In this issue of BlueLinks eNews: |
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October 2009 Dear Business Partner: This October edition of eNews includes updates, reminders, and announcements to keep you informed about the changes at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Below you'll find a reminder about the Fall 2009 Broker Training schedule—a must-attend event for brokers looking to stay current on our products and services. We also share what's new at Indigo Insurance Services, and announce enhancements to BlueQuote. This month's BlueLinks also includes changes to Medicare standard plan designs and information on a data breach at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to share them with your account executive. Sincerely, Larry Croes |
Indigo™ Insurance Services News
Incentive Trip to Laguna Niguel, CA
There's still time! You can earn an all-expenses paid trip to beautiful Laguna Niguel, California.
Get the details
Mid Term Disability—A New Coverage Option
A new option for employers without disability coverage, Mid Term Disability offers solid value and costs 25–30% less than Long Term Disability. Learn more
Indigo Partners with the Massachusetts Biotech Council (MBC)
The MBC has selected Indigo as its preferred vendor—this means preferred life and disability pricing for MBC companies. Call your account executive now for more information.
Help Your Clients Save 4% on Ancillary Coverage
Bundle your ancillary and dental coverage and save 4% on Dental Blue®. Learn more
Did You Know You Can Self-Calculate Rates for Groups of 2–9?
Available 24/7, Indigo offers you the tools for quick and easy quoting. Start quoting now
There's less than a week to go before the kick-off of our Fall 2009 Broker Training season. Broker training is the best way to learn about the range of health and dental plans offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Please see the invitation for details.
We are pleased to announce new enhancements to BlueQuote that make this secure, real-time account management application even more efficient and user-friendly.
Summary of Benefits PDFs
When reviewing or finalizing a renewal transaction, you can now easily view or download the Summary of Benefits for each plan simply by clicking on the associated PDF.
Benefit Description on Renewal Rate Exhibits
Effective with your January 2010 renewals, the renewal rate exhibit will now include high-level benefit descriptions (e.g., office visit, Rx, and ER copayments; deductibles; etc.) for each medical plan. In addition, the descriptions will immediately appear for all custom-created proposals.
Look for future communications as we continue to make enhancements to BlueQuote. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact your account executive or our dedicated BlueLinks for Brokers Help Desk at 1-888-514-BLUE (2583).
We wanted to let you know of a change in procedure regarding enrollment forms. When an account submits an enrollment form with missing information, our enrollment team will now be contacting the account directly for the missing information. Accounts will receive an email from EnrollmentApplications@bcbsma.com requesting the information.
In the past, Enrollment would contact sales and we would call or email the account on their behalf to gather the missing information.
Having Enrollment contact the account directly is more expedient, and will provide the account with faster and more effective service with the enrollment process.
If you have any questions about this new procedure, please contact your Account Service Team.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Data Breach
As you may be aware, some of our providers' information was contained on a stolen Blue Cross Blue Shield Association employee's laptop. At this time, we have no evidence this information has been accessed or misused. We have notified the affected providers and are supporting them by offering guidance and free credit monitoring.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts values the trust our business partners place in us and regrets that this incident occurred. Maintaining the security of the data belonging to our providers, members, and business partners is our top priority. We take appropriate steps to ensure information is exchanged through a secure process in compliance with federal and state law, including the use of a secure data transmission process and encryption technology.
The data on the stolen laptop included provider names, addresses, tax identification numbers (which in many cases is also the provider's Social Security number), and national provider identifier numbers of individual physicians. It is important to note that the data did not include any protected health information (PHI) or member information. We are taking immediate steps at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, as well as working with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (where this incident occurred), to increase security measures for protecting confidential information. We are always working to evolve our practices to provide the safest possible environment for our providers and our members.
We would like to reiterate how much we appreciate the trust you and our members place in us, and are available to answer any questions you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact your account executive if you have any questions or concerns.
Medicare Plan Changes, Effective January 1, 2010
Effective January 1, 2010, employer/union-sponsors and retirees can expect significant changes to their Medicare Advantage plans and minor changes to Medicare prescription drug plans. Our Medigap plan options will continue to be offered without modifications in 2010. We encourage you to work closely with your employer/union sponsor clients to determine the appropriateness of plan renewals. See below for an overview of the plan changes.
Medicare Advantage Changes
- Medicare HMO BlueSM coverage changes and premium increases estimated at 55% on average
- Blue Medicare PFFSSM plan cancellations, effective December 31, 2009
- New Medicare PPO BlueSM standard medical plan design similar to Blue Care Elect PreferredSM 90 with Copayments
Members will begin receiving related information as early as October 31, 2009 in accordance with federal requirements.
Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs)
- Blue MedicareRxSM coverage changes include annual updates to the standard Part D coverage gap and catastrophic coverage threshold amounts
- Plan options remain the same for 2010 except for annual updates to all four-tier plan options to match those plans offered in the non-group segment
Members will begin to receive renewal information in late November/early December.
View the fact sheets below for plan-specific details.
Blue Medicare PFFS Plan Cancellation Fact Sheet
If the above links are not functioning in your email, copy and paste the URLs listed below into a browser window:
Fall 2009 Broker Training Invite
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/10-2009/fall-2009-broker-training-invite.pdf
BlueQuote
http://www.bluecrossma.com/redirect/broker/blue-quote.html
Incentive Trip to Laguna Niguel, CA
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/10-2009/indigo-incentive-trip.pdf
Mid Term Disability—A New Coverage Option
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/10-2009/indigo-midterm-disability.pdf
Indigo Insurance - Brokers & Consultants
http://www.indigo-insurance.com/brokers/index.html
Indigo Insurance - Quote Calculator
http://www.indigo-insurance.com/quote-calc/indigo-quote.html
Medicare HMO Blue Fact Sheet
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/10-2009/medicare-hmo-blue-fact-sheet.pdf
Blue Medicare PFFS Plan Cancellation Fact Sheet
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/10-2009/medicare-pffs-cancellation-fact-sheet.pdf
Medicare PPO Blue Fact Sheet
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/10-2009/medicare-ppo-blue-fact-sheet.pdf
Blue MedicareRx Fact Sheet
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/10-2009/medicare-rx-fact-sheet.pdf
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2009 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. |