California Schools VEBA
California Schools VEBA is a 501(c)(9) non-profit trust founded in 1993 that pools the health care purchasing power of nearly 160,000 members across 70+ public-sector employers in Southern California to deliver medical, dental, and vision benefits to education and municipal employees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What California Schools VEBA does
California Schools VEBA (CalVEBA) is a 501(c)(9) non-profit voluntary employees benefits association trust established in 1993 through a joint labor-management collaboration between the California Teachers Association (CTA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), and California school superintendents. The organization operates as a collective health care purchasing pool, leveraging the combined buying power of nearly 160,000 members across 70+ public sector employers — including school districts, county offices of education, municipal agencies, and public agencies throughout Southern California — to negotiate group health insurance rates and benefits that individual employers could not obtain independently. It is described as the fourth largest health care purchaser in California.
The core product portfolio includes VEBA Benefits (comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage), VEBA Direct HMO (a high-performance network built around local medical groups including Sharp, UCSD, and Rady Children's with UnitedHealthcare as third-party administrator), and the Journey Plan (a low-cost HMO featuring first-dollar coverage paired with a triple-tax-advantaged HealthInvest HRA). Members access benefits through the MyVEBA mobile app and web portal (with multi-factor authentication), the VEBA Advocacy Team, and the VEBA Resource Center — a physical well-being facility in Kearny Mesa offering classes, coaching, on-site therapy, and free childcare. The organization partners with major carriers including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, Delta Dental, EyeMed, VSP, and Express Scripts for plan administration, and integrates Teladoc, Optum, Kindbody, and Carrum Health for second-opinion, mental health, fertility, and surgical benefits.
VEBA's revenue model combines subscription/recurring health insurance premium collection with administrative services income, structured as annual billing with quote-based pricing tailored to each participating employer's size and plan selection. Distribution is sales-led and enterprise-oriented, with dedicated account managers serving organizations ranging from 5 employees to over 16,000 employees, supported by digital self-service through the MyVEBA platform and an advocacy team reachable via phone (888-276-0250). As a non-profit trust, VEBA is governed by a board with equal labor and management representation and reinvests operations for member benefit rather than generating shareholder returns.
California Schools VEBA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- California Schools VEBA
- Legal name
- California Schools Voluntary Employees Benefits Association
- Website
- https://vebaonline.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- California Schools VEBA is a 501(c)(9) non-profit trust founded in 1993 that pools the health care purchasing power of nearly 160,000 members across 70+ public-sector employers in Southern California to deliver medical, dental, and vision benefits to education and municipal employees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
California Schools VEBA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Group Health Benefits / Non-Profit Health Insurance Trust
- NAICS
- Health and Welfare Funds (52512)
- SIC
- Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Accident & Health Insurance (6321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vision Benefit Administration (VBA) / Vision TPA (ASO) (HLAEAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI)
Keywords
Where California Schools VEBA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
California Schools VEBA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Health Insurance Premium Revenue: VEBA operates as a 501c(9) non-profit trust that provides health benefits to members through negotiated group health insurance plans. The organization collects premiums from participating employers (school districts, municipal agencies, public agencies) to fund the health benefit pool, leveraging collective purchasing power to negotiate better rates and benefits.
- Administrative Services: VEBA provides administrative services including claims processing, advocacy support, member services, and benefit administration for participating employers. The organization maintains a large purchasing pool that ensures both long-term stability and comprehensive benefits for members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Customized group health benefits quote-based |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
California Schools VEBA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
California Schools VEBA (CalVEBA) is a 501(c)(9) non-profit trust that operates as a collective health care purchasing pool for public sector employers in Southern California. It negotiates and delivers group medical, dental, vision, mental health, and prescription drug benefit plans to nearly 160,000 members across 70+ participating school districts, municipal agencies, and public agencies. The organization also provides member advocacy, wellness resources, an HRA product, and digital self-service tools to administer these benefits.
