The takeaway
Kaiser plans are available to employees living in Kaiser’s service area in California, Colorado, Georgia, the mid-Atlantic states, Oregon, and Washington.
Choose from two Kaiser plans:
Both plans cover the same types of medical services and supplies, but they go about it in different ways. While you compare your medical plans, consider which features are important to you. And review plan copays, coinsurance, deductible amounts, and other out-of-pocket costs to understand your share of the costs. View the comparison charts to see a side-by-side view of the Kaiser HDHP + HSA and Kaiser HMO medical plans.
A Rightway personal Navigator can also explain your options during your enrollment period and help you with important medical decisions and issues as you need healthcare services during the year.
Note: Some links on this page go to Okta Box documents which are for Okta employees and can only be accessed with an Okta account.
Kaiser HDHP + HSA plan
The Kaiser HDHP + HSA has two parts: a high deductible, HSA-compatible medical plan and a tax-advantaged health savings account (HSA).
This plan may be right for you if:
- You want the lowest per-paycheck cost—even if it means you pay more when you need care.
- You rarely need to see a doctor; an annual checkup is usually it for the year.
- You feel comfortable paying for a large health expense that costs almost as much as your deductible.
- You want the opportunity to accumulate savings and to invest and take part in the plan’s triple tax advantage for future healthcare expenses.
- You accept that you can only use Kaiser facilities, doctors, and hospitals.
Here’s how it works:
Paycheck costs
- Amounts deducted from your paycheck are lowest.
- Employee-only coverage (meaning you’re an Okta employee covering yourself only) costs you nothing.
Health savings account
- In 2023, Okta will maintain its annual HSA contributions for employees: up to $800 for employee-only coverage and up to $1,600 if you cover one or more family members.
- You can contribute your own money to your HSA, too.
- Use your HSA funds to pay for healthcare expenses—including your annual deductible.
Providers and doctors
- You must use Kaiser facilities and physicians—unless it’s an emergency.
- You also have remote care options, including phone and video visits, and access to MinuteClinics (in certain CVS and Target stores) and Concentra urgent care centers.
- If you’re traveling within an area that has Kaiser facilities and services, you can access in-network care at a Kaiser facility there.
- Traveling to an area that Kaiser doesn’t service? You’re still covered for emergency and urgent care.
Cost sharing between you and the plan
- You pay $0 for eligible preventive care and prescription drugs that qualify as preventive care.
- An annual deductible applies for most other services. The annual deductible is $2,800 for an individual and varies for families by region.
- Once you hit the annual deductible, the plan pays 100% of eligible in-network expenses.
Prescription drugs (supply limits apply)
- No out-of-pocket cost after meeting the annual deductible for many drugs; copays may apply for other drugs.
- See the prescription drug formulary list.
Kaiser HMO
The Kaiser HMO offers one-stop shopping for your health needs, including pharmacy services and specialists.
This plan may be right for you if:
- You want the lowest cost when you receive care—even if it means you pay more per paycheck.
- You like knowing exactly what you’re going to pay when you go to the doctor.
- You accept that you can only use Kaiser facilities, doctors, and hospitals.
- You will have a primary care provider—a single doctor who’s in charge of overseeing all your care.
Here’s how it works:
Paycheck costs
- Per-paycheck costs are higher when compared with the HDHP + HSA plan options.
- That’s because your costs are lower when you need care.
Doctors and other healthcare providers
- You must use Kaiser facilities and physicians—unless it’s an emergency.
- You also have remote care options, including phone and video visits, and access to MinuteClinics (in certain CVS and Target stores) and Concentra urgent care centers.
- If you’re traveling within an area that has Kaiser facilities and services, you can access in-network care at a Kaiser facility there.
- Traveling to an area that Kaiser doesn’t service? You’re still covered for emergency and urgent care.
Cost sharing between you and the plan
- No annual deductible to meet for frequently used services such as doctor office and specialist office visits, emergency room visits, and inpatient hospital stays.
- Some services and supplies cost $0. Others require you to pay a fixed copay or a percentage of the cost. Review Kaiser’s copays, coinsurance, deductible amounts, and other out-of-pocket costs to understand your share of the costs.
Coverage for prescription drugs:
- The copays for prescription drugs vary by region.
- See the prescription drug formulary list.
Both Kaiser plan options include coverage for virtual visits, including video visits and access to a dedicated nurse line.
Virtual Visits
Kaiser offers virtual visits—also known as telemedicine—so you can use your phone, tablet, or computer to immediately connect with a medical professional.
Nurse line
Talk with a Kaiser nurse, 24/7. The phone numbers vary by Kaiser region—refer to Contacts to find the right number for you.
Video visits
Get care anywhere, anytime with Kaiser’s video visit options. The links vary by Kaiser region—refer to Contacts to find the website link for you.
Traveling Out of State?
You now have more ways to receive good health care while traveling — virtually and in person.
For urgent and emergency care while traveling out of state, Kaiser Permanente HMO and EPO members now have access to Cigna’s PPO Network* of providers and facilities. All you’ll need to get care is your digital ID card, available in the Kaiser Permanente app. In some locations, members can also get 24/7 care by phone or video from a Kaiser Permanente provider.
View this summary for more information on routine care options, urgent and emergency care coverage anywhere in the world, and how to find locations and coverage details.
*The Cigna PPO Network refers to the health care providers (doctors, hospitals, specialists) contracted as part of the Cigna PPO for Shared Administration.