Alyssa Lane
If you're looking to change your medical insurance to Kaiser Permanente, there are a few steps you need to take. Firstly, it's important to note that Kaiser Permanente offers coverage in specific states and regions, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C. The type of coverage and the associated costs may vary depending on your location. To initiate the process of changing your medical insurance, you can visit buy.kp.org or contact Kaiser Permanente directly through their support lines. If you're already a member and looking to change your plan, you can do so by downloading and completing an Account Change Form, which can be submitted by mail or fax. Keep in mind that financial assistance may not be available if you sign up directly through Kaiser Permanente; instead, you may need to sign up through a health benefit exchange.
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What You'll Learn
Changing plans during open enrollment
Changing plans during the open enrollment period is a straightforward process. Open enrollment for 2024 starts on November 1, 2024, and the deadline for signing up for a new plan for coverage starting January 1, 2025, is December 15, 2024. During this period, you can change to a different Kaiser Permanente health plan, add or remove a spouse, domestic partner, or dependent, and add or change optional dental coverage.
To change your medical insurance to Kaiser, you can either visit buy.kp.org or contact 1-800-295-8660 or 711 (TTY). If you have recently moved or are planning to move, you will need to update your address, depending on your new type of coverage. You may also need to notify your employer or their Human Resources Department of your new address. If you have moved to a new state or region, you will be issued a new Medical Record Number (MRN).
It is important to carefully review the plan details and compare options before enrolling. Kaiser is an HMO provider with facilities throughout California, and the cost and availability of plans vary depending on where you live. Kaiser health plans typically offer comprehensive coverage for a range of medical services, including preventive care, primary care, specialist care, hospitalization, and prescription drugs. Kaiser has its own network of doctors, hospitals, and clinics, allowing for easy access to care and streamlined coordination between healthcare providers.
Outside of the open enrollment period, you can only change plans if you have a qualifying life event, such as losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.
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Switching to a new plan
If you are switching plans due to a qualifying life event, you will need to provide proof. This includes your name, address, phone number, and medical record number on each page of your proof. If you have moved to a new state or region, you will be issued a new Medical Record Number (MRN).
To switch to a new plan, you can either download and complete an Account Change Form, which can be mailed or faxed back, or you can fill out an Online Account Change Form. You can also call the Member Service Contact Center at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711) to make the change over the phone.
It's important to note that financial help will not be provided if you sign up for a plan directly through Kaiser Permanente. To receive financial assistance, you must sign up through the health benefit exchange.
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Adding a spouse or partner to your plan
To add a spouse or partner to your Kaiser Permanente health plan, you must complete an Account Change Form. You can download this form from the Kaiser Permanente website, then mail or fax it back. Alternatively, you can call the Member Service Contact Center at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711) to make the change over the phone.
If you purchased your current plan on or before March 23, 2010 (when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law), you can only make a plan change if you switch to an ACA plan. In this case, you would lose your grandfathered plan.
If you are adding a domestic partner to your employer-paid Kaiser Permanente medical benefits, you may be taxed around $800 per month. This is because the employer's share of the premium is taxed as if they gave you a raise in that amount, and your share of the premium is deducted after tax. You can avoid this tax by marrying your partner or if your partner qualifies as your dependent. To qualify as a dependent, your partner must live in your home for the entire tax year, you must provide more than half of their living expenses, and their taxable income must be less than $4,050.
It's important to note that you can only add a spouse, domestic partner, or dependent to your Kaiser Permanente plan during open enrollment, unless you have a qualifying life event. Open enrollment starts on November 1, 2024, for coverage beginning January 1, 2025. To receive coverage by this date, you must sign up for a new plan by December 15, 2024.
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Changing address
If you're looking for a new plan in a new location, you can view plans at buy.kp.org or contact Kaiser Permanente at 1-800-295-8660 or 711 (TTY). If you've recently moved or are about to move, follow the steps below to update your address and continue your healthcare coverage without interruption:
Update Your Address
- Online: You can update your address online by visiting the My Social Security website at www.ssa.gov.
- In-Person: Alternatively, you can visit your local Social Security field office. You can find the address on the Social Security Administration website.
- Over the Phone: Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or 711 (TTY).
Update Your Kaiser Permanente Account
Once you've updated your address with the Social Security Administration, you'll also need to update your account with Kaiser Permanente. You can do this by:
- Calling: Contacting Kaiser Permanente at 1-800-464-4000 (TTY 711) to make the change over the phone.
- Mailing: Sending a signed Account Change Form and proof of your new address to the following address: Kaiser Permanente for Individuals and Families, P.O. Box 23127, San Diego, CA 92193-3127.
Please note that your new address may impact the type of healthcare coverage you receive and the amount you pay each month. It's important to update your information promptly to ensure uninterrupted coverage.
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Getting financial help
Kaiser Permanente offers financial assistance to people struggling to pay their medical bills. The Medical Financial Assistance program is designed to help low-income, uninsured, and underserved patients receive access to care. The program provides temporary financial assistance or free care to patients who receive health care services from their providers, regardless of whether they have health coverage or are uninsured. Eligibility is based on financial need. The program covers emergency and necessary health care services, pharmacy services and products, and medical supplies provided at Kaiser Permanente facilities or by their providers.
The Kaiser Permanente Charitable Health Coverage (CHC) programs provide health care coverage to low-income individuals and families who are not eligible for other public or private health coverage. Qualifying individuals receive enrollment in a Kaiser Permanente for Individuals and Families Health Plan and a Kaiser Permanente subsidy to help pay monthly premiums and most out-of-pocket medical costs for care at their facilities.
Additionally, Kaiser Permanente participates in Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California), which provides publicly-financed health coverage for limited-income and vulnerable individuals and families. Their participation in each state depends on the state's administration of Medicaid and their ability to meet the state's requirements. They also work to help members who lose their current health coverage transition into Medicaid, as well as reach out to non-members who qualify for Medicaid to inform them about their options.
To learn more about financial assistance and how to apply, you can call 1-800-464-4000 or 866-399-7696, or speak to a financial counselor within the Admitting Department at any Kaiser Permanente hospital. Accessible formats, such as large print, Braille, and audio, are also available.
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Frequently asked questions
You can change your medical insurance to Kaiser by downloading and completing an Account Change Form. You can then mail or fax it back, or call the Member Service Contact Center at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711).
Yes, you can change your plan online by filling out an Online Account Change Form.
If you've moved to a new state or region, you’ll be issued a new Medical Record Number (MRN). Visit kp.org to create a new Kaiser Permanente online account and link your new account to your old account.
Financial help won't apply if you sign up for a plan directly through Kaiser Permanente. To get financial help, you need to sign up through the health benefit exchange.
