Health Care Security Ordinance
Administrative Guidance

A. HCSO Overview
B. Covered Employers
C. Covered Employees
D. Calculating Required Health Care Expenditures
E. Making Required Health Care Expenditures
F. Revocable & Irrevocable Health Care Expenditures
G. Contributing to the SF City Option
H. Employer Notice-Posting Requirement

I. Employer Recordkeeping Requirements
J. Employer Reporting Requirements
K. Health Surcharges
L. Retaliation Prohibited
M. Filing a Complaint
N. Penalties
O. HCSO and the Affordable Care Act
 

1. Q: What do my employees receive if I contribute to the SF City Option program on their behalf? 
2. Q: Are SF City Option contributions irrevocable? 
3. Q: Are there any special notice requirements for employers that contribute to the SF City Option? 
4. Q: How do I obtain more information about the SF City Option? 

1. Q: What do my employees receive if I contribute to the SF City Option program on their behalf?

A: The SF City Option program allows you to contribute to the City’s public benefit program on behalf of your employees.

Based on their eligibility, your employees will be offered one of three health benefits through SF City Option:

• SF Covered Medical Reimbursement Account (SF Covered MRA) - The employer’s contribution goes towards a benefit that subsidizes the employee's health insurance obtained through Covered California. Employees can obtain reimbursements from their SF Covered MRAs for their health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs, as well as a full range of medical, dental, and vision expenses.
• Healthy San Francisco – If an employee is eligible for Healthy San Francisco (HSF), the employer’s payment may be applied towards the employee’s HSF enrollment, and the employee may receive a discount on Healthy San Francisco program participation fees. To be eligible for HSF, the employee must live in San Francisco, must be uninsured, and must not qualify for public health insurance programs (such as Medi-Cal).
• SF Medical Reimbursement Accounts (SF MRA) – The employer’s contribution is deposited in an irrevocable reimbursement account. Employees can obtain reimbursements from their SF MRAs for a full range of medical, dental, and vision expenses, including reimbursements for the cost of insurance premiums.

Updated February 21, 2018

 

2. Q: Are SF City Option contributions irrevocable?

A: Yes, contributions to the SF City Option never return to the employer and are therefore irrevocable.

Updated February  21, 2018

 

3. Q: Are there any special notice requirements for employers that contribute to the SF City Option?

A: Yes. A Covered Employer that satisfies its obligation to make the Required Health Care Expenditures by making payment to SF City Option must provide its Covered Employees with an Employee Health Care Payment Confirmation, which is available in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Tagalog.

Updated February  21, 2018

4. Q: How do I obtain more information about the SF City Option?

A: Please visit the SF City Option website.

Employers may also contact SF City Option Program Management at employerservices@sfcityoption.org  or (415) 615-4492.

Employees may contact the SF City Option at (415) 615-4555 or info@sfcityoption.org.

Updated February  21, 2018

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