Western Health Advantage and NorthBay
In the mid-1990s, NorthBay Healthcare executives wanted to gain control of costs and provide better quality health care. They met with leaders at Woodland Memorial, who later brought the University of California, Davis, Health System to the table. The result was a new health insurance plan.
Western Health Advantage was created to serve local employers and better control premium costs. When Woodland Memorial was sold to Dignity Health, the relationship continued with the co-ownership comprising Mercy/Dignity Health Sacramento, UC Davis Health and NorthBay Healthcare. In 2017, UC Davis withdrew from the partnership.
WHA has grown to provide the best benefit possible for individuals and families where they live and work. Headquartered in Sacramento, it serves 14 Northern California counties: Solano, Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Yolo, Napa, Colusa, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara.
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.
There are many benefits because of the WHA-NorthBay connection, says Robert Coscione, vice president of payer strategy with NorthBay Healthcare.
“Membership with WHA means choices and flexibility, especially for specialty care,” he said. “WHA’s unique referral program allows your doctor to refer you to many of the specialists in our network, not just within your particular medical group.”
Scott M. Davis, vice president and chief strategy officer at NorthBay, agreed. “Being a nonprofit means more of the premium dollar goes to care,” he noted, adding, “care decisions are made by the medical group and not the insurance plan.”
As a health plan created by doctors and hospitals, WHA supports the doctor-patient relationship and offers flexible access to quality providers close to your home and work, Davis explained.
Medicare Advantage HMO
This type of plan requires that you see doctors, specialists, or hospitals that are contracted with or on the plan’s list in order for the plan to pay the bills. The only exception is in an emergency. If you go to a health care provider or hospital that is not on the HMO list, neither the HMO nor Medicare will pay the bill. These type of plans generally have a lower monthly premium than a traditional Medicare supplement, and may cover your Medicare deductibles and may offer additional benefits compared to original Medicare. For more on Medicare, visit NorthBay.org/patients-visitors/medicare.cfm
Medicare Advantage PPO
This is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan available in a local or regional area where you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals and providers that belong to the network. You can use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network for an additional cost.
Covered California
There are many health plan options through Covered California; NorthBay accepts the Western Health Advantage health plan.
CalPERS
Western Health Advantage (WHA) offers all NorthBay Healthcare providers in their network, including access to the Mayo Care Clinic Network. Also in network are CalPERS Care, Choice, and Select PPO plans. For retirees, United Healthcare (Medicare Advantage PPO plan) is accepted with NorthBay Healthcare. Should you have further questions about this, call (707) 646-3280.
Accepted Plans at NorthBay Healthcare
To see a list of accepted health plans that allow you to use NorthBay doctors and facilities, visit NorthBay.org/patients-visitors/accepted-health-plans.cfm