Anthem's Discontinued Plans Effective October 1, 2012

Jul 09, 2012

Certain plans will be discontinued effective 10/1/12 (on a group’s renewal anniversary).

From time to time, Anthem reviews their health plans to make sure they address your clients’ health care and cost needs. In their most recent review, they made the careful decision to discontinue certain health plans from our portfolios. These are the plans:

Premier PPO $20 Copay (EmployeeChoice portfolio only)
Elements Hospital
BeneFits Hospital
Lumenos HIA Plus 500*
Lumenos HIA Plus 750*

*This plan will be discontinued effective 7/1/12.

Why the plans are being discontinued.

There are several reasons why they're discontinuing the plans: 1) The need to streamline their portfolio. 2) Similarities to other plans due to benefit mandates (for example, Elements Hospital plan and BeneFits Hospital plan). 3) Declining interest in the plans.

Chart shows plans that affected employees will transition to at renewal.

Please check over this chart. It shows you the plans which are being discontinued. It also shows the plans employees will transition to at renewal — unless their group chooses to move to a plan other than the one suggested. If your clients are impacted, your renewal packet will give you instructions on how your client can make changes.

FROM	→	TO
EmployeeElect Portfolio
Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Elements Hospital	→	Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Elements Hospital Plus
Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Lumenos HIA Plus 500	→	Anthem Blue Cross PPO 1500/$35
Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Lumenos HIA Plus 750	→	Anthem Blue Cross PPO 1000/$25
BeneFits Portfolio
Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health BeneFits Hospital	→	Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health BeneFits Hospital Plus
EmployeeChoice Portfolio
Anthem Blue Cross Premier $20 Copay	→	Anthem Blue Cross PPO $30 Copay

Next steps are coming your way.

Lumenos HIA 7/1/12 discontinuation
You, your impacted clients and their employees will already have received or will receive a notice about the Lumenos HIA 7/1/12 discontinuation in advance of an impacted group’s renewal. Please note that more details about the 7/1 discontinuation will also be included in all impacted groups’ renewal packets.

10/1/12 discontinuation of remaining plans
A letter will be sent to you and your impacted clients well in advance of the discontinuation. You can see your discontinuation letter and the letters to clients and members by choosing the links below. Your impacted clients will also receive letters in their renewal packets, with details about the upcoming changes to those plans.