CVT 101

Healthcare Benefits for the Education Community is all we do.

We call this CVT 101 because it reviews the basics that you may want to know about us. We cover eligibility, CVT administration, the vast array of plans we offer and who our provider-partners are.

Because delivering healthcare and related benefits to the education community is our only business, we can focus on providing the highest quality benefits possible at the most affordable costs to our school Districts/Chapters and our participants.

For more information about CVT offerings and about joining CVT contact:

Anthony Pulliam
Business Development Representative
AnthonyP@CVTrust.org
1-800-288-9870 x104

Eligibility
Benefit Offerings
Value-added Services
FAQs

Is your District/Chapter Eligible to Join CVT?

CVT welcomes all California public school Districts and Chapters who are grades K-14 and meet our eligibility requirements, which are:

  • Certificated and Classified employees of a District may only participate in the plans offered by the Trust if they are affiliated with a recognized and organized labor union who bargains on their behalf.
  • Management/Confidential employees, Superintendent and Trustees may participate in plans offered by the Trust, as long as at least one represented group from a District participates in the Trust.

Benefit Offerings

Medical Plans

CVT offers a wide variety of choices in benefit design and premiums with 15 PPO plans, 5 EPO plans, 11 Kaiser Permanente HMO plans and 4 Blue Shield and Anthem HMO plans from which to choose. Each unit (Certificated, Classified, Management and the Board of Trustees) independently may choose which plans best meet the needs of their unit/group. From there, employees can then choose which plan best suits their needs from among those offered for their respective unit. The health and pharmacy plans may not be offered separately.

Dental Plans

CVT offers dental coverage utilizing the Delta Dental network of providers. There are many different options available, which allow a group to choose the benefits which best meet the needs of the group. A unit may select one standard incentive plan and one dental PPO plan.

Vision Plans

CVT offers vision coverage utilizing the Vision Service Plan (VSP) network of providers. There are many different options available, which allow a group to choose the benefits which best meet the needs of the group. One vision plan may be selected. Plans differ by frequency of benefits and co-pays. Retail expansion includes services at Costco.

Group Term Life Insurance and AD&D

CVT offers group term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and accelerated death benefit insurance through MetLife. The plans must be paid by the District/Chapter for active employees only. There are various levels of coverage, and additional supplemental insurance is available at discounted group rates.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Beacon Health Options EAP is provided at no additional cost to groups who join CVT for medical and pharmacy coverage. A group may purchase EAP as a separate benefit if they do not choose CVT for their medical coverage.

For more information click on the links below:

Healthcare Plans
Pharmacy Plans
Dental Benefits
Vision Benefits
Life Insurance Benefits
Employee Assistance

Value-added Services

CVT offers the following services at little or no cost to Districts or Chapters:

  • COBRA Administration
  • Self Paid Retiree Administration
  • MyCVT on-line benefit enrollment and eligibility management system for districts and members
  • Health Savings Account Administration
  • Health Programs including support for PPO members with common chronic or rare health conditions, discount hearing aid program, employee assistance program, diabetes prevention program, medical decision support and much more.
  • Telehealth Services - 24/7 access to medical and a behavioral health network including psychiatrists and psychologist services for most PPO (non-Medicare) members.
  • Fit for Life Wellbeing Program (e.g., complimentary district-wide onsite flu shots, biometric screenings, health fairs)

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who is eligible to participate in the Trust?
    • Participation in California's Valued Trust (CVT) is open to California public schools, grades K - 14 who meet our eligibility requirements.

      Certificated and Classified employees of a District/Chapter may only participate in the plans offered by the Trust if they are affiliated with a recognized and organized labor union who bargains on their behalf.

      Management/Confidential employees, Superintendents and Trustees may participate in the plans offered by the Trust as long as at least one represented group from a District/Chapter participates in the Trust.

  2. What are CVT's entry and exit requirements?
    • CVT requires a minimum 45 day advanced written notification by a jointly executed letter from the District in order to join the Trust. CVT then offers single year contracts. There are no time commitments to remain in the program other than the one year contract commitment at each renewal.

      A District/Chapter must notify CVT in writing no later than August 10th for an October 1st contract termination. This is the only time available to request a withdrawal from the Trust.

  3. Who is California Valued Trust and how is the Trust administered?
    • Founded in 1984, CVT is a Jointly Managed Trust (JMT) and has always specialized in healthcare benefits for the education community. A JMT, commonly known as a voluntary employee's beneficiary association, is an organization of employees and employers who work together to purchase healthcare benefits. Trusts are tax-exempt, and are governed by a Board of Trustees with equal representation of labor and management that contracts with health providers to design health plans to meet the needs of their members. Our not-for-profit status allows us to direct monies to the maximum benefit of our members. CVT spends 98 cents of every premium dollar collected on healthcare for our members.

