Program Overview

How CCPU Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program Works 

The CCPU Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program, also known as CCPU Health, was created to assist eligible child care providers in reducing or eliminating their health care costs by helping to pay for their medical health insurance plan’s monthly premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.

In 2022, Child Care Providers United (CCPU) successfully advocated for $100 million from the state of California to support this program. CCPU Health is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by CCPU and has representation from SEIU Local 521, SEIU Local 99 and the United Domestic Workers/AFSCME Local 3930.

What are the Benefits?

We designed our Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program to help you save money. This program is specifically tailored to work alongside your medical insurance plan to reduce the cost of your out-of-pocket health care expenses and ease the financial burden of your health care costs.

Our program not only helps you pay for your medical insurance plan’s monthly premiums but also assists with out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and prescription costs for services covered by your approved medical insurance plan.

We encourage you to take advantage of our Health Care Reimbursement Program and start saving money today.

Please note that if you have a QHP (qualifying health plan), you will only fall into one of the below categories at a given time. Navigate through the cards below to learn more about the benefits that could apply to you depending on the QHP type you may have.

Covered California

For providers enrolled in Covered California, the Fund will reimburse 100% of your (Provider-Only) medical insurance premium and cover up to $9,450 per year in medical plan expenses. This includes reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical and pharmacy expenses, such as copays, deductibles and coinsurance. 

Fund benefits are only available if you are enrolled in a Silver-level HMO plan.  

If you have a second job that offers medical insurance, you must be enrolled in that plan to receive Fund benefits. You will not be eligible for Fund benefits if you enroll in Covered California. If you have access to an employer plan as a dependent through your spouse, you can enroll in either the employer plan or a qualified Covered California plan and receive Fund benefits. 

*If no HMO plans are available in your California zip code, the lowestcost EPO/PPO option is a qualified health insurance plan. 

Employer Sponsored

For providers who have a second job that offers employer-sponsored medical insurance, the Fund will reimburse your medical insurance premium up to $100 per month and cover up to $9,450 per year in health plan expenses.  

If you have a second job that offers medical insurance, you must be enrolled in that plan to receive Fund benefits. You will not be eligible for Fund benefits if you enroll in Covered California. If you have access to an employer plan as a dependent through your spouse, you can enroll in either the employer plan or a qualified Covered California plan and receive Fund benefits.  

Medicare

If you are enrolled in Medicare, CCPU Health will cover up to $9,450 per year in eligible medical plan expenses. This includes reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical and pharmacy expenses, such as copays, deductibles and coinsurance. Medicare expenses also include reimbursement of Medicare Part B premiums up to $174.80  per month and Medicare Part D premiums up to $50 per month. 

Medi-Cal

For providers who are enrolled in Medi-Cal, CCPU Health will cover $100 per month for permissible health care expenses. Permissible health care expenses include many over-the-counter medications, acupuncture, physical therapy, wheelchairs, and more. For more guidance on expenses that may be eligible under this plan, please see the Permissible Expense Guidance

This benefit is different from other qualified health plans because Medi-Cal often pays 100% of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.  

The permissible health care expense benefit is only available to providers who are enrolled in Medi-Cal. It is not available to providers who are enrolled in one of the other qualified medical insurance plans. 

Medi-Medi

If you are enrolled in both Medi-Cal and Medicare, CCPU Health will cover $100 per month for permissible health care expenses. Permissible health care expenses include many over-the-counter medications, acupuncture, physical therapy, wheelchairs, and more. For more guidance on expenses that may be eligible under this plan, please see the Permissible Expense Guidance

You will also receive up to $9,450 per year in eligible health plan expenses. This includes reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical and pharmacy expenses, such as copays, deductibles and coinsurance. 

The permissible health care expense benefit is only available to providers who are enrolled in Medi-Cal. It is not available to providers who are enrolled in one of the other qualified medical insurance plans. 

Veterans Affairs

If you are enrolled in Veterans Affairs Health Care benefits, CCPU Health will cover up to $9,450 per year in eligible health plan expenses.  

Tricare

If you are enrolled in Tricare, reimbursement benefits differ by plan type. 

If you are enrolled in Tricare Prime, Tricare Select, Tricare Reserve Select and Tricare Retired Reserve, CCPU Health will reimburse your medical insurance premium up to $100 per month and cover up to $9,450 per year in health plan expenses. 

If you are enrolled in Tricare for Life, CCPU Health will reimburse your Medicare Part B premium up to $174.80 per month. 

What are the Eligibility Criteria?

Quarter 1 2 3 4
Initial Eligibility Review Period for 3 of 6 Months of Work with a Subsidized Child April 2023 - September 2023 July 2023 - December 2023 October 2023 - March 2024 January 2024 - June 2024
Application Deadline March 31, 2024 June 30, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2024
Benefit Eligibility Period January 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024 April 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024 July 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024 October 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Ongoing Eligibility Review Period for 1 of 3 Months of Work with a Subsidized Child July 2023 - September 2023 October 2023 - December 2023 January 2024 - March 2024 April 2024 - June 2024

The CCPU Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program is available to providers who meet all of the following:

  1. You must be a child care provider who is paid for work with a subsidized child (that is, a child whose family receives government aid to pay for child care). If you don’t know if you’re working with a subsidized child, that is okay; we can look into that for you.
  2. You must be enrolled in a qualified medical insurance plan. If you’re not currently enrolled, that is okay! We can help you enroll in one.
  3. And you must complete and submit a CCPU Health Care Reimbursement Program application!

Subsidized Child Work Requirements    

To start, you must be paid for work with a subsidized child. A subsidized child is a child for whom a family receives government-sponsored financial assistance expressly intended to pay for childcare 

For providers, this means their fee to care for a child is reimbursed in whole or in part through a government assistance program. The subsidy must come from a qualified state-funded program. Federal, local or county-funded assistance programs do not count toward qualifying for the benefit. 

