Here's the critical and time-sensitive information Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) producers need today.
News from the Blues
Top 3 Call Drivers: How to Avoid Long Hold Times
The weeks following open enrollment are the busiest of the year for our call centers. Here’s how you can help your clients right away.
1. Tell clients about self-service payment options: Applicants and new members can make initial payments online and select “I Enrolled in a New BCBSIL Health Plan.” Or they can call our automated interactive voice response (IVR) system at 800-538-8833 and press “1” at the payment prompt.
3. Help a client change or select a new medical group:
You can use the Retail Producer Portal to change a client’s medical group. See Pages 16-19 of the “Managing Clients” section of the portal guide for steps. (Learn more about the Retail Producer Portal.)
News from the Blues
Group
News from the Blues
*Update: Per-Claim Fee for OTC COVID-19 Testing Program
Applies to ASO groups As you’re aware, we’re supporting the federal government’s over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 test coverage requirement for employers that have Prime Therapeutics® coverage through BCBSIL.*
What this means: We will bill self-insured customers who have carved-in pharmacy benefits through Prime an administrative fee of $2.50 per OTC test claim. How the fee works.
News from the Blues
*New Logon to Access Summaries of Benefits and Coverage
Applies to Small Group and Mid-Market What’s happening: The Summaries of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) Tool will transition to a single sign-on (SSO) in early Q2. To prepare for the transition, we will disable the current, generic logon credentials.
Feb. 16 Webinar: Collective Health Improves Employee Health Care Navigation
Applies to ASO Large and National Accounts
Collective Health may help employees understand their benefits and receive the right care for their unique needs.
Learn more: This platform simplifies the health care experience for employees, while offering innovative tools to help them make the best decisions. Join the webinar to learn about the advantages for your clients and their employees.
Applies to producers who sell Retail (under 65) plans and ERISA group plans.
What you need to know: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 sets new disclosure requirements related to broker and consultant compensation for medical health insurance products.
While these new requirements are pending final guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the retail (under 65) segment and are therefore subject to change, we do consider guidance related to group notification as final.
Mailing Annual Rate Change Notice to Medicare Supplement Members
Timing: On Jan. 31, Blue Cross Medicare SupplementSM members started receiving an email reminding them that they will soon receive their annual rate letter. The letters are scheduled to mail next week.
News from the Blues
Introducing Secure: A New Medicare Supplement Option, Effective April 1
BCBSIL is introducing four new Medicare Supplement policies in Illinois: Plans A, F, G and N Secure. They offer the same benefits as existing A, F, G and N Plans, but provide better rates for those members who pass underwriting.
How it works:
New members who are aging in will be offered guaranteed issue.
Current members need to pass underwriting before transferring to these new policies.
Current members who do not pass underwriting can enroll in our existing Medicare Supplement policies with guaranteed issue.
Secure policies are ready to quote as of Feb. 1 for an April 1 effective date.
There’s more: You can earn up to 18% commissions on Medicare Supplement Secure sales.
Log in to our Supply Portal for the most up-to-date sales materials. Reach out to your producer sales consultant, regional sales manager or general agent for more information. And look for a webinar invitation in this newsletter soon.
News from the Blues
Reminding Medicare Supplement Members to Review Their Coverage
Next steps: Members can decide if their health plan is still a good fit. You may want to reach out to your Medicare Supplement clients to begin this conversation.
Retail: 2022 Off-exchange Special Enrollment Training
Learn the off-exchange SEP rules and processes so you can help new members enroll. To sell an off-exchange qualified health plan (QHP) due to a client’s qualifying life event, must:
Affirm training completion: Log in to Blue Access for Producers (BAPSM) with your own account (not your agency’s) to affirm. See Page 51 for affirmation steps. If you are a multistate producer, you don’t have to log in to each state's BAP and affirm multiple times. Once will do. There is no deadline; complete and affirm training before helping clients apply.
*This information applies to members and groups with prescription drug benefits administered through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL).
BCBSIL contracts with Prime Therapeutics to provide pharmacy benefit management and related other services. In addition, contracting pharmacies are contracted through Prime Therapeutics. The relationship between BCBSIL and contracting pharmacies is that of independent contractors. BCBSIL, as well as several independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, has an ownership interest in Prime Therapeutics.
News from the Blues
*This article, or a similar version, is being shared with employer groups in the BlueVISION newsletter or news alert.
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