      CVT is headquartered in Fresno, CA and directly employs 37 full-time staff. The Trust also employs the services of a consulting and actuarial firm, legal counsel, accounting firm, independent auditor, investment consulting firm and a third party administrator. All professionals have had many years of experience providing services to jointly managed trusts. These professionals are employed under agreements entered into with the Trust, which set forth services to be provided and fees to be paid for services rendered with no commissions paid by the Trust.

  4. What fees are associated with the program?
    • CVT's premium rates are not loaded to pay for any broker commissions or fees.

  5. How are financial decisions made with regard to underwriting, reserve levels, renewal increases and plan options to ensure the long term viability of the program?
    • CVT uses Mercer Consulting Group to evaluate the Trust each year and make recommendations to our Board of Trustees who ultimately have the deciding vote on PPO rates and any plan modifications. Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California HMO plans are offered as an option through the Trust. However, the carriers evaluate and set the rates for these HMO plans. 

  6. Is there a run-out liability with CVT?
    • CVT provides financial security with fully funded reserves, avoiding contingent liability including claim run-outs. With CVT there is no financial obligation beyond the contract period.

  7. Who is CVT's Board of Trustees?
    • The Trust is governed by twelve Board of Trustees, appointed by and equally representative of management and labor. The Labor Trustees are represented by 3 Certificated (CTA) and 3 Classified (CSEA). The remaining 6 Trustee positions are Management representatives. All Management Trustees have one collective vote and all Labor Trustees have one collective vote on the Board. In order for any action to be adopted, both parties must agree.

  8. Is the Trust program fully insured or self-insured?
    • All CVT PPO plans are self-insured or "self-funded" and all HMO plans are fully-insured.

  9. How are incoming District/Chapters groups rated?
    • A group is evaluated for CVT PPO plans by Mercer Consulting Group, an outside acturarial firm, and is based on the group's demographics and experience, if available. HMO plan rates are provided by Kaiser Permanente HMO, Anthem Blue Cross HMO or Blue Shield of California HMO if applicable.

  10. When will a participating unit receive their renewal package?
    • Historically rate renewals are released in May for an October 1 effective date.

  11. What is the effective date of the Trust? Do all groups in the program renew on this date or is there flexibility with an individual District/Chapter 's effective date?
    • The effective date is October 1st and all participating units must renew with CVT on this date.

  12. Is there any group specific reporting (utilization) released during the year? Are loss runs and claims data specific to a member district available to each member upon request?
    • CVT does not provide experience reports to our member districts. Because our rates are based on the Trust as a whole, individual district utilization information is not available.

  13. Can a District/Chapter customize their benefit plan design as it needs change?
    • CVT offers a wide variety of choices in benefit design and premiums with 15 PPO plans,  5 EPO plans, 11 Kaiser plans and 4 Blue Shield and Anthem HMO plans from which to choose. Each unit (Certificated, Classified, Management and the Board of Trustees) independently may choose which plans best meet the needs of their unit/group. From there, employees can then choose which plan best suits their needs from among those offered for their respective unit. The health and pharmacy plans may not be offered separately.

  14. What types of administrative services are provided? Are these included in the rates or provided at an additional charge?
    • CVT offers the following additional administrative services at no charge to the District/Chapter : COBRA, self-paid retiree benefit program, MyCVT online benefit and enrollment management system, health management programs, Health Savings Account administration and Fit for Life Wellbeing program (e.g. complimentary on-site flu shots and biometric screenings, health fairs and more). A dedicated CVT account manager and member services representative is assigned to your District/Chapter.

  15. What day-to-day service support is offered?
    • CVT has a toll-free line available which is answered Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except holidays) by a receptionist and forwarded to the requested person. An answering machine is available to leave messages after normal business hours. Members may also email CVT anytime, and our website www.cvtrust.org is a convenient way to access important links, phone numbers and other needed information at the member's convenience.

  16. What communications support is offered?
    • CVT offers a comprehensive website, quarterly member and district newsletters, health benefit guides and educational materials, important e-blast announcements to district management, chapter presidents, labor representatives and in-person annual open enrollment support. Informational staff meetings are available, if requested.

  17. Does CVT provide support at open enrollment as part of your services? Any online enrollment support?
    • Yes, CVT assigns a dedicated account manager and other CVT staff upon joining the Trust. These staff support the enrollment process, health fairs and benefit meetings when requested and facilitate District/Chapter and group changes. CVT also offers an on-demand eligibility, benefit enrollment and document sharing for Districts and Members with MyCVT, an online benefit employee enrollment and management system. This service is provided at no cost to the District or Member.