Initial/Ongoing Eligibility  

The CCPU Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program is designed to ensure that our funds are used to support providers who are actively serving subsidized children. To become eligible for CCPU Health benefits, you must work with a subsidized child for at least 3 months out of the last 6 months. Once you’re enrolled in the program, you must be paid for work with a subsidized child for at least 1 month out of every 3 months to continue being eligible for benefits.  

Multiple Providers on One License  

At this time, the CCPU Health Care Fund covers only one provider per license, on a “first come, first served” basis. That means the first provider listed on the license to apply and meet the eligibility requirements will be the only one eligible to enroll in the program. We understand that some providers may have multiple individuals listed on their license, and we’re working to expand the program to cover more providers in the future.  

Losing Coverage  

It’s important to note that following your initial eligibility period for the CCPU Health Care Reimbursement Program, you must maintain your status by continuing to care for subsidized children. Because we understand that the roster of children under your care may change and you may go months without a subsidized child under your care, this program will grant you one grace period spanning one quarter (3 months) per benefit year to allow time to continue your eligibility by obtaining new subsidized children. If you are unable to continue working with a subsidized child by month 4, you will no longer be eligible for the program and your benefits will end. To regain eligibility, you must meet the initial eligibility requirements again.  

Losing CCPU Health Care Fund benefits does not mean that you are losing your medical insurance coverage. However, at the end of your grace period quarter, your debit card will be turned off, and you will be responsible for paying your own premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.  

We understand that circumstances may change, and we want to ensure that you’re aware of the requirements to remain eligible for the program. If you have any questions or concerns about maintaining your eligibility or accessing the CCPU Health Care Fund benefit, our dedicated customer service team is available to assist you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at (833) 714-6028 or send an email to [email protected].   

Enroll in a Qualified Medical Insurance Plan 

To be eligible for the CCPU Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program, a provider must be enrolled in a qualified medical insurance plan that maximizes the federal assistance available to them.  

If you are currently uninsured, there’s no need to worry. You can still become eligible for the CCPU Health Care Fund benefit by enrolling in a qualified medical insurance plan. To get started, click here to access a website that includes a list of agents specifically trained to help you enroll in a plan that meets your needs.  

If you require additional assistance or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact CCPU Customer Service at (833) 714-6028 or send an email to [email protected] 

How to Apply

Submit your application today. You can apply online or by downloading a printable form. Downloadable forms are available in English, Spanish and Chinese. Please note that applying online will allow for faster processing. 

Completing the application requires just a few simple steps: 

  • Step 1: Complete your personal information 
  • Step 2: Fill out information about your current medical insurance plan 
  • Step 3: Upload your proof of coverage documents. For guidance on ensuring your Proof of Coverage is accepted, please visit the Acceptable Documentation tab of the Resources page. 
  • Step 4: Review your information and submit 

Reimbursements

As a participant in the CCPU Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program, you will receive a VISA debit card to pay for your provider-only monthly premiums and covered out-of-pocket medical expenses. This card is issued by Bancorp Bank and will be mailed to you within 7-10 business days following your acceptance into the program. To activate your card, you will need to use the last four digits of your CCPU Health Care Fund ID. With this card, you can easily pay for your eligible medical expenses without worrying about upfront costs 

If you prefer paper, we also offer the option to fill out a paper reimbursement form for your convenience. Simply download the form, complete it, and submit it to [email protected] with the required documentation.  

While we encourage the use of the VISA debit card for its ease of use and convenience, we understand that some participants may prefer the traditional paper method. That’s why we provide this alternative option to ensure that our program is accessible and convenient for everyone.  

If you need assistance with the reimbursement process, our team is always available to assist you.  

Debit Card

Providers with approved and qualified medical health plans can use this debit card for monthly premiums (see exceptions below), out-of-pocket expenses and permissible health expenses, when applicable. These expenses include the deductible on your approved medical health plan, copayments and coinsurance expenses, including covered prescriptions. 

Exceptions: 

  • If you are on Medi-Cal or both Medi-Cal and Medicare, also known as a Medi-Medi Plan, you are not eligible for premium reimbursement. 
  • If your family is included on your medical insurance policy, you may still use the debit card for out-of-pocket expenses, but not for premium payments. You will need to submit a Request for Reimbursement Form to [email protected] for payment of your individual premium. 

Your CCPU Health care debit card works like a regular debit card, except:  

  • You can only use it for covered medical expenses based on your health plan. 
  • You can’t use your card at an ATM or to get cash back when making a purchase. 
  • You will not receive monthly bills, and there is no interest to pay. 

Reimbursement Portal

The CCPU Health Care Fund Reimbursement Program provides a convenient online reimbursement portal for eligible providers to submit their health care expenses. Through the portal, providers can manage their reimbursement account and see their account activity, including the status of their claims. They can submit their reimbursement manually and receive payment through direct deposit or check. The portal is user-friendly and accessible, making it easy for providers to manage their health care expenses and receive timely reimbursements.  

To login to the CCPU Health Portal, please follow the instructions below:  

  1. Go to the CCPU Health Portal. 
  1. Enter your login ID and password. 
  1. Click Login. 
  1. Click on Reimbursement button. (Note: This button will only display for Providers who have been approved.) 

Once you have logged in, you can submit your eligible health care expenses for reimbursement. You can also manage your reimbursement account and view your account activity on the portal. If you encounter any issues logging in, please contact CCPU Health Customer Service at (833) 714-6028 or email [email protected].  

Please click here to access our consumer portal QuickStart Guide.