CalCPA Health Coverage Options: A Deep Dive into Plan Variety and HSA Leadership (Part 2 of 3)

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Via an Interview with Ron Lang (CEO of CalCPA Health), By Phil Calhoun (CEO of California Broker Media)

CalCPA Health Coverage Options: A Deep Dive into Plan Variety and HSA Leadership (Part 2 of 3)

In the second installment of our in-depth look at CalCPA Health, CEO Ron Lang discusses the breadth of coverage options available to California’s CPA and financial professional firms. This part of the interview explores the organization’s philosophy on plan design, its industry-leading approach to Health Savings Account (HSA) plans, and how CalCPA Health’s flexibility and integration set the plans and support as a leader in the competitive group health market for many businesses in the financial services industries.

A Broad Spectrum of Plans: Choice and Customization

CalCPA Health offers an exceptionally wide range of medical plans with about 40 in total. The plans span from Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs), Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), and an extensive suite of HSA-eligible high-deductible health plans. This variety is designed intentionally to meet the diverse needs of small and mid-sized firms that often have employees with different healthcare preferences and financial situations.

While some national insurers may abruptly cancel plans and move members to new options, CalCPA Health takes a more measured approach. The organization is mindful about removing plans from the market and prefers to maintain continuity for its members, even as it regularly reviews and refines its offerings to avoid overwhelming employers and employees with too many choices.

HSA Plans: A Core Strength and Differentiator

One of the standout features of CalCPA Health is its strong emphasis on HSA-eligible plans. Roughly half of CalCPA Health’s insured population is enrolled in an HSA plan, a figure far above the national average of approximately 24 percent (and even higher compared to California’s average). This is no accident; as Lang explains, the CPA and financial professional audience is uniquely positioned to appreciate the tax advantages and long-term savings potential of HSAs.

Why HSAs Are So Popular with CalCPA Health Members

  • Tax and Savings Benefits: HSAs allow for pre-tax contributions, tax-free investment growth and tax-free distributions to cover qualified medical expenses. Unused funds roll over year-to-year, accumulating for future healthcare needs.
  • Financial Literacy: CalCPA Health’s clients, primarily CPAs and financial professionals, tend to understand and value these benefits, making them more likely to enroll and actively use HSAs as part of their overall financial planning.
  • Talent Attraction and Retention: Many firms use HSA plans as a recruitment and retention tool, offering employer contributions to HSAs outside of 401(k) plans and without running afoul of discrimination rules. This flexibility is highly valued by both owners and employees.

A Wide Range of HSA Plan Designs

CalCPA Health offers the largest selection of HSA-eligible plans in the state, starting at the federal minimum deductible and increasing in increments as high as $6,500. This allows firms and employees to select plans that match their risk tolerance and financial goals. Many members start with lower deductibles as they build up their HSA balances, then move to higher deductible plans as their comfort with the HSA model grows and balances in the account total more than the plan deductible.

Fully Integrated HSA Administration

CalCPA Health’s HSA plans are fully integrated with HealthEquity, streamlining administration for both employers and employees. Employees can pay providers directly from their HSA, reconcile debit card transactions, and manage their accounts online. Employers benefit from simplified processes for adding new hires, changing contribution amounts, or deleting HSA contributions, which reduce administrative burdens.

Other Plan Types: PPOs, EPOs, and HMOs

In addition to high-deductible PPO plans which are HSA eligible, CalCPA Health provides a full suite of traditional PPO plans, which offer flexibility to see any provider but with cost savings for using in-network doctors and hospitals. EPO plans are also available, providing in-network-only coverage without the requirement for primary care physician referrals, which isa popular choice for firms that want simplicity without the restrictions of an HMO.

For those who prefer the predictability and coordinated care of an HMO, CalCPA Health partners with Anthem Blue Cross to offer HMO and Select HMO plans. These plans require members to choose a primary care physician and obtain referrals for specialty care, but they offer no-claims paperwork for in-network services and comprehensive coverage, including mental health and substance abuse services.

