Open Enrollment occurs each year in October and is usually the only opportunity each year to enroll in or change health insurance plans. Mark the month of October on your calendar every year as “Open Enrollment” so that it does not pass you by if you miss any of the insurance news mailings. Plans, benefits and rates may differ from year to year and from one Plan Sponsor to the next. The insurance plan year runs from January 1st through December 31st each year. There are mailings to you in September and October to provide information about plans and rates for the coming year.
Open enrollment for the 2024 plan year is from October 1, 2023 through October 31, 2023. SBCERS must receive all enrollments, changes and cancellations (if any) NO LATER THAN Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
After November 1, your next opportunity to make health plan changes will be in October 2024, for the 2025 plan year. Keep each year’s Guide to Retiree Health Plans & Open Enrollment book all year and consult it for important benefit and contact information.
Be sure to review the Health Reimbursement benefit information when considering canceling your insurance.
Health Insurance Information and Forms, by Plan Sponsor:
County of Santa Barbara
County of Santa Barbara
Health Insurance Menu
Summaries of Benefits & Coverage (“SBC’s”) – County of Santa Barbara:
Blue Shield HDHP-
Blue Shield Tandem Plan-
Kaiser Traditional HMO Low Option-
Kaiser Traditional HMO High Option-
Kaiser Senior Advantage HMO Low Option-
Kaiser Senior Advantage HMO High Option-
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO Low Option-
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO Low Option Plan Guide
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO Low Option Summary of Medical & Prescription Benefits
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO Low Option “Your Plan Explained”
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO Low Option Additional Drug Coverage
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO Low Option Annual Notice of Changes
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO High Option-
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO High Option Plan Guide
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO High Option Summary of Medical & Prescription Benefits
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO High Option “Your Plan Explained”
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO High Option Additional Drug Coverage
- 2023 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO High Option Annual Notice of Changes
Delta Dental & DeltaCare USA-
Vision Service Plan (VSP)-
Health Insurance Forms – County of Santa Barbara
- Medical – Blue Shield Enrollment / Change Form
- Medical – Kaiser – Traditional HMO Enrollment / Change Form
- Medical – Kaiser – Medicare Advantage/Senior Advantage Enrollment / Change Form
- Medical – Kaiser – Senior Advantage Disenrollment Form
- Medical – UnitedHealthcare HMO Low Option Enrollment Form
- Medical – UnitedHealthcare HMO High Option Enrollment Form
- Medical – UnitedHealthcare HMO Disenrollment Form
- Dental – Delta Dental Enrollment/Change Form (PPO and HMO)
- Dental – Waiver Form
- Vision – VSP (Vision Service Plan) Enrollment / Change Form
- Subsidy – Pooling Subsidy Election Form (retirees with retired SBCERS County spouse/partner)
- Subsidy – Combining Subsidy Election Form (recipients of multiple benefit payments only)
Other Resources – County of Santa Barbara
- Last Year’s Plan Information: 2023 County Retiree Health Plan Open Enrollment Guide
- Article: Health Reimbursement Arrangement, 401(h) Medical Trust Plan Benefits
- Glossary: Healthcare Terminology Explained
- Medicare FAQ for SBCERS Retirees: Medicare and Employer-Sponsored Insurance FAQs
Quick Links to Insurance Resources – County of Santa Barbara
Carrier Contact Information can also be found inside the back cover of the Open Enrollment Guide
- Blue Shield CSAC-EIA
- BlueCard Network (Network providers outside California)
- Blue Shield Narrow Network PPO: Network Search
- CareCounsel Healthcare Assistance Program
- Carrum Health
- COBRA Administrator (Contact your SBCERS Benefits Specialist)
- Delta Dental
- HRA Administrator (WageWorks)
- Kaiser Permanente
- ExpressScripts (formerly Medco)
- Teledoc (for Blue Shield Participants), or mobile app teladoc.com/mobile
- UnitedHealthcare
- Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Superior Court
Santa Barbara Superior Court
Health Insurance Menu
Summaries of Benefits & Coverage (“SBC’s”) – Superior Court:
- 2024 Superior Court EPO Summary of Benefits
- 2024 Superior Court HDHP Summary of Benefits and Prescription Drug Plan
- 2022 Blue Shield Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
- 2023 Prescription Drug Plan for Blue Shield EPO Low Option (Non-Medicare)
- 2022 Prescription Drug Plan for Blue Shield EPO Low Option (Medicare)
Health Insurance Forms – Santa Barbara Superior Court:
- Medical – Blue Shield Enrollment / Change Form
- Dental – Delta Dental Enrollment / Change Form (PPO and HMO)
- Dental – Waiver Form
- Vision – VSP (Vision Service Plan) Enrollment / Change Form
- Subsidy – Pooling Subsidy Election Form (retirees with retired SBCERS Court spouse/partner)
- Subsidy – Combining Subsidy Election Form (recipients of multiple benefit payments only)
Other Resources – Santa Barbara Superior Court:
- Last Year’s Plan Information: 2023 Superior Court Retiree Health Plan Open Enrollment Guide
- Article: Health Reimbursement Arrangement, 401(h) Medical Trust Plan Benefits
- Glossary: Healthcare Terminology Explained
- FAQ Page: Medicare and Employer-Sponsored Insurance FAQs
Quick Links to Insurance Resources – Santa Barbara Superior Court:
Carrier Contact Information can also be found inside the back cover of the Open Enrollment Guide
- Blue Shield CSAC-EIA
- BlueCard Network – National Doctor and Hospital Finder
- CareCounsel Healthcare Assistance Program
- Carrum Health
- COBRA Administrator (Contact your SBCERS Benefits Specialist)
- Delta Dental
- HRA Administrator (WageWorks)
- Express Scripts (formerly MEDCO)
- Teledoc (for Blue Shield Participants), or mobile app Teladoc.com/mobile
- Vision Service Plan (VSP)