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Health

Medical

Alera Group offers a variety of options and carriers so you can choose coverage that feels just right for you and your family.

The Basics

In most of the country, you have four medical plan options. In California, you have six options. For the two HDHP plans and the PPO, you have two decisions to make:

  • First, you choose the plan itself.
  • Then, you choose the network of doctors and facilities that you prefer — either the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Choice Plus network or the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) network.

Live in California?

If you live in California, you have two more options — a Kaiser HMO and a Kaiser HDHP. Both plans include prescription drug coverage and 100% coverage for preventive care. The HDHP also includes an HSA, which is partially funded by Alera Group.

You must use Kaiser doctors and facilities — there is no out-of-network coverage, and some specialist visits require a referral. In the HMO, you must select a primary care physician (PCP) to coordinate all your care.

Your 2026 Medical Plan Options

Looking for 2025 Medical Plan Options? See the 2025 Medical Plan Comparison Chart.

Surest

UHC

This plan has no deductible and flat copays for most services.

Your Coinsurance / Copays
$0–$3,500
$0–$3,500
Your Annual Deductible
$0
$0
Your Out-of-Pocket Limit
$6,500
$13,000
Comes with an HSA
Free In-Network Preventive Care
Prescription Drug Coverage
Out-of-Network Access

BEST FOR

Those who want low paycheck contributions, no deductible, and a way to shop for quality low-cost care.
Alera Group HSA Contribution
--
--
Preventive Care
$0
$0
Primary Office Visit
$20 - $125
$20 - $125
Specialist Office Visit
$20 - $125
$20 - $125
Outpatient Surgery
$50 - $3,500
$50 - $3,500
Inpatient Hospital
$300 - $3,500
$300 - $3,500
Emergency Care
$750
$750
Diagnostic Testing/ Imaging 
(CT, PET, MRI)
$125 - $1,400TESTINGUp to $900IMAGING
$125 - $1,400TESTINGUp to $900IMAGING
Out-of-Pocket Limit*
$6,500
$13,000

$3,400 HDHP

UHC or BCBS

This plan comes with a Health Savings Account (HSA) to help you save.

Your Coinsurance / Copays
10%
10%
Your Annual Deductible
$3,400
$6,600
Your Out-of-Pocket Limit
$5,600
$11,200
Comes with an HSA
Free In-Network Preventive Care
Prescription Drug Coverage
Out-of-Network Access

BEST FOR

Those who want an HSA but don’t want a very high deductible.
Alera Group HSA Contribution
$500
$1,000
Preventive Care
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
Primary Office Visit
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Specialist Office Visit
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Outpatient Surgery
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Inpatient Hospital
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Emergency Care
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Diagnostic Testing/ Imaging 
(CT, PET, MRI)
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
10%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Out-of-Pocket Limit*
$5,600
$11,200

$6,000 HDHP

UHC or BCBS

This plan comes with a Health Savings Account (HSA) to help you save.

Your Coinsurance / Copays
$0
$0
Your Annual Deductible
$6,000
$12,000
Your Out-of-Pocket Limit
$6,000
$12,000
Comes with an HSA
Free In-Network Preventive Care
Prescription Drug Coverage
Out-of-Network Access

BEST FOR

Those who want an HSA, low paycheck contributions, and are comfortable with a high deductible.
Alera Group HSA Contribution
$1,000
$2,000
Preventive Care
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
Primary Office Visit
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Specialist Office Visit
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Outpatient Surgery
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Inpatient Hospital
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Emergency Care
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Diagnostic Testing/ Imaging 
(CT, PET, MRI)
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Out-of-Pocket Limit*
$6,000
$12,000

PPO

UHC or BCBS

You’ll pay the most money out of your paycheck to be enrolled in this plan.

Your Coinsurance / Copays
$0–$300 or 25%
$0–$300 or 25%
Your Annual Deductible
$2,000
$4,000
Your Out-of-Pocket Limit
$5,000
$10,000
Comes with an HSA
Free In-Network Preventive Care
Prescription Drug Coverage
Out-of-Network Access

BEST FOR

Those willing to pay higher paycheck contributions for lower costs when getting care.
Alera Group HSA Contribution
--
--
Preventive Care
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
Primary Office Visit
$20
NO DEDUCTIBLE
$40
NO DEDUCTIBLE
Specialist Office Visit
$40
NO DEDUCTIBLE
$40
NO DEDUCTIBLE
Outpatient Surgery
25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Inpatient Hospital
$300 then 25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$300 then 25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Emergency Care
$150 then 25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$150 then 25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Diagnostic Testing/ Imaging 
(CT, PET, MRI)
25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
25%
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Out-of-Pocket Limit*
$5,000
$10,000

Kaiser HDHP

Kaiser | California

You must use Kaiser doctors and facilities except for emergency care.

