GUIDE
Open Enrollment
Choosing your family’s health coverage for next year can be overwhelming. Families have many options to review and insurance plans can be confusing. CHOC makes the choice simple by offering everything your child could need, from expert pediatricians to nationally-ranked specialty care and everything in between.
Check for CHOC during Open Enrollment
Ensure your health insurance plan covers the right care for your child
Open enrollment is your once-a-year chance to review or update your family’s health coverage. When you choose a plan that includes CHOC, now part of Rady Children’s Health, you ensure your child continues to receive nationally ranked pediatric care, from routine checkups to advanced specialty treatment, all close to home in Orange County.
3 Steps to Check for CHOC
Choosing or updating your health plan does not have to be confusing. Follow these three steps to ensure CHOC care remains part of your coverage.
Step #1: Consider Your Needs
Reflect on what your family needed most last year to choose a plan that truly fits your child’s health needs.
Before renewing or selecting a plan, ask yourself:
- How often did we visit our pediatrician or specialists?
- Were there any coverage gaps or unexpected costs?
- What were our total healthcare expenses (premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket)?
- Did our plan meet both our budget and our family’s real health needs?
Step #2: Check for CHOC
Make sure your health plan includes Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
Three quick ways to check:
Explore the CHOC insurance directory.
You can check for coverage by reviewing our Health Plans and Insurance list. See which health plans, medical groups, and networks include CHOC. We accept many options, including HMOs, PPOs, Medi-Cal, and Covered California.
Search your insurance portal
Look for Children’s Hospital of Orange County in your plan’s provider directory.
Call your insurance company
Use the number on your card and ask if CHOC is in your network.
Step #3: Confirm your Coverage
After selecting your plan, take a final step to confirm that CHOC is covered. Seeing it listed as Children’s Hospital of Orange County is a good start, but you’ll want to ensure your plan covers the full range of care your child may need.
Your insurance provider or HR benefits coordinator can help clarify what’s covered, so there are no surprises later.
A World-Class Destination for Children’s Health
CHOC Hospital was named one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals in nine specialties by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.
Why choose CHOC?
Choosing a health plan that includes CHOC gives your child access to the only hospital in Orange County dedicated exclusively to kids. Now strengthened by our partnership with Rady Children’s Health, CHOC connects families to expert pediatricians, nationally ranked specialists and compassionate care teams who understand children best.
- Trusted primary care: Pediatricians who partner with parents from baby’s first check-up through their teen years.
- 24/7 access to emergency and urgent care: Pediatric-specific care designed just for children and families.
- Specialty care when it matters most: Nationally ranked programs in cardiology, orthopedics, cancer care, mental health and more.
- Family-centered approach: Care teams that support not just your child, but your whole family.
- National recognition: Ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
- Local leadership: The only dedicated pediatric hospital in Orange County.
- Proven partnership: Families across Southern California trust CHOC for everyday care and complex, life-saving treatments.
Questions to ask your insurance provider
Still unsure? If you’re speaking with your insurance provider, here are a few questions to ask:
- Does my chosen plan include CHOC in its network?
- Will my plan cover specialist care at CHOC?
- Are services like primary care, emergency visits and surgeries at CHOC covered?
- Are there any restrictions on which CHOC locations or doctors I can visit?
- Will I need a referral to see CHOC’s specialists?
Ask the right questions and make sure CHOC is in your plan, so your child gets world-class care when they need it most. Whether you’re sticking with your current plan or switching to a new one, choose a plan that includes CHOC and feel confident knowing your child’s health is in the best hands.
Find a CHOC Primary Care Pediatrician
From babies to teens, pediatricians from CHOC’s Primary Care Network partner with parents to offer immunizations, sick visits, sports physicals and more.
More resources for parents
The guidance on this page has been clinically reviewed by CHOC pediatric experts.
For more health and wellness resources from the pediatric experts at CHOC:
Sign up for the Kids Health newsletter.
The contents of this webpage, including text, graphics, audio files, and videos (“Materials”), are for your general information only. The Materials are not intended to substitute qualified professional or medical advice, diagnoses, or treatments. CHOC does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, or other information that may be mentioned on or linked to this webpage. Always call your physician or another qualified health provider if you have any questions or problems. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the nearest emergency department, or call 911.
For more health information for your family visit health.choc.org
