Kern Legacy Health Plan | A Legacy of Good Health | Fall 2020

In order to sustain health care as part of our total compensation package, we will continue to pursue health care innovations; high- quality care; and options to keep our contributions, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums from rising any more than absolutely neces- sary. However, that means making changes in other areas—policies, eligibility, networks, plan offerings, etc. Next year is no exception. It is more important than ever for you to be committed to your own personal health, understand and utilize the benefits and re- sources available to you as a Kern County employee, and select the best option for your and your family’s needs for 2021. Things to know... Saving money is a goal many of us are working to achieve, but when it comes to health plans, there’s more to consider than just the cost. Evaluate your needs. Here are some important questions to ask yourself. How often do you seek medical ser- vices or fill prescriptions? If you’re only accessing preventive services throughout the year, a plan with a lower premium but higher out-of-pocket cost as you access non-preventive services may provide you with the coverage you need and save you money. Do you receive your medical care in Kern County? The larger the network, the higher the cost of the plan. If you’re on a plan with a nationwide network but all of your doctors are local, it might be time to look at a plan with an exclusive network. Are you considering changing to a new health plan for the 2021 plan year? Some plans have an exclusive provider network, and if your doctor is not in the net- work, you will need to be willing to transition your care to an in-network provider. FALL 2020 K ern L egacy H ealth P lans 3 Your PCP is key to better health 4 How to stay positive during the pandemic Inside  H E A LT H C A R E U P DAT E Open enrollment 2021 Kern County has been committed to delivering competitive and meaningful health benefits for you and your family. Over the years, we’ve had to adapt our health care strategy to manage rising costs, adhere to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and ad- dress health concerns that affect more and more of our members. For more information about your health plans, visit www.kerncountyhealthbenefits.com . The Centers for Medicare & Medic- aid Services projects that health care spending in the U.S. will continue to grow faster than the economy, at an average of 5.5% per year over the next decade—increasing from $3.5 trillion in 2017 to $6 trillion by 2027. Even with rising costs in 2019 and 2020, Kern County still covers 80% of the health care cost, while the em- ployees’ share is 20%. In 2020, health care cost for Kern County will exceed $125 million. October 16 through November 13, 2020 Number of active employees and dependents covered by Kern County Health Plans Percent of the health care cost covered in 2020 20 % ACTIVE EMPLOYEES 80 % KERN COUNTY 20,217 Kern County’s projected health care cost for 2020 $125 MILLION