Kaiser Permanente Enters High-Deductible Market
Kaiser Permanente has begun offering a new high-deductible, low-premium health insurance plan for businesses, called health reimbursement accounts, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The plans are designed to allow Kaiser to be more competitive with other high-deductible healthy plans, according to the Chronicle.
Plan deductibles range from $1,000 to $2,500 for an individual, and from $2,000 to $5,000 for families. Employers must contribute 40% to 80% to the deductible, and premiums are based on the amount of the employer contribution.
Members also can use a copayment option for pharmacy and preventive services rather than use their deductible.
The plans, called Care Pay HRA, become effective June 1.
Kaiser plans to begin offering policies that include health savings accounts, which do not require employer contributions, in California early next year, according to Wade Overgaard, Kaiser senior vice president of sales and account management for California. The HMO already offers HSA plans in other states (Colliver, San Francisco Chronicle, 5/23).