Oct 09, 2018
Medical
Blue Shield is introducing two new medical off-exchange plans to their small business portfolio: • Bronze PPO 6500/50% OffEx available on Full PPO and Tandem PPO networks • Gold HMO 0/30 OffEx available on Access+ HMO®, Local Access+ HMO, and Trio HMO networks Silver PPO Product Changes • Silver PPO Savings 2000/20% OffEx is now available on the PPO Savings and Tandem PPO Networks • Silver Full PPO 2000/45 OffEx will no longer have an integrated medical and pharmacy deductible Rate Changes LISI reports the following statewide average rate change for Blue Shield Q1 2019 rates:
- Full HMO 1.1%
- Limited HMO 1%
- Full PPO 1.9%
- Limited PPO 1.6%
- PPO HSA 0.5%
Please contact your LISI Regional Sales Manager to see where Blue Shield sits in your market.
Specialty
Dental Product Changes Dental In-Network Only and Dental Rollover plans are closing effective December 31, 2018. Groups with existing membership will continue coverage under their plan. Groups without existing membership will not be able to add Dental In-Network Only or Dental Rollover plans to their coverage. Vision Product Changes • $10 eye exam copays will replace the $15 copays for all 2019 vision plans. • Enhanced Vision plans are now called “Basic Vision.” You and your clients will see the plan name change effective January 1, 2019 for all new sales and April 1, 2019 for all groups renewing in an Enhanced Vision plan. Life Insurance Product Changes Travel assistance services have been added to all basic life plans.
Pharmacy
Effective January 1, 2019, off-exchange Trio HMO plans will join Tandem PPO plans on their tiered-pharmacy network, Rx Spectrum. Employees have the choice of filling prescriptions at Level A or Level B pharmacies including convenient retail options, such as grocery and discount stores. Unique to the RX Spectrum network, when members fill their prescriptions at a Level A pharmacy, they’ll pay a lower copayment or coinsurance than at a Level B pharmacy.
Contact your LISI Regional Sales Manager to get the latest on Blue Shield selling strategies.