Your Coinsurance / Copays
$0
$0
Your Annual Deductible
$3,400
$6,800
Your Out-of-Pocket Limit
$3,400
$6,800
Comes with an HSA
Free In-Network Preventive Care
Prescription Drug Coverage
Out-of-Network Access

BEST FOR

Those who want an HSA and are okay sticking with a specific network.
Alera Group HSA Contribution
$500
$1,000
Preventive Care
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
$0
NO DEDUCTIBLE
Primary Office Visit
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Specialist Office Visit
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Outpatient Surgery
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Inpatient Hospital
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Emergency Care
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Diagnostic Testing/ Imaging 
(CT, PET, MRI)
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$0
AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
Out-of-Pocket Limit*
$3,400
$6,800

Kaiser HMO

Kaiser | California

You must use Kaiser doctors and facilities except for emergency care.

Your Coinsurance / Copays
$0–$500
$0–$500
Your Annual Deductible
$0
$0
Your Out-of-Pocket Limit
$1,500
$3,000
Comes with an HSA
Free In-Network Preventive Care
Prescription Drug Coverage
Out-of-Network Access

BEST FOR

Those who want no deductible and are okay sticking with a specific network.
Alera Group HSA Contribution
--
--
Preventive Care
$0
$0
Primary Office Visit
$25
$25
Specialist Office Visit
$25
$25
Outpatient Surgery
$100/procedure
$100/procedure
Inpatient Hospital
$500/admission
$500/admission
Emergency Care
$100/visit
$100/visit
Diagnostic Testing/ Imaging 
(CT, PET, MRI)
$10TESTING$50IMAGING
$50TESTING$50IMAGING
Out-of-Pocket Limit*
$1,500
$3,000
*
What you pay for care counts toward both the in-network deductible and the out-of-network deductible. Also, if you include any family members, the HDHPs and PPO have embedded individual deductibles and out-of-pocket limits for in-network care. That means if one covered family member meets the individual deductible, the plan starts covering that person’s care even if the full family deductible hasn’t been reached.

Consider the Surest Plan

The Surest plan has no deductibles or coinsurance, just upfront pricing that lets you see what you'll pay before you get care. Surest uses UnitedHealthcare’s Choice Plus network, so you have a large network of doctors and other health care providers to choose from.

Your 2026 Paycheck Costs

Surest

UHC

Employee

$12

Employee + Spouse

$128.31

Employee + Child(ren)

$66.46

Employee + Family

$171.23

$3,400 HDHP

UHC or BCBS

Employee

$28.62

Employee + Spouse

$194.31

Employee + Child(ren)

$112.62

Employee + Family

$276.92

$6,000 HDHP

UHC or BCBS

Employee

$13.38

Employee + Spouse

$143.08

Employee + Child(ren)

$74.77

Employee + Family

$184.62

PPO

UHC or BCBS

Employee

$70.62

Employee + Spouse

$269.08

Employee + Child(ren)

$178.62

Employee + Family

$372.46

Kaiser HDHP

Kaiser | California

Employee

$30

Employee + Spouse

$178.62

Employee + Child(ren)

$117.23

Employee + Family

$260.31

Kaiser HMO

Kaiser | California

Employee

$40.15

Employee + Spouse

$230.77

Employee + Child(ren)

$151.38

Employee + Family

$336

Your paycheck contributions are pre-tax except for domestic partner contributions, which are post-tax.

Need Help Choosing?

Selecting the right medical plan for you and your life is a very personal decision, and we’re here to help:

  • Use the MyChoice Recommendation Engine in the Alera Group Benefits Center when you enroll for a personalized recommendation.
  • If you would like to speak to a person, call the Alera Group Benefits Center at 888-850-1765, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT.

We’re adding Garner Health to help you find top-performing doctors in the UnitedHealthcare or Blue Cross Blue Shield networks — and be reimbursed up to $1,000 or $2,000 for some of your out-of-pocket costs! The full Garner Health experience starts January 1, but there are action items now!

  • If you plan to enroll in an HDHP or PPO plan, go to Garner and set up an account.
  • Next, download the free app on the App Store or Google Play.
  • Search to see which in-network providers are top-rated for the best outcomes. You can begin using Garner-recommended doctors even before January to receive better care at a lower cost.
  • In 2026, HDHP and PPO members who use Garner-recommended doctors are eligible for reimbursement of some out-of-pocket expenses.
  • If your doctors aren't Garner-recommended, consider switching now to get the best healthcare and to be eligible for services received beginning January 1, 2026, for reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs up to $1,000 for employee-only coverage or up to $2,000 for coverage with one or more dependents.

Get in Touch

BCBS

UHC

Select the Choice Plus network.

Surest

Access code: Alera2026

Kaiser

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MORE TO 
EXPLORE

Prescription Drugs
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Virtual Care
Mental Health Support
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Plan Documents
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