Journey Plan
Coverage for Today + Wealth Building for Tomorrow
Ready to start your journey? Wherever life’s adventures lead, VEBA’s Journey Plan offers a unique approach to health care that provides the basic protection that you need, while not paying for what you don’t need!
Why Start your Journey?
If you are in good health and rarely need to see a doctor, the Journey Plan could be the right choice for you! In addition to covering everyday medical expenses, the Journey Plan can help you build wealth for long-term protection. Through the Journey Plan, you receive:
- Lowest Premiums of any plans offered through VEBA.
- Low cost payments for routine care such as office visits, lab work, x-rays and prescription drugs and ability to pay directly from HealthInvest HRA.
- HealthInvest HRA that give you both flexibility and significant tax savings. Build up savings for long-term protection since the money is yours to keep, even after you leave the plan or your employer.
The Journey Plan has the lowest premium of any VEBA medical plans – meaning less money out of your pocket every month. This low premium is made possible through a deductible on infrequent medical care such as hospitalization and surgery, where your HRA money can be sued to reimburse your out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Journey is a great option for you if:
- You enjoy a healthy lifestyle and only expect to use your plan for basic coverage such as prescription drugs, small injuries such as a sprained ankle, or an illness such as strep throat.
- Are most interested in essential coverage for unexpected events and are okay with using your HRA to cover out-of-pocket costs if something major happens.
- Affordable care in case you have an unforeseen medical emergency.
- Want to build up and HRA (savings account) for current and future medical care expenses. Money from an HRA is yours to keep even if you leave the plan of change jobs.
Plan Features
Freedom for Your Lifestyle
Not everyone needs frequent medical care. Some just need help with an occasional illness or the bumps and bruises of an active lifestyle. With the Journey Plan, you get the protection you need, but you don’t pay for coverage you might not use.
HRA Overview
Different Kind of HRA
HealthInvest HRA is a great way to save up for out-of-pocket medical expenses, including retiree insurance premiums. It’s super easy to use, and it helps you save money by paying less in taxes.
Gallagher is one of the nation’s leading developers of health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) platforms. It all started more than 30 years ago when a retired school administrator expressed concern over the cost of his retiree medical insurance. This led to our development of the nation’s first multiple-employer HRA program for public employees. Today, we serve over 150,000 HRA participants from more than 1,100 employers.
Here’s how it works:
Your employer sends money to your HRA.
You invest those funds.
You use your HRA to reimburse medical expenses now or later.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement
An HRA is a type of health plan that puts you in control. It’s a savings account for your family’s medical care expenses and premiums. The money comes from your employer. Depending on your employer’s plan design, you can begin spending your HRA right away or save it up until you meet certain eligibility requirements, such as separation from service or retirement.
You get to invest your HRA by choosing from a menu of available investment funds.
In addition to covering everyday medical expenses, annual deposits to a Gallagher HealthInvest HRA (health reimbursement arrangement) help you build wealth for long-term protection. Your HRA is a tax-free account with real money for out-of-pocket medical bills. You get to control and use your HRA money whenever you choose.
- HRA deposits occur every March
- HRA money can be used right away or saved up to cover out-of-pocket medical bills.
- Unused HRA money rolls over and accumulates from year to year.
- You can invest your HRA money (similar to a 403(b) plan).
- You get to keep and use your HRA even if you change jobs or medical plans.
- Your HRA covers you, your spouse and dependents.
- HRA deposits, investment earnings (if any), and withdrawals (claims) are all tax free.
Visit healthinvesthra.com to learn more about the Gallagher HealthInvest HRA.
Find a Provider
Enrolling in the Journey Plan is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Step 1: Confirm which network plan your district offers, either Alliance, Harmony or Performance.
