News & Updates
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First Quarter 2015
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First quarter rate adjustments have been announced and all carriers are available for quoting. In addition to rate updates, we want to remind you that Medical rates will be based on the employer zip code starting with January 1, 2015 effective dates.
In case you want to submit new business in December to avoid the January rate increase, view the December 2014 deadlines. Information regarding each carrier's January 2015 updates are provided below.
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Aetna announced rate adjustments for their ACA-compliant plans for January 1, 2015 effective dates with minor changes to benefits and underwriting.
PORTFOLIO CHANGES Effective January 1, 2015 Aetna is discontinuing 2 of their plan offerings and adding 13 plans to their portfolio, 6 of which are SCCIPA ACO plans (only available in Santa Clara County). ANCILLARY
Aetna has announced a
January 2015 Book Rates
Book rates for January 2015 effective dates are also available on the
b&p website.
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Anthem Blue Cross announced rate adjustments for their ACA-compliant plans for January 1, 2015 effective dates with changes to benefits and underwriting.
SMALL GROUP 1-50
IMPORTANT NOTE: Producer renewals will no longer be mailed. You may contact b&p for renewals or download via the Producer Toolbox.
MID-MARKET 51-99
1-50 RATING RULES
PLAN CHANGES FOR JANUARY
Anthem is making significant changes to their Medical portfolio beginning with January 1, 2015 effective dates. Plans will be discontinued, receive benefit updates and new plan names. See below for more information
Are plan names changing?
Yes! The plan names will include reference to metallic level, network name, product type, copayment or deductible, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximums. For example, the Anthem Preferred DirectAccess (gwfa) has been renamed Anthem Gold PPO 500/20%/4500.
For a complete list of 2015 plans, view the Contract Code List or the 2015 Product Information resource.
What plans are being discontinued?
In total, 31 plans will be discontinued. Anthem has created a
Discontinued Plans resource that provides a high-level, side-by-side comparison of the discontinued plan next to the most-similar plan that enrollment will be transitioned to at the group's renewal. Also read the Discontinuance Letter.
Which new plans will the discontinued plans be mapped to?
Please reference Anthem's
Discontinued Plans resource and Discontinuance Letter. The group must notify Anthem during their renewal if they prefer to make alternative plan selections.
What benefits will change in the remaining plans?
Benefit changes will vary by plan; however, all plans will now have Pediatric Dental and Pediatric Vision embedded with benefits applying to the Medical plan deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. All plans will also receive the LiveHealthOnline benefit. Please reference Anthem's
Amended Plans resource and Amended Letter for more details.
Will enrollment forms and marketing materials change?
Yes. The enrollment forms for January 1, 2015 effective dates are now available. Contact a member of your b&p Sales Team for assistance.
January 2015 Book Rates Book rates for January 2015 effective dates are also available on the b&p website. |
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California
Choice has announced rate adjustments for ACA-compliant with January 1, 2015 effective dates with minor changes to benefits and underwriting. |
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PLAN DESIGNS Groups with 2-4 employees will have expanded access to plan designs. PPO C, a PPO plus Premier plan, will be available with a $1,000 annual maximum along with the optional D&P Maximum Waiver. UNDERWRITING Dual choice options are being expanded to include groups with as few as 4 employees. Minimum enrollment for dual choice option will be lowered to 4, with 2 in one plan with the balance in the other. Groups having less than 10 total primary enrollees and seeking a dual choice option, may choose from one of the 2-4 segment PPO plans, including the new plans indicated above, and one of the DeltaCare USA plans. January 2015 Book Rates Book rates for January 2015 effective dates are not yet available. Once they become available, you can access them on the b&p website. |
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PORTFOLIO CHANGES Effective January 1, 2015, Health Net will discontinue their current WholeCare and Salud HMO y Mas offerings and replace them with refreshed WholeCare and Salud HMO y Mas plans that offer the same quality and value as the prior versions of these plans. Groups will be asked to make an election of which plans they wish to elect for their upcoming renewal.
January 2015 Book Rates Book rates for January 2015 effective dates are not yet available. Once they become available, you can access them on the b&p website. |
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UnitedHealthcare announced rate adjustments for their ACA-compliant plans with January 1, 2015 effective dates with changes to benefits.
PORTFOLIO CHANGES Effective January 1, 2015, UnitedHealthcare will discontinue a few of their plans and replace with new offerings. UHC will also add new Rx plans and HMO Rx plan codes. Chiropractic care will now be covered under all HMO plans in the UHC Multi-Choice package and basic infertility benefit services will no longer be covered under Platinum plans, but they will be offered as an optional benefits with all HMO plans.
To view all of UHC's January 1, 2015 updates, please read their 2015 Small Group Product Grid.
January 2015 Book Rates Book rates for January 2015 effective dates are also available on the b&p website. |
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VSP announced rate adjustments for their Vision plans for January 1, 2015 effective dates with minor language changes on the plan summaries.
PLAN SUMMARIES In the section that discusses brand names with an extra $20 frames allowance, Michael Kors is being removed and Anne Klein has been added (this selection will change from time to time). You will also see the term "doctor" change to "provider," and the term "affiliate providers "will become "retail chains."
January 2015 Book Rates Book rates for January 2015 effective dates are also available on the b&p website. |
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Sincerely, beere&purves |
