The Western Health Advantage health plan was created to serve local employers and better control premium costs. Now co-owned by NorthBay Healthcare 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 of all NorthBay Healthcare’s providers and facilities. 

…And its product offerings, as well as its list of providers, continues to expand: 

CalPERS

NorthBay Healthcare 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 through WHA

There are many health plan options through Covered California; NorthBay Healthcare providers accept all the Western Health Advantage plan options.

The good news is President Joe Biden signed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package dubbed the American Rescue Plan earlier this year, which brings about $3 billion 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.

Medicare Advantage HMO

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, senior business development liaison with NorthBay.

The bottom line is “WHA Medicare Advantage offers the community a cost-saving option, over straight Medicare, to access NorthBay,” added Robert Coscione, vice president, payor strategy with NorthBay. 

Benicia and Winters Medical Groups Join WHA Network

Some area medical groups have joined with NorthBay under the WHA network in the past year. Those 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.