Covered California for Small Business (CCSB) has announced their Q1 2027 update. 

Rates

Actual rate impact may vary by plan and region

Quoting

Quoting is available in Benefix. 

Portfolio

CCSB is excited to welcome Western Health Advantage effective January 1st, 2027! There will be seven new plans:

• WHA Platinum 90 HMO 0/25 PCP + Child Dental
• WHA Gold 80 HMO 325/40 PCP + Child Dental
• WHA Silver 70 HMO 2500/60 PCP + Child Dental
• WHA Silver 70 HDHP HMO 3200/25% PCP + Child Dental
• WHA Bronze 60 HMO 6800/60 PCP + Child Dental
• WHA Platinum 90 HMO 0/20 PCP + Child Dental ALT
• WHA Gold 80 HMO 1000/40 PCP + Child Dental ALT

Network

WHA offers localized care in Northern CA:

• Access to the Mayo Clinic through NorthBay Health
• WHA’s network matches up to Health Net’s WholeCare network

There are no other network changes. CCSB will continue to offer a wide variety of HMO and PPO options.

Get to Know the Carrier Partners

WHA – the newest to CCSB’s Portfolio

Flexible Choice:The only local HMO offering access to multiple medical groups; members aren't limited to only seeing specialists in their medical group. 

• 1:1 coaching
• AI-driven virtual solutions
• rewards for healthy choices

Same day virtual visits: Meet with a provider by video or phone. Quick, convenient, and often a better choice than urgent care

Blue Shield – PPO and Out of State Solutions

Care access & experience:

• PPO network largest or at parity in 57 CA counties
• HMO in 34 CA counties 
• BlueCard: 2M providers nationwide, 98% of claims in-network
• 75 accountable care organizations driving value-based care
• One connected support team: service and nurses share one record — employees call once, no transfers

Teledoc: Skip urgent care and connect with a doctor in minutes. Or make an appointment in advance that fits into your schedule.

Pharmacy savings:

• Pharmacy Care Reimagined: lowest-net-cost model, no single PBM
• 83% biosimilar adoption; $1,500+ average savings per script
• Humira biosimilar at $525/dose — 75% below net price
  

Trust & recognition:

• 2% income cap: as a nonprofit, we cap net income at 2% of revenue — the rest goes back to members and the community
• Recognized by Deloitte (Best Managed), Ethisphere (12x World's Most Ethical), and Parity.org (advancement for women and people of color)

Whole-package value:

• Wellvolution, Maven maternity, and MSK programs
• Member Health Record, Price Check My Rx, Health News Feed

AI Benefits Concierge: Coming 2027:

• A conversational concierge answering coverage and next-step questions in plain language from the member's Evidence of Coverage
• In-app access
• 10 languages
• Deductible and claims detail
• Referrals
• Provider search
• Appointment scheduling

Kaiser - Care under one roof

Kaiser Permanente Member Rewards: New

• Members can earn up to $150 annually through health and wellness activities.
• Lifestyle-focused rewards integrated into Kaiser Permanente care and coverage.
• Rewards will automatically be loaded onto a Visa® prepaid card that you can use on everyday items.

Broker Production Rewards

• Tiered incentive program for new small group sales
• Earn bonuses beginning at 25 new members
• Example: 100 new members = $7,500 total bonus payout
• Additional incentive levels available through 250+ members.
  

Facility Updates: New and Upgraded Urgent Care locations in Northern California

• Modesto Medical Offices 2 (Opened Feb 2026)
• Sports Medicine Center at Sacramento Medical Center (Opened April 2026)
• Sports Medicine Center at Intuit Dome (State-of-the-art center at the LA Clippers)
• Kern Outpatient Surgery Center
• Menifee Medical Offices
• Riverside Medical Center
• Aliso Creek Medical Offices
  

Sharp – San Diego Born & Raised. A local Health Plan focused on the community they serve.

Why Sharp:

• Integrated Health Care: The health plan, physicians, medical groups, and Sharp HealthCare's hospitals work together to create a more coordinated member experience.
• Highest member-rated commercial health plan in California for customer service, and among the highest member-rated health plans for health care, specialist and care coordination.
• Quality Member Experience. A strong reputation for high-quality care, member satisfaction and local customer service.
• What really differentiates Sharp is that they are not simply providing an insurance card. They are connecting members to an integrated health care system that is deeply invested in San Diego.
  

Same day virtual visits:

• Meet with a provider by video or phone.
• Available for Sharp Rees-Stealy and Sharp community.
• Quick, convenient, and often a better choice than urgent care.
  
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The Calm Health app: supports physical and mental health

• Calm Health offers mental health guidance and compassionate support for a wide range of health and wellbeing goals.
• It's available to members at no cost through your behavioral health benefits.
  

Expansions: More Access. More Locations. More Investment in San Diego.

• North County, Tri-City Hospital is now a Sharp Hospital: $100M Investment in North County modernizing Sharp Tri-City with facility, technology, and infrastructure improvements. (Please note currently, Greater Tri-Cities IPA isn't in our Premier nor Performance Network)
• Carlsbad - New ambulatory surgery center with 175 physicians/35 specialists
• Chula Vista, Sharp Rees-Stealy new location
• Chula Vista Hospital, Sharp Mary Birch Center for Women & Newborns
• Otay Ranch, Sharp Rees-Stealy new location
• Kearny Mesa, Sharp Rees-Stealy new location
  

Easy Underwriting

Have a group with a lot of waivers? Check out CCSB; they accept several categories as valid waivers, including IFP coverage.

Health Net Transition Solutions

Federal Tax Credit: this exclusive two-year credit is still available

• Up to 50% of premium (35% for nonprofits)
• For employers under 25 FTEs
• Averaging under $67,000 wage (excluding owners/family)

New: Direct Deposit for CCSB commissions

• Faster, safer, more convenient than paper warrants
• Enrollment requires: certified agency, valid U.S. checking account, request from AM2 or Authorized Signer, agency license #, FEIN/SSN, bank details, signature
• Terminated agencies can't enroll; suspended agencies may need to resolve issues first
• Applies to CCSB commissions only — IFP commissions still paid directly by the carrier
• First payment may take 1–2 cycles; paper warrants continue in the interim

Brokers Earn Too

Earn even more for offering your clients California's most comprehensive access to doctors and hospitals. For coverage effective July 1, 2025 through January 1, 2026, earn extra when you sell at least 3 new small groups  

Contact your  Regional Sales Manager for more information.