NEWSROOM

Here is an overview of updates and news you can use from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any), or contact your Word & Brown (W&B) representative.

Critical Update

• Health Net
  • Group Market Exit: As previously announced, Health Net is exiting the California Small Group and Large Group health insurance markets in 2027. The exit impacts all Health Net Small Group and Large Group business. To stay on top of the latest updates and promotions by other carriers on the transition of Health Net business, visit the Word & Brown Newsroom. (See more below.) 

Health Net Transition Bonuses

• Blue Shield of California
  • Health Net Transition Bonus: Blue Shield of California is offering a Small Group Medical member bonus of up to $200 per enrolled member plus bonuses of $20 on Dental and $5 on Vision. These bonuses are available for October 1, 2026, through March 1, 2027, effective dates. Download the flyer for details, or ask your W&B rep for more information,
• CaliforniaChoice
  • Health Net Transition Bonus: CaliforniaChoice is now offering a $100 per enrolled member bonus for your groups moving from Health Net (direct coverage) to CaliforniaChoice. Plus, CalChoice is offering more flexible underwriting guidelines. Watch a brief video for all the details.
• Cigna
  • Broker Bonus: Cigna has finalized its broker bonus program for employers who currently have a carrier exiting the group health insurance market in California and Nevada. Brokers can earn $20 per Medical member and $5 per Dental member for Q4 2026 and January 1, 2027, effective dates. Groups with fewer than 25 enrolled members are not eligible. Ask your W&B rep for details.

Other Bonus News

• Aetna
  • Small Group Producer Program: Time is running out on your opportunity to earn extra credits for new sales of Aetna Small Group insured or Aetna Funding Advantage plans. The last qualifying effective date is December 31, 2026. Download the flyer for details on a credit of up to $100 per enrolled employee plus an added reward when Dental or Vision is added to new Medical cases. 
• Humana
  • Dental Bundling Bonus: Your ability to earn a bundling bonus on Dental for groups of 10-299 has been extended to effective dates through January 31, 2027. Visit our Newsroom post for more information!
• Kaiser Permanente
  • Small Group Production Reward: With Q4 around the corner, don’t overlook your opportunity to earn a 2026 Small Group Production reward from Kaiser Permanente on your total Small Group member enrollment for effective dates through January 1, 2027. Download the flyer for details.
• Sharp Health Plan
  • Broker Bonus Extended: Sharp Health Plan’s bonus on new Small Group sales has been extended. Earn $75-$250 for each new subscriber enrolled, based on total enrolled subscribers, for effective dates from October 1, 2026, through March 1, 2027. There’s also a $250 “welcome back” bonus for qualifying groups. Download the flyer or contact us for details. 

Medical​ Coverage

• Multiple Carriers
  • Special Open Enrollment Window (SOEW): The annual one-month SOEW allowing qualified businesses to get health insurance coverage without meeting the usual participation or contribution requirements starts November 15. Cases must be submitted to W&B by 12/4/2026. Visit Paul Roberts’ column for all the details you need.
• Anthem Blue Cross
  • Anthem Balance Funding (ABF): Anthem is one of the only carriers offering both Affordable Care Act plans and Balance/Level Funding plans. Plus, Anthem allows its own HMO to be written alongside. Ask your W&B rep about applicable eligibility and participation guidelines.
  • Multi-Year PPO Provider Agreement: Anthem has reached a new multi-year provider contract with Scripps Health to remain in the Anthem PPO network. (Scripps it not a part of the Anthem HMO network effective October 1, 2026.)
  • HCA Healthcare Update: Anthem and HCA Healthcare are finalizing an agreement to keep HCA in the Anthem provider network; details will be shared in the near future.
• CaliforniaChoice
  • Health Net Exit from CalChoice: Health Net is leaving CaliforniaChoice as part of its exit from the California group market in 2027. (See related items below.) CaliforniaChoice will continue to offer Health Net plans through January 1, 2027, renewals. This means that if your CaliforniaChoice plan renews January 1, 2027, employees who select Health Net can continue their Health Net coverage for the full plan year – through December 31, 2027. Contact your W&B rep to discuss options for your existing groups as well as new business opportunities with one of the other carriers participating in CaliforniaChoice. 
• CalCPA
  • 2027 Updates: Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for CalCPA members are available for Q1 2027 quoting. New Medical plan options are included. All plans have updated rates for 2027. Ask your W&B rep for more information or quoting assistance.
• Health Net
  • Group Market Exit: Health Net is exiting the California Small Group and Large Group markets in 2027. Existing business must transition from standalone Health Net coverage by February 28, 2027, subject to Health Net’s final guidelines and any applicable exceptions.
    