CS VEBA ALLIANCE
Scripps Coastal
UC San Diego
Scripps Clinic
Rady Children’s Health Network
ADOC Medical Group
Edinger Medical Group
Greater Newport Physicians
OptumCare (formerly HealthCare Partners)
MemorialCare Medical Group
Optum Care (formerly Monarch Healthcare)
Regal Medical Group
HARMONY
Sharp Rees-Stealy
Sharp Community Medical Group
UC San Diego
Optum Care (formerly Monarch Healthcare)
OptumCare (formerly HealthCare Partners)
Optum Care (formerly AppleCare Medical Group)
Optum Care (formerly PrimeCare)
Optum Care (formerly Empire Physicians Medical Group)
Optum Care (formerly Valley Physicians Network)
PERFORMANCE
Step 2: Check out the providers available in your network, if you don’t already have one.
Step 3: Visit whyuhc.com/csveba to confirm and select your PCP. If you don’t elect a PCP, then one will be automatically assigned to you.
Key Benefits
If you are in good health and rarely see a doctor, the Journey Plan is the choice for you. With the Journey Plan, you get the protection you need, but you don’t pay for coverage you might not use.
With the Journey Plan you will enjoy the lowest premiums of any other plan. The HMO low set co-pays will allow you to save money with first dollar coverage for daily care in office visits, labs and prescriptions. The accessibility to choose a provider with plans designs available on UnitedHealthcare’s CS VEBA Alliance, Harmony and Performance HMO networks.
Another plus, is the introduction of the Gallagher HealthInvest Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). The Gallagher Healthinvest HRA is a savings account for your medical expenses, is a great way to save out-of-pocket medical payments, plus it will help you save money by paying less taxes. The Journey Plan allows you to use your HRA funds now for health care expenses or save them for the future.
How it works:
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You can invest your contributions according to your own risk profile
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Wealth building with annual deposits to a Gallagher HealthInvest HRA
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Keep your account – even if you change plans.
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Manage your investments similar to a 401 (k) plan
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User friendly platform that lets you keep track or your progress
This plan is another great benefit for those members that have dual medical coverage. You can use your Gallagher HealthInvest HRA to reimburse out-of-pocket medical expenses. The Gallagher HealthInvest HRA can be used on any tax-deductible medical expense — even if you have additional coverage, for example, through your spouse.
Easy Access |
Freedom |
Convenience |
| to a broad network of doctors and hospitals through UnitedHealthcare’s CS VEBA Alliance, Harmony and Performance HMO networks. | to deal with short-term illness and injury with set copays for routine expenses like doctor visits, lab work, X-rays and prescription drugs. | with online scheduling, same-day appointments and handy urgent care centers in many areas. |
Full Coverage |
Annual Deposits |
| with out-of-pocket limits that cap the total amount you might have to pay if you become seriously ill or injured. | to a portable HRA to help pay for any major or unexpected medical expenses. Any unsed funds stay with you for use in future years—even if you leave the plan or change jobs! |
Is It Right For You?
The Journey Plan is designed to have the lowest premiums of any of the VEBA medical plan designs. This is made possible by introducing a deductible on infrequent medical care like hospitalization and surgery. Remember, you can use your HRA money to reimburse your out-of-pocket medical care costs.
This innovative design is a great option if you:
- Are enjoying a healthy lifestyle and only expect to use the plan for prescription drugs or a random illness or injury like strep throat or a sprained ankle;
- Are most interested in essential coverage for unexpected events and are okay with higher out-of-pocket costs if something happens; and
- Want to build up an HRA (savings account) for current or future medical care expenses. The money is yours to keep—even if you leave the plan or change jobs.
Qualified Expenses
Do you need more information on qualified HRA expenses and premiums? We’ve got you covered. Click here for plan information.
Additional Benefits
This sounds interesting. What should I do now?
- Review your district enrollment information for detailed plan design and benefit information.
- Visit https://www.whyuhc.com/csveba to search your network and select your PCP.
- Submit your final plan selection to your district during Open Enrollment.
- Your new coverage will be effective on January 1 with the full deposit to your HRA in March.