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Welcome
November 2008
Dear Business Partner:
Our third quarter financial results are in: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts continues to perform strongly, even in difficult economic times. As always, you play a vital role in our success, and we thank you for the investment you and your colleagues have made in our relationship.
In this issue of BlueLinksSM eNews, you'll read about a recent amendment to minimum creditable coverage law, and about the product and benefit updates, effective January 1, 2009. This issue also includes a reminder about the advantages of employing our stop-loss coverage options.
With Medicare open enrollment right around the corner, we provide you with links to our Medicare resources, including our Medicare Guidebook. Also, you may have heard about recent changes to Medicare Secondary Payer guidelines; we provide you with information about our proactive approach to dealing with these modifications. Finally, you'll read the latest news from Indigo Insurance Services, LLC, including a fantastic incentive for proficient brokers.
If you have any ideas or concerns, please feel free to share them with your account executive.
Sincerely,
Carlos Cubia
Vice President
Sales Division
In this issue of BlueLinks eNews:
- Third Quarter 2008 Earnings Announcement
- Amendment to Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC)
- MCC Updates to Dental Blue® Summaries
- Express Scripts Inc. Security Breach
- Globe Spotlight on Health Care Cost and Quality
- Product and Benefit Updates for January 1, 2009
- Benefit Clarification for HMO Plans
- One Stop Shopping for Stop-Loss Coverage
- Medicare Guidebook
- Medicare Secondary Payer Guidelines
- Indigo
Third Quarter 2008 Earnings Announcement
Today we reported our third quarter 2008 financial results. We could not have achieved these results in today's competitive environment without your ongoing dedication and support. We appreciate the opportunity to continue serving you and your clients.
For details about our third quarter results, please read our recent press release. If you have any questions, please contact your account executive.
Amendment to Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC)
The Massachusetts Health Care Connector passed an amendment to the minimum creditable coverage (MCC) law on Friday, October 17, 2008. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is currently in the process of reviewing these changes and the potential affect they may have on accounts. Once we complete this analysis, we will communicate the amendment's implications, our strategy, and the next steps.
The revised MCC regulations can be found on the Massachusetts Health Connector website under About Us.
MCC Updates to Dental Blue® Summaries
You may have noticed that we recently added the minimum credible coverage non-compliant symbol to our Dental Blue Summaries. This symbol is being used to satisfy the Division of Insurance requirement to inform our members when a plan they are purchasing does not meet the minimum requirements for health insurance. Our Dental plans were developed to care for our member's oral health, which is an important part of their overall health. However, they were not designed to meet health insurance requirements. This is an important distinction that we hope you will share with your clients.
Express Scripts Inc. Security Breach
Express Scripts Inc. (ESI) recently became aware of unauthorized access to their system that affected the personal information of 75 people. The information includes member names, social security numbers, dates of birth, and, in some cases, prescription information. Current Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts account and member information was not affected by this security breach; however, the personal information of one former member was accessed. That person has been notified by ESI.
ESI is aggressively investigating this situation to secure member data and identify those responsible. ESI currently deploys a variety of security systems designed to protect their information, and has taken additional steps including complying with state notification requirements and immediate notification of law enforcement. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts continues to work with ESI to ensure that our members' information is safe and protected. ESI will alert us of any developments as they investigate this breach. Please contact your account executive with any questions.
Globe Spotlight on Health Care Cost and Quality
We wanted to make you aware of a series of articles the Boston Globe is preparing about health care in Massachusetts. For several months, the Globe's Spotlight Team has been researching the answers to two fundamental questions: 1) why does health care in Massachusetts cost so much; and 2) why isn't the quality better given the cost? The first article in the series may be published as early as this weekend.
Our management team has been having ongoing discussions with the Globe reporters on these issues. We anticipate and welcome the increased scrutiny on the cost and quality of health care, and we very much look forward to continued participation in this discussion.
If we can be of any assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact your account executive.
Product and Benefit Updates for January 1, 2009
At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, our product portfolio provides employers and individuals with options to meet a range of health coverage and budget needs. As a result of your and your clients' feedback, effective January 1, 2009, we are introducing new plans and benefit changes across many of our existing plan designs.
View a detailed list of enhancements to our product portfolio.
Benefit Clarification for HMO Plans
The following clarification impacts payment for the services of hospital based radiologists, anesthesiologists, and pathologists at a participating HMO Blue hospital, who do not participate in our HMO Blue network and whose billing is not handled through a participating group. Effective January 1, 2009, when an HMO Blue plan member receives a covered service from any of these hospital based providers and the provider does not participate in the HMO network, Blue Cross and Blue Shield will reimburse the subscriber directly for the charges for these services less any applicable cost-sharing. It is the responsibility of the subscriber to pay the non-participating provider in full. The non-participating provider is responsible for collecting payment from the subscriber.
One Stop Shopping for Stop-Loss Coverage
As a reminder, expanded stop loss options are now available through our partnership with Health Reinsurance Management Partnership (HRMP). In addition to our traditional stop loss coverage, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts now provides competitive rates for new business "run-in" claims, aggregating specific coverage, as well as coverage for health plans administered by other carriers, not just Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Regardless of a client's unique stop loss needs, we have a solution for you. You will continue to have a single contact for all lines of business that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts offers with the same high quality of service that you expect. For additional information or for a quote, please contact your account executive.
Medicare Guidebook
The Medicare Guidebook provides an overview of Medicare and Medicare coverage options. The brochure is meant to help people approaching Medicare eligibility understand their choices and includes "Countdown to 65," a timeline indicating what they need to do over the eight months prior to their 65th birthday. Please refer your clients that have employees nearing Medicare eligibility to the Medicare Guidebook on our Medicare Options website. If you have any questions, please contact your account executive.
Medicare Secondary Payer Guidelines
New mandatory reporting requirements for Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) laws will go into effect on January 1, 2009. The new law (Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007) requires health insurers to report to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on situations where Medicare is the secondary payer for people who are covered by both a group health plan and Medicare.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts already has well established reporting arrangements in place with CMS that satisfy the new requirements; therefore, no action is needed. For additional information about MSP and the new law, read Change in Reporting Requirements for Medicare Secondary Payer Laws. If you have any questions, please contact your account executive.
Indigo
Indigo Insurance Services, LLC, offers an in-force rating approach that makes it easy for you to offer your clients Indigo Voluntary and Group Term Life and Disability solutions at rates less than or equal to their current rate. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts formed Indigo Insurance Services, LLC (Indigo), a wholly owned subsidiary, to provide your clients with the comprehensive Life and Disability coverage they're looking for. Secure, reliable, and easy-to-administer through a single point of contact, Indigo products add real value to your clients' benefits portfolios.
Indigo products are underwritten by USAble Life, rated "A" by A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's, and recognized as one of the U.S.'s top insurance companies by the Ward's 50®''. This alliance is meant to provide every great company with quality benefits to match.
As an added bonus for Indigo brokers, USAble Life is awarding trips to San Francisco that include a five-night stay at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel. To learn more about this opportunity, check out the Indigo Incentive Contest Qualifications Guide. For more information about Indigo's broad portfolio of ancillary products, please read the Indigo Fact Sheet, visit us online at www.indigoinsurance.com, or contact your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts account executive.