    Brokers should begin evaluating options now. Moving early gives employers more time to evaluate rates, provider networks, ongoing care needs, plan designs, and carrier requirements. It can also help reduce disruptions for employers and employees as Health Net winds down its group business. Reach out today to your W&B rep for custom quoting assistance for replacement coverage.
    
    For those with Health Net through CalChoice: If you have groups enrolled in CaliforniaChoice with Health Net coverage, CaliforniaChoice will continue to offer Health Net plans through January 1, 2027, renewals. If these groups renew January 1, 2027, employees who select Health Net can continue their Health Net coverage for the full plan year – through December 31, 2027. If your group renews earlier, Health Net will remain available for the full plan year following that renewal, based on the group’s renewal effective date. Ask your W&B rep for details.
• Kaiser Permanente
  • Special Open Enrollment: For clients with Kaiser Permanente Small Group coverage in a slice arrangement with Health Net, there’s a new Special Open Enrollment opportunity. For anniversary date changes in Q1, groups may move to a 1/1, 2/1, or 3/1 effective date to align with another carrier’s renewal date. For those with mid-year plan changes, groups may request an upgrade, downgrade, or plan additions within 60 days of losing Health Net coverage and adding Kaiser Permanente. Reach out to your W&B rep for more information. 
• Sutter Health Plan
  • Large Group POS Plans: Sutter Health is expanding its coverage portfolio with new point-of-service (POS) plans for Large Groups effective January 1, 2027. Ask your W&B rep for details.
  • Expanded Service Area: Effective October 1, for small groups, and January 1, 2027, for large groups, Sutter Health is expanding its service area. The expansion adds ZIP Codes in Placer, Sonoma, and Sutter counties plus portions of Amador and Yuba counties.
• UnitedHealthcare
  • New Small Group Business Group Acceptance Form: UHC has published a 2027 California Small Business Group Acceptance/Change & Product and Benefit Selection form. Download your copy.
  • Network Update: Effective 1/1/2027, Fenix Medical Group will no longer be a part of the UHC HMO networks in San Bernardino County. Also effective in January, UC San Diego (UCSD) will no longer be available through the UHC Harmony Network in San Diego County. 

Ancillary​ Coverage

• E.D.I.S.
  • Updated Sales Materials: Employer Driven Insurance Services has developed a series of new materials to promote its product line of stop loss plans, HRA/MERP options, and Dental, Vision, and Group Term Life coverage. Visit our Insurance Forms Library to download what you need to help you sell and enroll employees in E.D.I.S. coverage. 
• Landmark Healthplan
  • 2027 Rate Increase: Landmark Health rates for Chiropractic and Acupuncture coverage effective January 1, 2027, are increasing 6.5% for all new and renewing, fully insured employer contributory and group voluntary plans. Brokers can self-quote groups with fewer than 200 enrolled employees. Or contact W&B for quote assistance. 
• United Concordia
  • Q1 Dental and Vision Update: United Concordia is implementing a rate pass for its DHMO and DPPO plans for Q1 2027. A rate increase is planned for Vision (with rates effective through 6/30/2027).

Word & Brown Updates

• 2027 Quoting: Many of our carrier partners are now quoting Medical and Ancillary for Q1 2027. Some carriers have rate updates. Login and start your quote today or reach out to your W&B team for assistance. 
• Updated Large Group RFP + Census: Word & Brown has updated its Large Group Universal RFP + Census for California. You’ll find the new form in our online library.