Insurance plans and key terms explained
At Dignity Health, we accept a wide range of insurance plans, including employer-sponsored coverage, Medicare Advantage, and marketplace plans, to make your health care experience seamless. Please review the list below to see the insurance plans we accept and to confirm that your provider is in network for your convenience.
Also included are overviews of common health plan types and key terms to assist you during this open enrollment:
Health plan types explained
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): With an HMO plan, you typically select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) from a local network. Your PCP coordinates most of your care and provides referrals to in-network specialists when needed. Your out-of-pocket cost and monthly premiums generally are lower with this type of plan.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): Generally, with a PPO plan, you are allowed more flexibility and choices when it comes to your healthcare. Usually, you are given a network of healthcare providers to choose from, which allows you to choose an in- or out-of-network doctor, specialist, or hospital. In most cases, a referral is not needed. Your out-of-pocket costs are generally greater if you see an out-of-network doctor. Also, your monthly premium will tend to be higher.
If you have a preferred doctor or medical group, be sure they participate in your health plan’s network. Since networks can change, we recommend double-checking by contacting your health plan’s customer service, which can be found on their website, or by calling your doctor’s office directly to confirm they accept your insurance.
Terms to know
CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System): CalPERS offers health insurance plans specifically designed for California public employees, retirees, and their families. These plans provide access to a range of health coverage options, including HMOs, PPOs, and EPOs, with networks tailored to meet the needs of state and local government workers.
Copay: A fixed fee you pay for certain medical services, like doctor visits or prescriptions.
Covered California: The state’s official health insurance marketplace where individuals, families, and small businesses can compare, shop for, and purchase health insurance plans. It offers access to a variety of coverage options, including those that qualify for financial assistance based on income.
Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering costs.
Network: The group of doctors, hospitals, and providers that your insurance plan contracts with.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum: The most you’ll have to pay during a policy period before your insurance covers 100% of costs.
Premium: The monthly amount you pay for your health insurance plan.
Primary Care Physician (PCP): Your main doctor who manages your overall care.
Access care through Dignity Health Medical Group with these accepted health plans*:
CalPERS HMO plans accepted through Dignity Health Medical Network-Ventura
- Anthem Blue Cross: Basic, Select, Traditional
- Blue Shield of California: Basic and Access+
- California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA): Access+ (Basic)
CalPERS participating PPO plans
- Blue Shield of California: Platinum Basic, Gold Basic, and Medicare
- California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP) (including Supplement to Medicare)
- California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) (including Medicare Out of State and Medical Plan Medicare)
- Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) (including Out-of-State Basic Health Plan and Supplement to Original Medicare)
- UnitedHealthcare (including Medicare Advantage)
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs):
- Aetna Open Choice
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Humana / ChoiceCare Network
- Cigna
- First Health Network (a Coventry Health Care)
- HealthSmart PPO Preferred
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), a PPO network under Multiplan
- Health Net Individual/Family, Small/Large Business, and Centene Employee Plan
Find us on Covered California
- Anthem Blue Cross PPO and EPO
- Blue Shield of California PPO and EPO
- Health Net PPO (Small Business)
Dignity Health Medical Network-Ventura HMO participating plans
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Health Net
- UnitedHealthcare
- Tri-Care (via Health Net)
Medicare Advantage
HMO plans accepted through Dignity Health Medical Network Ventura:
- Alignment Health Plan
- Anthem MediBlue Select, MediBlue Plus, and MediBlue Dual Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (group-sponsored retiree plan)
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs):
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan and Medicare Value
Our locations
*Benefits among health plans and employers vary. Please refer to your health insurance information for details and descriptions of your benefits coverage.
Dignity Health is not a health insurance company. Dignity Health is a provider network of more than 60,000 caregivers and staff who deliver excellent care to diverse communities in hospitals, physician offices, and other types of care centers in 21 states. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is the fifth largest health system in the nation and the largest hospital provider in California.
Open Enrollment is here. Select your doctor today:
Frequently asked questions
Open enrollment is a time of year when you can sign up for health insurance. The dates depend on your employer but are generally offered in the fall. Additionally, you may qualify to enroll if you have a qualifying life event, like losing coverage through your employer.
Finding a plan can be a complex process, so we want to make it easy for you to become part of the Dignity Health family. If you still feel lost and are not sure where to start, check out:
Dignity Health is not a health insurance company. Dignity Health is a provider network of more than 60,000 caregivers and staff who deliver excellent care to diverse communities in hospitals, physician offices and other types of care centers in 21 states. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is the fifth largest health system in the nation and the largest hospital provider in California.
A primary care physician (PCP) helps you manage your health. Common services include regular physical exams, prescribing medications, treating minor illness and injuries, managing chronic conditions, and screening for common health problems.
Should you need specialized care, your primary care physician can expertly guide your next steps and connect you to the right specialist. There are different types of primary care physicians: family medicine doctors for the whole family; internal medicine-pediatric doctors for preventing and treating diseases; pediatricians who specialize in children; and internal medicine doctors who care for adults.
Choosing and building a relationship with one of these doctors can help you live a healthy lifestyle based on your individual needs.
It's a good idea to confirm your doctor and your hospital of choice are covered by your new insurance for the upcoming year by checking the insurance website or calling your insurance carrier directly. Do not assume your physician is covered without checking first. Doctors and hospitals may periodically change the insurance they accept.
One type of health insurance is not better than the other, but there are differences. With an HMO plan you will choose a Primary Care Provider (PCP), who will coordinate the care you need for any specialists. Services are all provided through physicians and facilities in the health plan's HMO network. With a PPO you may also choose a PCP, but you will not need a referral to see another physician. It will usually cost less to see in-network physicians than an out-of-network physician. Whether you are considering an HMO or a PPO, you can check which doctors, medical groups, hospitals, etc. are in the network before you enroll.
A health insurance broker or agent is a person who can help you apply for help to pay for your health insurance and enroll in a health plan. They can make specific recommendations about which plan to enroll in based on your health care needs. They are licensed and regulated by states and typically get payments, or commissions, from health insurers, and therefore, consumers do not pay for their services.