In this issue of BlueLinks eNews: |
 |
September 2009 Dear Business Partner: With the arrival of fall comes the busy open enrollment season. To help you prepare, you'll find in this issue of eNews the schedule for Fall 2009 Broker Training on plan and benefit updates. We also detail important changes to our product portfolio and pharmacy updates, effective January 1, 2010. In addition, we'll share with you changes to our non-group enrollment policy, and announce coverage for the H1N1 vaccine administration and the launch of the redesigned BlueLinks for Brokers website. We also remind you of the formation of new Sales and Services teams for accounts with 1-9 employees and the brokers who serve them. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to share them with your account executive. Sincerely, Larry Croes |
Save the Date: Fall 2009 Broker Training
Join us at a training/information session for the latest news about our industry and products. Please extend this invitation to others in your office who may benefit from this training.
Please select one of the five session locations and RSVP by Friday, October 16th, to brokertraining@bcbsma.com.
Sessions scheduled as follows:
| Quincy | Boston | Westborough | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Wednesday |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Wednesday Thursday |
Doubletree Hotel Thursday |
Holiday Inn Holyoke Friday |
Formal invitation to follow.
Product and Benefit Updates, Effective January 1, 2010
As part of our ongoing effort to offer affordable coverage choices, effective January 1, 2010, we are instituting changes to our standard plan designs and introducing new plan options. Please review the Product Portfolio and Benefit Design Updates brochure for a detailed overview of the changes.
As a reminder, we sometimes make benefit changes that take effect on account anniversaries across our product portfolio. We encourage you visit BlueLinks for Brokers and to use our online resources to get the most up-to-date information on all of our available plan designs. Simply go to the Products section of BlueLinks for Brokers for more detailed benefit summary information for all our plan options based on effective date.
If you have any questions about the plan changes or new plan options, please contact your account executive.
Pharmacy Coverage Changes, Effective January 1, 2010
As part of our efforts to slow rising health care costs and improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the health care our members receive, we have made several changes to our benefits for prescription medications under both our medical and pharmacy plans. Please be sure to review the Pharmacy Bulletin.
If you have any questions, please contact your account executive.
Non-Group Enrollment Policy Modifications
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is modifying our policy on enrollment effective dates for individuals enrolling in any of our under-age-65 health plans. The current policy allows individual coverage to become effective on either the 1st or the 15th of the month.
Beginning September 26, 2009, coverage for individuals who apply for enrollment directly with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will be able to have any day of the month as an effective date following 30 days after the receipt of the application. For example:
| Applications Received On: | Effective Enrollment Date: |
|
September 29th (30 calendar days month) |
October 28th or later |
|
October 6th (31 calendar days month) |
November 4th or later |
|
February 15th (28 calendar days month) |
March 16th or later |
If you have any questions about this change, please contact your account executive.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Extends Coverage for the H1N1 Vaccine
The H1N1 flu virus continues to be a serious public health concern. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to prepare for the H1N1 flu. We understand that employers play a key role in protecting the health and safety of our health plan members. For this reason, we have joined the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its 39 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies in making a collective effort to support state and local initiatives aimed at limiting the spread of the H1N1 flu virus. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will provide coverage for the administration of the H1N1 vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost for the member, regardless of plan type or benefit design.
We are in the process of sending communications to employers and direct-pay members notifying them of this important benefit. Please visit BlueLinks for Brokers for more information.
Coming in September... A Redesigned BlueLinks for Brokers Website
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will be unveiling a redesigned BlueLinks for Brokers website. The new design features the same reliable access to important tools and information in a more streamlined user-friendly layout. There will be no interruption or impact to existing tools with this release. For more information, please contact your account executive.
1099-HC Services for Administrative Service Contract Accounts
As you probably know, Massachusetts has minimum creditable coverage (MCC) standards that health plans must meet so that residents can satisfy the mandate that they have health insurance. If the medical benefits that administrative service contract accounts (ASC) purchase through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts satisfy MCC requirements, we will issue 1099-HC statements to subscribers enrolled in the plan indicating coverage was in compliance with MCC requirements.
If the medical benefits ASC accounts purchase through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts do not satisfy MCC requirements because they opt to exclude certain benefits, but offer additional coverage for these benefits through another carrier, the combined benefits package may meet MCC standards.
ASC accounts should consult with their own advisor, such as legal counsel, who may be able to confirm that the health plan is MCC-compliant if the combined benefits package meets MCC requirements. If an ASC account believes its total benefit offering meets MCC, the account may provide us with a Plan Sponsor Attestation form attesting that their benefits meet MCC. Note that to meet MCC standards, subscribers cannot have the option of opting out of the additional benefits. Completed Plan Sponsor Attestation forms must be returned to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts by November 1, 2009.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will provide 1099-HC services on behalf of the plan sponsor contingent upon receipt of the authorized Plan Sponsor Attestation.
If the medical benefits ASC accounts purchase through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts do not satisfy MCC requirements because they opt to exclude certain benefits and additional coverage is not provided through another carrier, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will issue a 1099-HC statement to subscribers enrolled in the plan indicating coverage did not meet MCC requirements and instructing the subscriber to contact the employer.
If ASC accounts do not want Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to issue a 1099-HC statement to employees, they should notify Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts no later than November 1, 2009.
If you have any questions, please contact your account executive.
New Dedicated Sales and Service Teams
We are pleased to announce the creation of two new teams dedicated to the needs of accounts with 1-9 employees and the brokers who support them. The Inside Sales Team is led by Gloria Paradiso, a 14-year veteran of the health care industry. Gloria and a team of experienced account executives are available to assist you with all account management and renewal inquiries. The Inside Sales Team is also supported by a dedicated Inside Service team.
These new teams enable us to provide you with superior service and make it even easier for you to conduct your business with us. Contact information for the Inside Sales and Service Teams are listed below:
Inside Sales:
1-888-723-4840, press option 2
insidesales@bcbsma.com
Inside Service:
1-888-723-4840, press option 1
insideservice@bcbsma.com
If the above links are not functioning in your email, copy and paste the URLs listed below into a browser window:
Product Portfolio and Benefit Design Updates brochure
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/09-2009/product-portfolio.pdf
Pharmacy Bulletin
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/pdf/enews/09-2009/pharmacy-bulletin.pdf
BlueLinks for Brokers
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/
Products section of BlueLinks for Brokers
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/products/
H1N1 flu information on BlueLinks for Brokers
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/news-updates/special-announcements/h1n1-flu-updates.html
 |
2009 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. |