Mix-and-Match Flexibility and Kaiser Integration

One of CalCPA Health’s unique features is its willingness to allow firms to “mix and match” plan types. Employers can offer any combination of copay, HSA, and Anthem Blue Cross HMO plans, tailoring benefits to the needs of their workforce. Furthermore, CalCPA Health will write plans alongside Kaiser Permanente, accommodating employees who prefer to stay with Kaiser without imposing participation requirements, as long as adverse selection is avoided. This flexibility is rare among group health providers and demonstrates CalCPA Health’s commitment to meeting member needs.

Network Strength and Member Experience

All CalCPA Health plans leverage the Anthem Blue Cross provider network—the largest in California—ensuring broad access to doctors, specialists, and hospitals. Members also benefit from value-added services like LiveHealth Online, which provides telemedicine and online mental health visits, and a single point of administration for medical, dental, vision, life, and disability plans.

Conclusion

CalCPA Health’s approach to plan design is rooted in flexibility, member education, and a deep understanding of its professional audience. By offering a broad spectrum of PPO, EPO, HMO, and especially HSA-eligible plans, with fully integrated administration and unmatched customization, CalCPA Health empowers CPA and financial services firms to provide high-quality, cost-effective benefits that attract and retain top talent. In the final part of this series, we’ll examine the value-added services, wellness programs, and future trends shaping CalCPA Health’s ongoing evolution.

https://calcpahealth.com/about-group-insurance-trust-calcpa-health/

https://calcpahealth.com/shop-for-a-plan/medical-plans/

https://calcpahealth.com/pdf/Plan_Brochure/2025_CalCPA_Health_Plan_Brochure.pdf

Part 3 Coming Next Month

CalCPA Health Coverage Options: A Deep Dive into Plan Variety and HSA Leadership (Part 2 of 3)

Via Interview with Ron Lang By Phil Calhoun

https://issuu.com/articles/112224906

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CalCPA Health: 66 Years of Service & Stability for California’s Financial Professionals

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Via an Interview with Ron Lang, By Phil Calhoun

As CalCPA Health celebrates its 66th anniversary, its story stands as a testament to the power of community-driven solutions in the often-turbulent world of health insurance. In this first installment of a three-part series, California Broker Media CEO Phil Calhoun sat down with Ron Lang, CEO of CalCPA Health, to explore the unique structure, mission, and value CalCPA Health brings to California’s financial professionals. This article also incorporates insights from industry sources and regulatory data to provide a broader context.

A Unique Legacy Born From Necessity

CalCPA Health was founded in 1959 by the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA) to address a persistent problem: small employers, especially in financial services, had difficulty obtaining and maintaining health insurance. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses have historically faced higher premiums and fewer choices than larger employers, due in part to limited bargaining power and risk pools (SBA, 2023). Ron Lang, who has led CalCPA Health for 13 years, explained, “Not very many businesses make it 66 years, especially in the health insurance business where we’ve had the government trying to put us out of business for the last years.

So, it’s quite an accomplishment.” The organization’s model was to pool together small firms—often with fewer than 100 employees, and sometimes just three or four partners and staff—to create the critical mass needed for large employer-style benefits and rate stability. Lang emphasized, “The whole idea behind CalCPA Health was to bring together a large volume of these smaller firms, to create critical mass to be able to provide them with large employer-style benefits and spread that risk out to provide rate stability and a really large group product to these small employers. And it’s worked for decades, obviously, we’re still around.”

