Sept. 25, 2019

Hot Topics

Hot Topics Are Here to Support You During Open and Annual Enrollment
Beginning today, we are delivering urgent messages with the critical and time-sensitive information you need during this enrollment season. While most articles will focus on the under and over 65 individual markets, we may also cover small group news as needed. Expect product information, enrollment tips, certification news and more as we prepare for the hottest time of the year.

Today’s Hot Topics: Retail Markets
Customize BCBSIL Marketing Materials for ACA Prospects
Customizable marketing materials for plan year 2020  open enrollment are now available. Simply download the files, fill in the open fields with your contact information, save, print and distribute to existing clients and new prospects to drive open enrollment sales.

Selling “Sizzle” for PY 2020: Flier Highlights Benefits of Buying Blue
It’s back by popular demand. This year’s producer “sizzle” brochure  provides at-a-glance features and benefits of enrolling in a retail Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) qualified health plan. It gives some main talking points you can use with your clients as they make decisions about their 2020 health care. Note: This flier is intended for producer use only; it shouldn’t be distributed to beneficiaries, members or prospects.

Retail Producer Portal Upgrades: Rapid Renewal Function, Reporting Updates and New Quote Design
We recently upgraded our premier online application for creating and delivering quotes to consumers, enrolling members and serving clients. Find out about the new features and get the latest Retail Producer Portal guide .

FFM Subproducer Registration Required for Agency Marketplace Compensation
Are your subproducers registered with the Marketplace? Writing producers must be registered with the FFM before helping clients enroll in Marketplace policies. We cannot compensate you for applications submitted before the writing producer’s FFM registration date. See our Agency Alert for details .

Group Markets

COBRA Migration to WageWorks Is Delayed
The COBRA migration to WageWorks, Inc. has been postponed for accounts with effective dates of Oct. 1 or later. The scheduled migration will be on hold until after Jan. 1, 2020. New migration dates will be published soon.

What that means: COBRA participants for the delayed accounts should continue to make their COBRA payments to HCSC until further notice. Group customers and participants will be notified of this change by mail.

*BCBSIL HMO Network Update: Methodist First Choice
What’s new: Effective Jan. 1, 2020, Methodist First Choice #457 will participate in the Blue Precision HMO^SM provider network.

The details: Current members of Methodist First Choice will be able to choose doctors that are in the Blue Precision HMO network. Review a list of participating providers  for members impacted by this change. We will notify affected groups of the network change in the BlueVISION newsletter. You can also notify your employer groups and members of these changes as appropriate.

New Flier Highlights Med Supp Changes in 2020
This month we are sending emails to members in Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans C, F, F Select and High-Deductible Plan F to remind them of the upcoming changes that take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

What this means to members: This new flier  can help you answer questions you may get about the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

Background: We sent emails to this same group of members earlier this year. This article will give you details about what was communicated.

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*This article or a similar version is being shared with employers in the biweekly BlueVISION newsletter for small and mid-market groups. BlueVISION for Large and National Accounts is a monthly publication.
 

Mark Your Calendar: 2019 Deadlines for Small Group (1-50) Paperwork
Find all 2019 renewal due dates, online quoting and other resources you'll need for new and renewing small group business in the Quick View Reminders. 

Then check out our updated Small Group microsite for key forms, dates and materials to help you sell and renew business.

Next deadlines:

•	Nov. 1 renewals: paperwork is due Oct. 2
•	Dec. 1 renewals: paperwork is due Nov. 1

	Reminder: Certify to Sell BCBSIL Medicare MAPD/PDP Plans
	Both Part 1 and Part 2 of the certification training – required to sell our Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MAPD) and stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDP) – are available on the CMP site. Get the details and review resources.