Product overview
California Schools VEBA is a 501(c)(9) non-profit trust established in 1993 that operates as a joint labor-management health benefits association for education, municipal, and public agency employees. The organization serves as a health care purchasing pool for nearly 160,000 members across 70+ participating employers. The core product portfolio includes VEBA Benefits (comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans) and VEBA Direct HMO (high-performance network with local medical group partnerships). Digital access is provided through the MyVEBA Portal and MyVEBA Mobile App for on-demand benefits management. Additional offerings include the Journey Plan with HealthInvest HRA for cost-effective coverage with wealth-building components, the VEBA Resource Center for well-being programs, Teladoc Medical Experts for second opinions, and Optum Emotional Wellbeing Solutions for mental health support. The organization also provides price comparison tools and encrypted communications via Sophos. VEBA serves as the fourth largest health care purchaser in California, leveraging collective purchasing power to negotiate rates and provide innovative, value-based healthcare solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MyVEBA: A centralized mobile and web portal that allows members to access their health plan information, review plan options during Open Enrollment, contact the Advocacy Team, and access CalVEBA resources and class calendars.
- VEBA Direct
- Journey Plan
- VEBA Resource Center (VRC)
Products and services
- VEBA Benefits Comprehensive employer-sponsored group health benefit plans providing medical, dental, and vision coverage through a large collective purchasing pool, serving public sector organizations from 5 to 16,000+ employees with innovative plan designs focused on value-based healthcare purchasing.
- VEBA Direct HMO High-performance HMO health plan partnered with local medical groups including Rady Children's Health Network, Sharp Community Medical Group, Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, UCSD Health Network, and UCSD Medical Group, featuring primary care physician coordination and integrated healthcare delivery for VEBA members.
- Journey Plan Innovative low-cost HMO health plan offering first-dollar coverage for routine care (office visits, labs, prescriptions), an HRA through HealthInvest for wealth building, and deductible-based coverage for major medical events such as hospitalization.
- HealthInvest HRA Health Reimbursement Arrangement account offering triple tax advantage (FICA, Federal Income Tax, and California State Income Tax exemptions), portable across jobs, with annual rollover without use-it-or-lose-it restrictions, paired with the Journey Plan.
- VEBA Resource Center Well-being resource center offering free classes (acupuncture, yoga, healthy cooking), Care Navigation, Whole Health Coaching, on-site therapist sessions, and free childcare during on-site appointments at the Kearny Mesa, San Diego location.
- Carrier Partner Network Network of third-party insurance carriers including UnitedHealthcare (HMO and PPO), Cigna Healthcare HMO, Kaiser Permanente HMO, Delta Dental, Express Scripts, EyeMed, VSP, SIMNSA, and others providing member access to medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of VEBA members enrolled in high performance networks
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use California Schools VEBA
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
California Schools VEBA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
California Schools VEBA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
37 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UnitedHealthcare (UHC)coreUnitedHealthcare is a primary health insurance partner providing HMO and PPO plans to VEBA members. VEBA Direct uses UHC as their TPA. UHC manages the Journey Plan networks and provides administrative support through their member portal.
- Cigna Healthcare HMOcoreCigna provides HMO health plans to VEBA members with customer service available at 800-244-6224.
- Kaiser Permanente HMOcoreKaiser provides HMO health plans to VEBA members in Southern California with customer service at 800-464-4000.
- SIMNSA HMOminorSIMNSA provides HMO coverage for VEBA members, particularly for services near the California-Mexico border. They are required to follow California State law AB 72 for emergency/urgent care balance billing.
- UMR PPOcoreUMR serves as the third-party administrator for UHC PPO plans offered to VEBA members, providing claims administration and member services.
- Express ScriptscoreExpress Scripts manages prescription drug benefits for VEBA members with customer service at 800-918-8011.
- Delta Dental HMO/PPOcoreDelta Dental provides dental insurance coverage through both HMO and PPO plans for VEBA members.
