What You Need to Know
Learn what's changing for next year and view 2023 COBRA premiums. Questions? Contact PayPal’s COBRA Administrator YBR at 844-474-6641.
Say hello to Accolade, your new personal health care assistant
PayPal is introducing a new health care navigation and advocacy service: Accolade.
As an active COBRA plan participant, Accolade Health Assistants will work with you to help you understand your benefit plan options, schedule appointments, resolve claim issues, assist with prescriptions, and navigate your health benefits. With Accolade, you also have access to virtual health care providers and expert medical opinion services.
View your COBRA benefits in one place with the Accolade member portal and mobile app. Have a question? You can easily message a Health Assistant right from the member portal or mobile app. Personalized health and benefits guidance from your Accolade Health Assistant is completely confidential and free to use. Accolade doesn’t change your medical benefits; it makes them better.
Starting January 1, 2023, the Accolade full suite of services begins
Accolade will be your first place to turn to whenever you have a health benefits question, big or small. Your Accolade Health Assistant will take the time to get to know you and understand your needs.
Starting January 1, 2023, your Health Assistant can help with questions like:
- Can you help me find a great doctor?
- I need help scheduling an appointment.
- Is there a more affordable medication?
- I was just diagnosed with a condition. What's next?
- Can you help me prepare for my next doctor’s visit?
- I don’t understand my medical bill.
Your Health Assistant can even connect you to a nurse who can help you understand symptoms, learn about a condition, or explore treatment options. This service is completely confidential and provided at no cost to you.
Virtual care through Accolade Care
You’ll have access to Accolade Care, allowing you to see doctors and therapists by phone or computer — day or night. Get support for urgent care needs, including the flu, a sore throat, or an infection, or virtually see the same doctor or therapist for ongoing care needs, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Virtual care can be used for many of the same reasons you would visit a doctor in person, such as for prescriptions, mental health, or sleep problems.
Your cost for virtual care services is based on your medical plan’s coverage for office visits.
Note: Accolade Care is not available to Kaiser medical plan members.
Expert medical opinion through 2nd.MD
If you’re ever feeling unsure about a diagnosis or treatment plan, Accolade will arrange for you to speak with a leading specialist at no cost.
Activate your Accolade account
The Accolade member portal and mobile app puts everything in one place. Visit member.accolade.com, or download the Accolade mobile app on the App Store or Google Play to activate your account today. You can call or message your Health Assistant or nurse directly from the mobile app.
Introducing Meritain Health, an Aetna company, replacing UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
We regularly evaluate our plans and providers to ensure we continue to offer comprehensive, affordable health care coverage. As we compared the UHC and Aetna provider networks, we found that Aetna had a stronger network presence where our employees are located, providing you with more options. As a result, starting January 1, 2023, all PPO and CDHP plan participants will be covered under Meritain Health, an Aetna company, in the Aetna provider network.
You can search for in-network providers, or activate your Accolade Account to search. Additional questions? Call or message your Accolade Health Assistant through the member portal or mobile app.
We know transitioning to a new health plan can be a big change. Transition of care provides new Meritain members the option to request extended coverage from your current provider at in-network rates for a limited time due to a specific medical condition until the transfer to an in-network provider can be arranged. While over 99% of UHC providers are in the Aetna network, transition of care support is available through Accolade.
If you have questions about what services require precertification, or transitioning your care in 2023, call Accolade at 866-406-1338 or message your Health Assistant. Your Accolade Health Assistant is always your first line of support for any health care questions. See below for an update on your member ID card as a result of this carrier change.
Your 2023 medical plan options
With Accolade and Meritain Health, you’ll receive similar health benefits to UHC, with the added bonus of the Accolade health care navigation and advocacy service.
Plan name change
PayPal will continue to offer two national medical plan options:
- Meritain Copay Plan (formerly the $300 Deductible plan)
- Meritain Consumer Directed Health Plan (CDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA)
Prescription drug coverage will continue to be provided through CVS Caremark insurance for both plans.
Deductible and out-of-pocket limit updates
For the new Meritain Copay Plan, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums will change, as illustrated in the chart below. The Meritain CDHP with HSA plan deductible and out-of-pocket limits will remain the same.
| Meritain Copay Plan* (Aetna Network) In-Network | Meritain CDHP with HSA (Aetna Network) In-Network | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual deductible | $500 Individual $1,200 Family | $1,500 Individual $3,000 Family |
| Out-of-pocket maximum | $3,000 Individual $6,000 Family | $3,500 Individual $7,000 Family |
* Formerly the $300 Deductible Plan
View the medical plan summaries of benefits and coverage (SBCs) to compare in- and out-of-network costs, and learn more about terms to know to better understand your medical plan.
Medical plan ID cards
If you enroll in one of the Meritain medical plans, you’ll receive a new medical card with all the information you’ll need to access your benefits. ID cards are scheduled to be sent after the Annual Enrollment period ends and should arrive at your home address by the end of December. Starting January 1, 2023, digital cards will be available in the Accolade member portal and mobile app.
CVS MinuteClinic services
With the new medical plan options, you’ll have access to all covered CVS MinuteClinic services at no or low cost. CVS MinuteClinic is a walk-in clinic inside select CVS Pharmacy® and Target stores and is the largest provider of retail health care in the United States — with over 1,100 locations in 33 states and the District of Columbia. MinuteClinics offer both walk-in and scheduled appointment options. MinuteClinic health care providers can treat a variety of illnesses, injuries, and conditions. They can also write prescriptions, when medically appropriate.
2023 COBRA premiums
View the 2023 COBRA premiums for health care coverage.
After you enroll
After you enroll, you’ll receive a confirmation statement that lists your benefit choices. Be sure to review it, and contact YBR as soon as possible if anything is incorrect.
If you don’t take action…
If you’re enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare medical plan and you don’t take action, you’ll default to the new Meritain Copay Plan (replaces the $300 Deductible plan) or the new CDHP with HSA plan through Meritain (replaces the Consumer Directed Health Plan (CDHP) with HSA). Your current dependent coverage will carry forward.
Qualified life event
If you experience a qualified life event (as defined by the IRS), such as getting married or divorced, having or adopting a child, or gaining or losing coverage, you must make changes to your benefits within 30 days by visiting Your Benefits Resources (YBR).