Open Enrollment
In Merced County, it's easy to find health care that helps you be at your best. This Open Enrollment, choose a plan that includes Dignity Health doctors and hospitals.
With open enrollment coming once a year, you’ll want to make the most of your choices and understand how they’ll impact your family’s health coverage in the coming year.
If you have a doctor or group of doctors you have been seeing or would like to see, be sure they are in the health plan's network. Don’t forget to check with the insurance plan to make sure your doctor is in their network.
This Open Enrollment, be sure the health plan you choose includes Dignity Health. Ask your HR Benefits Manager or click below to learn more.
Get health coverage for your whole family through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Click below to learn about available options.
Considering a Medicare Advantage plan? Click below or contact your current broker or licensed insurance agent for more information.
With open enrollment coming once a year, you’ll want to make the most of your choices and understand how they’ll impact your family’s health coverage in the coming year.
If you have a doctor or group of doctors you have been seeing or would like to see, be sure they are in the health plan's network. Don’t forget to verify if with the insurance plan your doctor is in network.
When you choose a plan that connects you to Dignity Health’s doctors, you’ll have a choice of where to get care, from virtual visits to on-site primary and specialty care. You also have access to nationally recognized hospital programs for , stroke, cancer care, orthopedics, and other specialties.
Choosing a health insurance plan that connects you to Dignity Health means you’ll be connected to primary and specialty care providers throughout Merced County through our affiliated medical group: Dignity Health Medical Group – Merced.
The Dignity Health California network also includes other health care services, including an imaging center and outpatient therapy center.
With one full-service hospital in the area, we offer the highest level of stroke care in the region, in addition to exceptional care in other specialties like women’s health (we don't really have OBGYNS...major shortage in Merced - But we have an amazing Birth Center if that makes this correct), orthopedics, cancer care, and more. By bringing together a wide variety of disciplines with a focus on prevention and improved quality of life, we make it easy to find care for any lifestyle.
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs):
HMO
CalPERS
Covered California:
Medicare Advantage:
*Please note that hospital and medical group clinics may accept different health insurance plans. To ensure your insurance is accepted at your preferred location, we recommend contacting your health insurance provider directly to confirm coverage.
333 Mercy Avenue, Merced, CA
At a glance:
Two locations serving Merced and surrounding areas
At a glance:
Three locations serving Merced and surrounding areas
At a glance:
3850 G Street, Merced, CA
At a glance:
To make the most of your choices during open enrollment, it’s important to understand what your choices are and what effect these choices have on the health care you and your family will receive in the coming year. We can help.
Open Enrollment is a time of year when you can sign up for health insurance. Additionally, you may qualify to enroll if you have a qualifying life event, like losing coverage through your employer.
Open Enrollment dates depend on the type of insurance. These are the dates to enroll for coverage in 2022:
One type of health insurance is not better than the other, but there are differences. With an HMO plan, you will choose a Primary Care Provider (PCP) who will coordinate any specialty care you may need. Services are all provided through physicians and facilities in the health plan's HMO network. With a PPO, you may also choose a PCP, but you will not need a referral to see another physician. It will usually cost less to see in-network physicians than out-of-network physicians. Whether you are considering an HMO or a PPO, you can determine which doctors, medical groups, hospitals, etc. are in the network before you enroll.
A primary care physician (PCP) helps you manage your health. Common services include regular physical exams, prescribing medications, treating minor illness and injuries, managing chronic conditions, and screening for common health problems.
Should you need specialized care, your primary care physician can expertly guide your next steps and connect you to the right specialist. There are five main types of primary care physicians: family medicine doctors for the whole family; internal medicine-pediatric doctors for preventing and treating diseases; pediatricians who specialize in children; internal medicine doctors who care for adults; and OB-GYNs for adult women.
Choosing and building a relationship with one of these doctors can help you live a healthy lifestyle based on your individual needs.
Dignity Health is not a health insurance company. Dignity Health is a provider network of more than 60,000 caregivers and staff who deliver excellent care to diverse communities in hospitals, physician offices, and other types of care centers in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is the fifth largest health system in the nation and the largest hospital provider in California.
It's a good idea to confirm your doctor and your hospital of choice are covered by your new insurance for the upcoming year by checking the insurance website or calling your insurance carrier directly. Do not assume your physician is covered without checking first. Doctors and hospitals may periodically change the insurance plans they accept.
Whether you purchased coverage during Open Enrollment in the last year or two, or you began coverage due to a qualifying event in between Open Enrollment periods, it's a good idea to assess your coverage each year. The Open Enrollment period, which generally begins in November and runs through January, is the only time you can make a change unless you have a qualifying event, such as getting married, moving, or having a child. The health plan options available in your area can change each Open Enrollment. By taking the time to shop around, you may find a carrier or plan that will cost less each month or less when you access services.
*Benefits among health plans and employers vary. Please refer to your health insurance information for details and descriptions of your benefits coverage.