- EyeMedcoreEyeMed provides vision benefits for VEBA members with customer service at 866-939-3633.
- VSP Vision CarecoreVSP provides vision care benefits for VEBA members with customer service at 800-877-7195.
- United Concordia DentalminorUnited Concordia provides dental insurance for VEBA members with customer service at 866-357-3304.
- Western DentalminorWestern Dental provides dental services for VEBA members with customer service at 800-992-3366.
- Optum Emotional WellbeingcoreOptum provides emotional well-being solutions including counseling services for VEBA members and their families at no cost. Access code: VEBA.
- Optum Health (Chiropractic/Acupuncture)coreOptum Health manages chiropractic and acupuncture benefits for UHC and Kaiser HMO plans with customer service at 800-428-6337.
- Teladoc Medical ExpertscoreTeladoc provides confidential second opinion services from world-renowned doctors at no cost to VEBA members for major illnesses or injuries.
- Carrum HealthminorCarrum Health provides services for UMR PPO plans with customer service at 888-855-7806.
- GallagherminorGallagher provides the HealthInvest HRA product for Journey Plan members with customer service at 800-702-0376.
- HealthInvest HRAcoreHealthInvest provides the Health Reimbursement Arrangement account for Journey Plan members, offering triple tax advantage and portable funds. Customer service at 844-342-5505.
- Kindbody Fertility SolutionsminorKindbody provides fertility solutions for VEBA members with customer service at 855-950-2053 (option 3).
- SurestminorSurest provides Out of Area Dependent plans for VEBA members with customer service at 866-683-6440.
- LIG SolutionsminorLIG Solutions provides no-cost consulting for VEBA members transitioning out of CalVEBA to explore Medicare, COBRA alternatives, and Individual & Family Plans. Licensed in all 50 states.
- Sharp Community Medical GroupcoreSharp Community Medical Group is one of the medical groups included in the VEBA Direct HMO network, providing primary and specialty care services.
- Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical GroupcoreSharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group is a medical group included in VEBA Direct HMO and Journey Plan networks, providing comprehensive healthcare services.
- UCSD Health NetworkcoreUCSD Health Network is a medical group included in the VEBA Direct HMO network, providing academic medical center services.
- UCSD Medical GroupcoreUCSD Medical Group is a medical group included in the VEBA Direct HMO network and Journey Plan SignatureValue Harmony network.
- Rady Children's Health NetworkcoreRady Children's Health Network is a medical group included in VEBA Direct HMO and Journey Plan SignatureValue CS VEBA Alliance networks, providing pediatric services.
- Optum Care Network (Journey Plan)coreOptum Care Network provides medical groups for Journey Plan including Optum Care (formerly HealthCare Partners), Optum Orange County, Arta Health, Monarch HealthCare, Southcoast, and associated physician networks.
- MemorialCare Medical GroupcoreMemorialCare Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC Harmony network.
- Beaver Medical GroupcoreBeaver Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC Harmony network.
- Greater Newport PhysicianscoreGreater Newport Physicians provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC CS VEBA Alliance network with locations in Long Beach, Orange Coast, and Saddleback.
- Edinger Medical GroupcoreEdinger Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC CS VEBA Alliance network.
- Lakeside Medical GroupcoreLakeside Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC CS VEBA Alliance network.
- Regal Medical GroupcoreRegal Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC CS VEBA Alliance network.
- Tri-Valley Medical GroupcoreTri-Valley Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC CS VEBA Alliance network.
- ScrippscoreScripps provides healthcare services through Journey Plan SignatureValue CS VEBA Alliance network.
- Mercy Physicians Medical GroupcoreMercy Physicians Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan SignatureValue CS VEBA Alliance network.
- Sharp-Palomar Health Medical GroupcoreSharp-Palomar Health Medical Group provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC Performance HMO network.
