Back to Basics: Where does your monthly premium dollar go?

Where does your premium dollar go? We are going “Back to Basics” to show how health care premium dollars are spent – with 89% of each dollar going directly to medical care. Take a look at our fact sheet and explainer video to see a breakdown of the health care premium dollar as well as the key cost drivers that impact affordability and how health plans are working to keep coverage affordable.

Think Authorization for Care is Just Red Tape? Think Again.

California’s Health Care Affordability Dilemma

California health plans and state leaders are working toward a shared goal of making health care more affordable. However, at the same time, lawmakers are advancing policies that will significantly increase premiums. These conflicting efforts create a dilemma: while the state is investing in solutions to improve affordability, the Legislature is moving forward with policies that make it harder to achieve, especially amid looming federal and state budget cuts.

Authorization for Care: A Key Tool for Safe, High Quality, and Affordable Care

Your Plan Your Advocate is providing a clear breakdown of Authorization for Care, explaining what it is, who uses it, why it matters, how it works, and how the process can be improved. This resource highlights how this critical tool ensures that patients receive safe, high-quality, and cost-effective treatments while protecting them from unnecessary or potentially harmful procedures and excessive costs.

Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans: Addressing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity 

California’s Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans are playing a critical role in tackling homelessness and housing insecurity by going beyond clinical care to address the social factors that impact health. This campaign explores how health plans are helping individuals and families access stable housing, receive whole-person care, and avoid falling into homelessness in the first place. The campaign is broken down into three parts:

• A Commitment to Building Stable Housing Solutions in California: Outlines the direct contributions, investments, and partnerships that Managed Care Plans have made to help individuals and families secure housing and foster long-term well-being.
• Caring for California’s Unhoused Population Through a Whole-Person Approach: Showcases the targeted initiatives of Managed Care Plans—such as field and street medicine, access to social services, and support for food insecurity—that provide tailored, wraparound care to Californians experiencing homelessness.
• Preventing Homelessness for At-Risk Californians: Highlights how Managed Care Plans are developing proactive, long-term strategies to support at-risk individuals and prevent homelessness before it starts.

Investing in Your Health: Preventive Care

California health plans are encouraging members to Invest in Their Health by getting the recommended preventive services and screenings to maintain overall health and well-being. Preventive healthcare screenings and services are key to keeping Californians of all ages healthy and able to identify potential problems early before they become severe, which can save lives and reduce healthcare costs.

Investing in Your Health: Mental and Behavioral Health

Mental health is an essential part of overall health and well-being, which is why California’s health plans have been working to reduce the stigma and provide greater mental health access to Californians seeking help. From the investments in workforce and programs, to emphasizing equity and access within California’s public mental health care system, and addressing the state’s youth mental health challenges, health plans are working with our partners to effectively address the mental health challenges in California, save lives and improve the mental and physical well-being of all Californians.