Whole Health Coaching Workshop: Featured Webinar

Memory & Focus: Tools for a Thriving Mind

This virtual session explores how your brain creates memories, maintains focus, and adapts over time.

What Members Will Learn:

• Lifestyle and environmental factors that influence cognitive function
• Practical strategies to support cognitive health and mental performance
• Techniques that enhance memory, focus, and overall mental well-being

Webinar Details:
Thursday, June 25 | 5 pm – 6 pm | Virtual via Zoom

Register Now.

Weekend Virtual Class

Meal Prep with Chef Leslie: A Week of Easy, Fiber-Forward Meals

Members will learn simple, quick recipes that help you get ahead, without spending hours in the kitchen. Plus, one lucky participant will be entered into a raffle to win a set of stainless-steel mixing bowls and a vegetable chopper.

Class Details:
Sunday, June 7 | 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm | Virtual via Zoom

Register Now.

Loss & Healing

This compassionate, therapist‑led group offers a safe space to process grief or loss, connect with others, and learn gentle coping tools to support healing and resilience. Register for each session individually. Space is limited to 10 participants.

Program Dates: May 6 – June 10 from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: Kearny Mesa Resource Center

Register Now.

Beyond Burnout

Live Well San Diego Partner Event

Beyond Burnout: Focusing on Well-Being in a High-Performance Culture

This free networking event is focused on leadership and well-being. Join us to explore practical tools and connect with peers. Participants will:

• Learn how well-being supports decision making, creativity, and resilience
• Gain practical skills to support teams through career alignment & strengths-based work design
• Build meaningful connections through guided dialogue and collaborative activities

Speakers include:
Robert Cappuccio, Coaching and Cultural Development Consultant, CalVEBA
Loretta Turner, Founder & Chief Well-Being Strategist, Do Good Leadership Collective

Space is limited. Refreshments will be provided.

Event Details:
June 17 | 9 am – 12 pm
Location: Kearny Mesa Resource Center

Register Now.

Stay Active & Win Prizes All Summer Long

Take a class. Mark Your Card. Submit to Win!
June 15 – August 9

Play like traditional Bingo. Mark off your squares as you complete activities offered in person or virtually through the Resource Center.

How it Works:
Download or pick up your Bingo card at the front desk of any resource center. No registration required.

Participants can submit their Bingo card:

• Once during each raffle period at the front desk
• Or by emailing a photo of your Bingo card to [email protected]

Raffles will be held every two weeks with four opportunities to win!

Raffle Entry deadlines:
June 29
July 13
July 27
August 10

*Limit one prize per participant

Learn More

Optum Dedicated Consultants

Support is just a conversation away. Optum Emotional Wellbeing Solutions offers confidential counseling and guidance to help members navigate stress, life changes, and everyday challenges.

What’s Included:

• Confidential counseling for CalVEBA members and dependents ages 18+
• Up to five counseling visits per topic with licensed mental health professionals
• Appointments available Monday through Friday, 10 am – 7 pm
• Virtual sessions or in‑person visits at the Carlsbad, Chula Vista, and Kearny Mesa Resource Centers
• Get started by visiting LiveAndWorkWell.com (access code: VEBA) or call 888‑625‑4809

Learn More.

Thursday, August 20, 2026
Town and Country Resort, San Diego

This annual meeting brings together CalVEBA leadership and district partners to share updates for the upcoming plan year.

Additional details and invitations to follow.

For general eligibility questions or help finding an in-network mental health professional, contact The Advocacy Team at VEBAOnline.com/Contact/ or call 888-276-0250.

Therapy Through CalVEBA

Short-term support for mental health needs is also available through CalVEBA. A lifeline to you during moments of urgency, a licensed therapist can serve as your bridge between the professional care you need now, and the care provided by your health plan benefits. Therapy appointments are available virtually and in-person at the Kearny Mesa Resource Center.

Book an appointment here.

Optum Emotional Wellbeing Solutions (EWS)

In partnership with Optum Emotional Wellbeing Solutions (EWS), Dedicated Consultants are available virtually and in-person at the Carlsbad, Chula Vista, and Kearny Mesa Resource Centers. Get support with issues like stress, relationship conflicts, work-life balance, communication strategies, and more.