Not-for-Profit and Standalone: A Different Kind of Carrier

Unlike many association health plans, CalCPA Health is a licensed, admitted, not-for-profit insurance carrier domiciled in California. This distinction is significant. While association health plans have drawn scrutiny from regulators for sometimes lacking transparency or sufficient consumer protections (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022), CalCPA Health operates under strict state oversight. Lang clarified, “We are an insurance carrier. We’re domiciled in the state of California, we’re licensed, we’re an admitted carrier. Although we are married to the CalCPA, the society, we are a standalone entity. We’re a not-for-profit. So, our loss ratios and things are much better than what the national commercial insurance companies put out there.” This not-for-profit status allows CalCPA Health to focus on long-term rate stability and value-added services, rather than maximizing shareholder returns. “We’ve been able to offer long-term rate stability, products that are tailored to the industry, and a lot of additional value adds—what we call non-premium value adds—to the mix. We give a good value proposition to these employers,” Lang said.

Leveraging Anthem’s Network for Nationwide Access

A key feature of CalCPA Health’s offering is its partnership with Anthem, one of the largest provider networks in the country. According to the California Department of Managed Health Care, broad network access is a top priority for employers and employees alike (DMHC, 2024).

Lang explained, “We rent Anthem’s large group provider network, and there’s a couple reasons for that. One is that we wanted to give the best access to our members to providers in the state of California and nationally, because a lot of firms are domiciled here but have employees scattered around the country. That provides us with that national network.” He added that this arrangement also streamlines the member experience: “When they walk in with our logo and the Anthem logo on that card, the doctor immediately knows how to get access to the benefits and if there’s authorizations or deductibles. That’s all immediately accessible to the docs because we’ve partnered with Anthem.” This partnership has been in place since at least the late 1960s, giving CalCPA Health members reliable access to care for decades.

Plan Design and Transparent Underwriting

CalCPA Health designs and rates its plans internally, using in-house actuaries and external consultants. This is a departure from many association plans, which often rely on external carriers for plan design and pricing. “We design and rate the plans from scratch ourselves. We have in-house actuaries and then we have an actuarial consulting firm to sign off on things. So, we create the plans, design the benefits, and then we do the ratings on all of our plans,” Lang said. Membership eligibility is broad, encompassing not only CPAs but also a range of financial professionals, including wealth managers and insurance agencies. For partnerships and S-corps, at least half the ownership must be CalCPA members; for publicly traded companies, the executive teams qualify.

“Our data has shown that people tend to go to the doctor around their home rather than necessarily their place of work”.

On the underwriting side, CalCPA Health has always been 100 percent community rated, even before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) required it. Community rating, as defined by the ACA, means that premiums are not based on an individual group’s health status but rather on broader risk pools, promoting fairness and stability (Healthcare.gov, 2024). Lang noted, “Whether it’s a large group or small group, we community rate across the entire book of business and we’ve always had to file all of our rates with the Department of Insurance. It’s all very transparent as far as what our rates are.”

CalCPA Health also rates employees based on their home zip code, which often results in more competitive rates. “Our data has shown that people tend to go to the doctor around their home rather than necessarily their place of work. By rating at the employee zip code, we’re segmenting better and it tends to make us a little bit more competitive,” Lang shared.

Rate Stability: A Key Value

CalCPA Health’s record of rate stability is especially important for small businesses. According to a 2023 survey by the National Federation of Independent Business, unpredictable health insurance costs remain a top concern for small employers. Lang explained, “The last time we were in double digits was coming out of the Affordable Care Act when we had total chaos. Over the last eight or nine years, if you add up each of the increases, we come out below four percent over that period of time.”

He continued, “If you’re running a business, particularly a small business, and you get hit with a 15 or 20 percent rate increase, I’m just not sure how you run your business while you’re doing that. For most of these financial services and CPA firms, their health plan costs are usually higher than IT, higher than rent. The only cost that’s more than that is salaries. So, it’s a big number.”

Looking Ahead

As CalCPA Health continues its mission, its not-for-profit model, transparent practices, and commitment to member value remain its guiding principles. In the next installment of this three-part series, Ron Lang will discuss the evolving challenges facing California’s financial professionals and how CalCPA Health is adapting to meet those needs in a changing healthcare environment.