- Torrance Memorial IPAcoreTorrance Memorial IPA provides healthcare services through Journey Plan UHC CS VEBA Alliance network.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
California Schools VEBA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Anthem Blue Cross: Anthem Blue Cross is a major California health insurer competing for public-sector group accounts and serves similar employer customers through pooled and self-funded arrangements, overlapping with CalVEBA's market.
- Blue Shield of California: Blue Shield is a major California health plan that competes for public-sector group accounts and partners with similar pooled trusts. It is a broad incumbent in the same California group health benefits market as CalVEBA.
- UnitedHealthcare: UnitedHealthcare is CalVEBA's largest carrier partner (HMO/PPO/Journey Plan administrator) and a national incumbent competing directly for California public-sector group benefits business.
- Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente is one of CalVEBA's core carrier partners and also directly offers HMO plans to California public employers. It is a broader, vertically integrated incumbent operating across the same California market.
Direct peers
- CalPERS Health Program: CalPERS administers health benefits for California state and public agency employees through pooled purchasing across multiple carriers. It operates the same collective-purchasing health benefits model as CalVEBA, but at the state-employee level rather than K-12.
- Public Agency Risk Sharing Authority of California (PARSAC): PARSAC is a joint powers authority pooling risk and benefits for California public agencies. It mirrors CalVEBA's pooled, multi-employer structure and target customer base.
- Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC): SISC is a joint powers authority that provides self-funded health and welfare benefits to California school districts, using a pooled purchasing model nearly identical to CalVEBA. It is the closest direct competitor serving the same K-12 employer segment in California.
- Schools Excess Liability Fund (SELF): SELF is a California joint powers authority providing excess liability and risk-pooling coverage for school districts and public agencies. It is comparable to CalVEBA as a California K-12/public agency pooled risk and benefits entity.
- Valley Schools Employee Benefits Trust (VSEBT): VSEBT is a regional Arizona trust providing pooled health and welfare benefits to school districts. It uses the same labor-management pooled trust model as CalVEBA, serving a comparable K-12 employer base.
Emerging players
- Public Employees Benefits Alliance: PEBA is a pooled benefits cooperative for public agencies, with a structure and target market similar to CalVEBA. It overlaps in serving municipal and public agency employees with pooled health benefits.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
California Schools VEBA social profiles
Digital presenceCalifornia Schools VEBA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
California Schools VEBA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
California Schools VEBA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
California Schools VEBA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about California Schools VEBA
What does California Schools VEBA do?
California Schools VEBA (CalVEBA) is a 501(c)(9) non-profit trust that operates as a collective health care purchasing pool for public sector employers in Southern California. It negotiates and delivers group medical, dental, vision, mental health, and prescription drug benefit plans to nearly 160,000 members across 70+ participating school districts, municipal agencies, and public agencies. The organization also provides member advocacy, wellness resources, an HRA product, and digital self-service tools to administer these benefits.
Is California Schools VEBA a public or private company?
California Schools VEBA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was California Schools VEBA founded?
California Schools VEBA was founded in 1993. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is California Schools VEBA based?
California Schools VEBA is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does California Schools VEBA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Health Insurance Premium Revenue is the primary driver. The others are administrative Services.
Who are California Schools VEBA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente. Direct peers are CalPERS Health Program, Public Agency Risk Sharing Authority of California (PARSAC), Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC), Schools Excess Liability Fund (SELF) and Valley Schools Employee Benefits Trust (VSEBT). Public Employees Benefits Alliance is listed as an emerging player.
Does California Schools VEBA have an API?
No public API is recorded for California Schools VEBA.
What industry is California Schools VEBA in?
California Schools VEBA's product category is Group Health Benefits / Non-Profit Health Insurance Trust. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAEAJAI, Vision Benefit Administration (VBA) / Vision TPA (ASO), with a secondary code of HLAJALAI, Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health). Its NAICS code is 52512 and its SIC code is 6324.