To explore the benefits of this service, watch this program overview video. Want to get started? Visit the Optum Employee Portal to make an account and schedule an appointment.

Available for CalVEBA members and their dependents age 18+.

For additional Optum EWS resources, visit LiveAndWorkWell.com (access code: VEBA). Please note that you may experience longer wait times with this method.

Looking for alternative therapy appointments? Check out these options available:

• CalVEBA members enrolled in a Kaiser plan: For care or treatment of a mental health concern, call Kaiser Permanente at 800-464-4000 (8 am – 5:30 pm, Monday – Friday). No referral needed.
• CalVEBA members enrolled in a UHC plan: Sign in to your member account or call the number on your member ID card to determine eligibility for specific mental health care services.
• San Diego CalVEBA members enrolled in an Optum plan: Request a telehealth individual or group therapy appointment through Mindpath Health (formerly Psychiatric Centers at San Diego). Here’s how to access this benefit:
  • Get an authorization code: Call Optum at 888-625-4809.
  • Schedule your appointment: Call 619-528-4600 with your authorization code.

Mental Well-Being Benefits and Services

Inform your members about the range of mental well-being services and programs available to them, both virtually and in person, on our dedicated page. They can explore immediate support options, connections to in-network therapists, and short-term therapy solutions designed to help them navigate life’s challenges.

The California Schools VEBA Advocacy Team

What can The Advocacy Team help with?

• Claims Issues
• Authorization Issues
• Benefit Questions
• Access & Quality of Care Issues
• Prescription Issues

How do I contact?

• Call The Advocacy Team Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm at 888-276-0250 (Option 2).
• Submit an online contact form at VebaOnline.com/Contact/ to submit a request.
  • Important note: For urgent requests, please click the “Urgent” box located on the contact form. Inquiries typically receive a response within one business day of receipt.
• Districts or Employers may email The Advocacy Team at [email protected].
  • Please note: when inquiring on behalf of a CalVEBA member, include the member’s name, date of birth, social security number, phone number or email, and if we should reply to the district/employer or the member.

The California Schools VEBA Benefit Operations Team

What can The Benefit Operations Team help with?

• Enrollment Issues
• Plan Changes
• Eligibility Issues
• Inactive Coverage Issues
• Demographic Changes

How do I contact?

• Call The Benefit Operations Team at 888-276-0250 (Option 3).
• Email [email protected].
  • Please note: The Benefit Operations Team does not work directly with members. When inquiring on behalf of a CalVEBA member, include the member’s name, date of birth or social security number, phone number or email, and if we should reply to the district/employer or the member.

Have questions? You may always send your requests directly to your dedicated Account Manager.

To help clarify expectations, below is the anticipated turnaround time for eligibility requests. 

Urgent Requests

Requests should only be sent urgently if there is an immediate denial of access to care for medication or essential services due to medical necessity. A member’s enrollment will not be active in the carrier’s system immediately upon submission; however, they may still seek services and all claims can be resubmitted once eligibility has been updated.   

Urgent requests must include the following three items:  

1. “URGENT” in the subject  
2. The specific reason for the urgency  
3. Which plans are needed to be expedited (for example Medical, Prescription, Dental, and/or Vision)  

If the request does not include all these details, it cannot be prioritized. 

Reasons for urgency will be reviewed and if it does not fall within the requested parameters (immediate denial of access to care for medication or essential services due to medical necessity), it cannot be guaranteed that it will be processed urgently. 

If the submitted urgent request falls within all guidelines, the expected turnaround is one to two business days upon receipt, subject to business demands. 

Questions? Please email [email protected].

Open Enrollment Season Operations Timeline

CalVEBA Eligibility Process Turnaround: five to seven business days upon receipt, subject to business demands. 

• Once a district request is completed, a ticket closure confirmation email is sent. 
• Each Friday: eligibility changes are transmitted to carriers for processing. 

Carrier System Updates Reflected: two to four business days  

• Digital ID cards should be available upon enrollment by the carrier.
• All ID cards are digital this year. 
• For inquiries about requesting physical ID cards, please contact the carrier directly. Click here for the list of carrier contacts.

Total Turnaround Timeline: 10-15 business days after enrollment is submitted to CalVEBA by the district before benefits are active with the carrier.   

Please share this waiting period with your members so they understand when they can expect to appear active with the carrier.