You (agent) help individuals make important decisions about their health care coverage every day. At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA), we understand the uncertainty that exists in today’s health care coverage market. Due to mandates within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that are effective January 1, 2014, BCBSGA, along with other carriers, will have to make some significant changes to our product offerings and premiums.
There will be a lot of changes and new plans. Your clients will need your assistance now more than ever to help them choose a plan that is right for them. We want to be sure you and your clients have time to decide what plans will best fit their needs in relation to cost and coverage. To give you more time to assist your clients with making plan selections, we are providing many of our members with options where members can purchase policies with their current levels of benefits.
Members on many of our non-grandfathered Individual plans (plans that were in effect after March 23, 2010) will be offered the opportunity to keep similar benefits and coverage by completing a new policy option acceptance form that will be effective December 1, 2013.
If they accept the option, members may keep their current level of coverage until December 1, 2014 at their new December 2013 rate. These members will:
Ease into the new market and delay the potentially higher rate increases through December 2014
Have more time to work with you to decide what coverage is best
Be able to keep a similar plan through December 1, 2014
Lock in a new premium (based upon current rates and members’ ages) through December 1, 2014
We will communicate to our non-grandfathered members in September and provide them with all their options, including:
Accept the policy option to keep similar benefits (allowing their policy year to begin December 2013). Upon renewal in December 2014, members’ plans will be discontinued and they will be automatically transitioned to an off-exchange plan. They may keep that transitioned plan or move to any other on or off exchange BCBSGA plan.
Do nothing (keep their current renewal month and rate). Upon renewal in 2014, members will be automatically transitioned to an off-exchange plan. They may keep that transitioned plan or move to any other on or off exchange BCBSGA plan.
Enroll in any on or off-exchange BCBSGA plan during open enrollment (October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014).
When your clients’ plans come up for renewal in 2014, the plans will be discontinued and the members will be automatically transitioned to an off-exchange plan. This plan discontinuance creates a Special Enrollment Period beginning 30 days prior and ending 30 days after their renewal date. During this time, your clients will have an opportunity to enroll in any other on or off-exchange BCBSGA plan.
Note: As an appointed agent, you will receive information over the next couple months about your clients’ options. We will notify you well in advance so you can assist your clients and retain the greatest number possible. Our Customer Service team will have copies of these member letters, should your client lose his or her letter.
As one of our brokers, you are the foundation and strength of our business. Together we can help guide your clients and our members through the health care reform changes coming in the future. Be sure to read the bi-weekly ACA News - Health Care Reform Update to stay informed on all the current news. Contact your Regional Sales Manager or Sales Representative for more information.
*Grandfathered and non-grandfathered membership in HIPAA, Conversion and Guaranteed Issue products transitioning to off-exchange ACA-compliant plans on 1/1/14. These clients are eligible for the new policy option but they must be approved through medical underwriting.
There will be a lot of changes and new plans. Your clients will need your assistance now more than ever to help them choose a plan that is right for them. We want to be sure you and your clients have time to decide what plans will best fit their needs in relation to cost and coverage. To give you more time to assist your clients with making plan selections, we are providing many of our members with options where members can purchase policies with their current levels of benefits.
Members on many of our non-grandfathered Individual plans (plans that were in effect after March 23, 2010) will be offered the opportunity to keep similar benefits and coverage by completing a new policy option acceptance form that will be effective December 1, 2013.
If they accept the option, members may keep their current level of coverage until December 1, 2014 at their new December 2013 rate. These members will:
Ease into the new market and delay the potentially higher rate increases through December 2014
Have more time to work with you to decide what coverage is best
Be able to keep a similar plan through December 1, 2014
Lock in a new premium (based upon current rates and members’ ages) through December 1, 2014
We will communicate to our non-grandfathered members in September and provide them with all their options, including:
Accept the policy option to keep similar benefits (allowing their policy year to begin December 2013). Upon renewal in December 2014, members’ plans will be discontinued and they will be automatically transitioned to an off-exchange plan. They may keep that transitioned plan or move to any other on or off exchange BCBSGA plan.
Do nothing (keep their current renewal month and rate). Upon renewal in 2014, members will be automatically transitioned to an off-exchange plan. They may keep that transitioned plan or move to any other on or off exchange BCBSGA plan.
Enroll in any on or off-exchange BCBSGA plan during open enrollment (October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014).
When your clients’ plans come up for renewal in 2014, the plans will be discontinued and the members will be automatically transitioned to an off-exchange plan. This plan discontinuance creates a Special Enrollment Period beginning 30 days prior and ending 30 days after their renewal date. During this time, your clients will have an opportunity to enroll in any other on or off-exchange BCBSGA plan.
Note: As an appointed agent, you will receive information over the next couple months about your clients’ options. We will notify you well in advance so you can assist your clients and retain the greatest number possible. Our Customer Service team will have copies of these member letters, should your client lose his or her letter.
As one of our brokers, you are the foundation and strength of our business. Together we can help guide your clients and our members through the health care reform changes coming in the future. Be sure to read the bi-weekly ACA News - Health Care Reform Update to stay informed on all the current news. Contact your Regional Sales Manager or Sales Representative for more information.
*Grandfathered and non-grandfathered membership in HIPAA, Conversion and Guaranteed Issue products transitioning to off-exchange ACA-compliant plans on 1/1/14. These clients are eligible for the new policy option but they must be approved through medical underwriting.