Part 2 Coming Next Month

CalCPA Health: 66 Years of Service & Stability for California’s Financial Professionals

Via Interview with Ron Lang By Phil Calhoun

https://issuu.com/articles/105432896

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How Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Impacts Health Savings Accounts

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Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), passed on July 4, 2025, initially promised significant changes to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). However, the final version of the legislation contained modest updates to HSA policy. Current HSA holders get to keep what they have, but significant reforms such as extending eligibility to those on Medicare or relaxing contribution restrictions, were abandoned in negotiations. Instead, the bill primarily focuses on restructuring Medicaid and welfare programs, implementing work mandates, and providing tax credits tied to families and newborn savings accounts.

Health Saving Accounts were thought to have a larger presence in the bill that would have placed HSAs as a centerpiece of healthcare funding and provided areas for growth by softening regulations of who can contribute, such as those on Medicare Part A.  Without eligibility expansion, HSAs remain mostly unchanged, and tax-advantaged growth remains limited to current users.

Here’s a breakdown of what changes OBBB brings to HSA plans:

  • If you are enrolled in a Bronze or Catastrophic ACA plan, you are now eligible to contribute to HSAs starting January 1, 2026.
  • HSA funds can be used for Direct Primary Care (DPC) arrangements. DPCs typically follow the model of a monthly fee, which covers office visits prior to meeting the HDHP deductible. With OBBB, these monthly fees now fall under qualified HSA expenses if they do not exceed $150/month for an individual or $300/month for families.
  • First-dollar coverage for telehealth services no longer disqualifies HSA status, which allows plans to provide low or no-cost telehealth services before satisfying your deductible if you are enrolled in a qualified HDHP without using your HSA contributions.

HSAs remain a useful tool for eligible taxpayers and serve as a tax-savings vehicle.

Triple Tax Advantage

  • Pre-tax Contributions – Money goes in tax-free, reducing your taxable income
  • Tax-free Growth – Funds grow tax-deferred through interest and/or investments (no capital gains)
  • Tax-Free Withdrawals – As long as funds are used for qualified medical expenses, withdrawals are tax-free

Saving for the Future

  • You can invest your HSA balance (once you hit a threshold set by your carrier, allowing it to grow like a retirement account)
  • Can be used in retirement tax-free for medical expenses, or after age 65, for any reason (income taxes apply only if not used for qualifying healthcare expenses)

HSA funds roll over year-to-year, and don’t have a use-it-or-lose-it rule like Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Additionally, you can use your HSA funds for a wide range of expenses, including copays, prescriptions, dental and vision care, mental health services, and certain over-the-counter items (such as pain relievers, allergy medications, and first-aid supplies). Lastly, you OWN your HSA – it stays with you if you change jobs or retire. You control how and when it is used, allowing you to learn how they work and ensure you make the most out of the account.

While the “One Big Beautiful Bill” fell short of delivering the HSA expansion many had hoped for, it did make some notable improvements. It’s clear that Health Savings Accounts remain one of the most innovative tools for managing healthcare costs, both now and in the future. In today’s uncertain and costly healthcare environment, understanding and maximizing your HSA is essential.  For those enrolled in an HSA, remember, it isn’t just a spending account — it’s a strategy.

Posted by CalCPA Health | July 2025

 

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2023 Health Savings Accounts Limits Are Released By The IRS

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The IRS has released the contribution limits for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for 2023 and the numbers are significantly higher than in prior years, as you can see from the chart below. Knowing these numbers will help employers prepare for open enrollment and think about their contribution levels as well as help employees understand the benefits of contributing to their HSAs.

Tax Year Individual Coverage Limit Family Coverage Limit
2023 $3,850 $7,750
2022 $3,650 $7,300
2021 $3,600 $7,200
At age 55, members are allowed to contribute and additional $1,000 

What is a HSA? It is a tax-advantaged account, paired with a high-deductible health insurance plan (HDHP), that allows you to save pre-tax dollars for future qualified medical expenses. You can invest the funds in the HSA account tax-free and grow your savings. You own the account, it travels with you if you change jobs, change your health plan, or retire.

