Changing health or dental plans

What is Open Enrollment?

Each year, Healthy Families allows you to change your health, dental, and vision plans for any reason. This is called "Open Enrollment." Open Enrollment normally begins on April 15th and ends on May 31st. For this year, Open Enrollment starts November 15th and ends December 31st. Healthy Families will send you a packet that lists the health, dental, and vision plans that you can choose.

If you want to change your health, dental, or vision plan, you must turn in your packet by December 31st. If your transfer is approved, your start date with the new plan will be February 1, 2009.

It is very IMPORTANT that you review your Open Enrollment packet. Your plan may no longer be available. If your plan is no longer available, you must choose another plan. Make sure Healthy Families receives your Open Enrollment packet by December 31st. If you don’t select a new plan, Healthy Families will choose one for you. The start date with a new plan will be February 1, 2009.

If you have questions, call Healthy Families at 1-866-848-9166. Healthy Families can help you from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Or, on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The call is free!

What if I Want to Change Plans Now and Cannot Wait?

You can change your plans once within 3 months from the date your child was enrolled. If this is the case, you do not have to wait until Open Enrollment to change plans. If you want to change plans, call Healthy Families at 1-866-848-9166. Healthy Families can help you from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Or, on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The call is free! Or, send your written request to:

Healthy Families
P.O. Box 138005
Sacramento, CA 95813-8005

Or, fax your request, toll-free to:
1-866-848-4974

Healthy Families will process your request. This may take up to 40 days. Healthy Families will send you a letter telling you if your request is approved. If approved, the letter will tell you when coverage with the new plans begins.

What if I Can’t Establish a Good Relationship with the Plan?

Plan changes can only be made once within the first 3 months of enrollment or during Open Enrollment. If you cannot establish a good relationship with the plan, you may submit a letter to the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB). MRMIB is the state board that oversees the Healthy Families Program. Send the letter to:

MRMIB
P.O. Box 2769
Sacramento, CA 95812-2769

Or, fax your request, toll-free to:
1-916-327-9661

MRMIB will process your request and will let you know if your transfer is approved. You can reach MRMIB at 1-916-324-4695 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

My Income has Changed and I Want to Lower My Monthly Premium. What can I do?

If your family’s income has changed, you may be able to lower your monthly premium. To see if Healthy Families can lower your premium, you can fill out a Premium Re-Evaluation form. If you would like a form, we can mail you one. The form is also available for you to download and print at http://www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov/Publications/HF_FM_150_EN.pdf.

If you want Healthy Families to send you the Premium Re-Evaluation Form, call Healthy Families at 1-888-673-4469. Healthy Families can help you from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Or, on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The call is free.

Please remember, you will need to send proof of your family’s income with your completed form. If you have expenses for child day care or make child or spousal support payments, you will also need to send proof for those expenses. Healthy Families can deduct these expenses from your family’s income. You can mail your form back to:

Healthy Families
P.O. Box 138010
Sacramento, CA 95813

Or, fax your request, toll-free to:
1-866-848-4975