Advantage. That includes CalPERS members who are employed by the cities of Vacaville, Suisun City, Vallejo, Dixon, Rio Vista, as well as Solano County and the two state prisons in Vacaville.
Covered California Access through WHA
There are many health plan options through Covered California; NorthBay Health providers accept all the Western Health Advantage plan options.
There is federal funding made available to California in the form of new subsidies to help people pay monthly health insurance premiums under Covered California.
Even people who didn’t get subsidies before may qualify under the new program. You can find more information on the Covered California website, coveredca.com.
The open enrollment period for Covered California runs through the end of the year and the subsidies will be paid through the end of 2022.
Two New Medicare Advantage Plans
WHA now offers two new Medicare Advantage HMO plans for Medicare beneficiaries in Solano County.
“A Medicare Advantage plan differs from regular Medicare coverage in that it offers lower costs, richer benefits including coverage of deductibles, prescription coverage and an over-the-counter drug coverage allowance,” explained Kelly Rhoads-Poston, health plan specialist with NorthBay.
NorthBay Health Physicians Join Hill Group
All NorthBay providers are now partners with the Hill Physician Group Network. NorthBay’s Managed Care team signed new agreements with the Hill network that expand not only provider network options for our community but also health plan options for our hospitals and medical group. For example, someone who has Blue Cross HMO or Blue Shield HMO can now be cared for by a NorthBay doctor — for primary care and specialty care. Additionally, it means that Hill Physicians Group doctors can refer to NorthBay for any specialty and for any hospital procedures. This new expansion gives more options to those who live in Vallejo, American Canyon and Benicia, just a short drive and no bridge tolls, to receive expert care.
Benicia, Winters Groups Part of the Mix
Some area medical groups have joined with NorthBay under the WHA network in the past two years. They include Family Health Center of Benicia and Winters Healthcare.
Patients who see primary care doctors in those medical groups are now also able to see providers at NorthBay for services covered by Western Health Advantage.
Building a Bridge to Napa, Sonoma and Marin
NorthBay Health and Meritage Medical Network have partnered to expand service areas and improve access to care and specialty services for thousands of Meritage and NorthBay Medicare Advantage HMO patients. The partnership means Meritage patients have access to NorthBay’s 150-plus specialists and Medicare Advantage patients with a NorthBay primary care physician have access to Meritage’s physicians in Solano, Napa, Marin and Sonoma counties.
Accepted Plans at NorthBay Health
To see a full list of accepted health plans that allow you to access NorthBay Health, visit northbay.org/patients-visitors/accepted-health-plans.cfm.
Ask Kelly
If you have questions or need a little extra help getting your health care plans solidified, Kelly Rhoads-Poston is ready to help.
Kelly, a health plan specialist, has more than 20 years of experience in the health care and insurance industries.
The quickest way to get answers is to visit www.NorthBay.org/openenrollment and click on “Ask Kelly.” You’ll need to fill out the form and can expect a response within two business days.