 

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Don’t Forget the Sunblock

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May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a good time to learn about skin cancer and to understand just how serious this condition is. Each year over 5 million cases are diagnosed in the United States alone. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer.  There are different types of skin cancer:

With summer just around the corner, you may find yourself spending more time outside. One thing to do before leaving your house each day, not just during the summer months, is to apply sunblock. Sunscreen is extremely important in protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. It also aids in helping your skin from premature skin aging such as age spots and wrinkles. Also, seeing a dermatologist once a year can help in early detection of skin cancer. Prior to seeing a dermatologist, you can perform a self-exam and be prepared to show the doctor any unusual or changed moles or spots on your body. 

Sunblock is one way to help protect your skin, but there are other ways such as wearing a hat, a long sleeve shirt and pants, sunglasses, and staying in the shade. It is also key to reapply sunblock throughout the day, especially if you are in the water. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause most skin cancers. The UV rays are the strongest between 10 am to 4 pm, so during those hours, you want to make sure you protect yourself.  

By taking precautions, you are helping protect yourself and your family from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Make it a point to learn about skin cancer and how to help prevent it – this will allow you to go outside and enjoy the fresh air safely!

 

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What is Mental Health Month

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Since 1949, the month of May has been recognized as “Mental Health Month”. It was established to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder. At that time, many people didn’t talk about how they were feeling and suffered alone. Help wasn’t readily available due to the lack of knowledge about such illnesses. Over the decades, mental health doctors and researchers have learned about the many faces of mental illness and how to help those struggling.

Stats show that in 2019, nearly 50 million or 19.86% of adults in America experience a mental illness. (Source) The past two years of the pandemic resulted in a new level of stress and anxiety into our lives, creating a growing number of both adults and youth suffering from major depression. Read more

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Early Warning Signs of Mental Illness

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Mental Health Month was established in 1949 to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Mental health was never truly understood in early times, thus the reason people tried to hide their feelings and emotions so not to be judged and criticized by those around them. They didn’t have the tools and the knowledge to understand that mental health was an illness.

Times have changed and mental health is a conversation around the world with tools and treatment plans available to help those struggling with mental illness. Mental Health America (MHA) has the B4Stage4 Philosophy that everyone should take a moment to understand. The point is made that we do not wait years to treat cancer, diabetes, or other serious conditions and that when symptoms are first experienced, typically you are trying to get treatment right away. MHA notes that people should be paying attention to early warning signs of mental illness such as loss of sleep, feeling tired for no reason, feeling down or anxious, and other such symptoms. Read more

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Mental Health Awareness Month

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The month of May is Mental Health Month, and it is a good time to learn about mental health conditions and where to find treatment.

Living through the past two years of the pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of millions of Americans. We may notice a change in our own moods and emotions or recognize a change in our loved ones. Mental health encompasses our emotional and social well-being and ultimately effects how we feel, think and act daily. It can interrupt how we make decisions, perform at work, interact with others, and our ability to handle stress. Read more

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Mental Health and Young Children

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Mental Health Month was established in 1949 to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Today, doctors and researchers have gained knowledge of the many layers of mental illness conditions and have developed different methods to help those suffering. Many of the conditions will not improve without the proper channel of help from a medical professional and with the help of family and friends.

The pandemic has taken a toll on people of all ages, but one age group of concern is young children. Many children are developing mental health conditions, and since they are young, it may be difficult for them to express their feelings. Knowing the symptoms of mental health conditions will help us to identify the issue(s) and seek out the right help: Read more

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A Note To Our Members Regarding Dignity Health

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GOOD NEWS: Anthem Blue Cross announced it has reached a new agreement with Dignity Health (Dignity) for all commercial products and networks including HMO, PPO and EPO. This agreement returns Dignity facilities to Anthem health plans, while protecting affordability for consumers. This agreement is retroactive to July 15, 2021, which means any care provided to CalCPA Health medical subscribers since that date, will be considered in-network.

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