10/10/2018
Featured
10/09/2018
Blue Shield Issues Plan Updates and Additions for Q1 2019
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 Of...
10/05/2018
Sharp Health Plan Limits Service Areas
As of January 1, 2019, the health insurance coverage for some Sharp Health Plan members will end. Sharp Health Plan will no longer offer health coverage to members who live in the following ZIP codes:...
10/03/2018
Compliance Alert: Part D Creditable Coverage Disclosures
Issue Date: September 2018 Introduction Employers sponsoring group health plans that offer prescription drug coverage must notify eligible individuals about whether the coverage is considered “C...
10/01/2018
Webinar: 2019 Small Group Update from UnitedHealthcare
Don’t miss UnitedHealthcare’s next BrokerCast. The Northern California sales and renewal staff will fill you in on 2019 rate actions, their product portfolio, and changes to underwriting guidelines. Y...
09/24/2018
Contract Negotiations Continue Between Anthem Blue Cross and Enloe Medical Center
Enloe Medical Center in Chico, CA and Anthem Blue Cross are in contract negotiations. Their contract is set to renew or expire on November 1, 2018. If Anthem and Enloe don’t reach an agreement, Anthem...
09/21/2018
UnitedHealthcare Releases Rates for Q1 2019
For Q1 2019, UnitedHealthcare has decreased rates by -1.8% for HMOs and -1.5% for PPOs. This is when you look at the statewide average change compared to Q4 2018. These numbers will vary by county and...
09/21/2018
LISI’s Exclusive BenRevo Partnership Streamlines Large-Group Quoting
LISI has an exclusive partnership with BenRevo to simplify the entire large group process from RFP through presentation. BenRevo connects carriers, brokers, and customers on a common platform, slashin...
09/21/2018
LISI Partners with Western Health Advantage
LISI has added Western Health Advantage (WHA) to their portfolio. WHA is a highly regarded community-based HMO with a focus on market-leading affordability. Plans are available with effective dates st...
09/18/2018
UnitedHealthcare Offers Small Group Sales Bonus
UnitedHealthcare is offering a bonus to California agents who sell new fully insured small group medical plans. Eligible new cases are fully insured medical groups with up to 100 eligible employees in...
09/17/2018
Is Cost Sharing Reaching its Limit for California Employers?
Health care costs continue to rise in California with the average health plan now topping $19,200 a year for a family. But employers and workers seem to be reaching their limit when it comes to increa...
09/17/2018
California Legislative Update
Below are bills that have passed the California Legislature. As of this date, Governor Jerry Brown has signed several into law. UNIVERSAL COVERAGE Signed into law: AB 2472 (Wood D): The bill req...
09/13/2018
Blue Shield of California Eases Small Group Participation Requirements
To help make new sales submissions easier, Blue Shield of California will count a refusal of coverage due to individual coverage as a valid waiver beginning with October 1, 2018 effective dates. Emplo...
09/11/2018
MediExcel Launches Vision Plan
MediExcel has introduced Vision Plan V100, focusing on quality coverage at affordable premiums. The plan is available as an employer-paid or voluntary benefit. Coverage is available to members who are...
09/11/2018
What You Need to Know About Employer Reporting – IRS Letter 5699
Most of us are well aware that the IRS is actively collecting employer shared responsibility payments from applicable large employers (ALE) who failed to comply with the Section 4980H offer of coverag...
09/10/2018
Webinar: Today's Biggest Employee Benefit Trends
MetLife is hosting a webinar featuring critical insights from their latest U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study. You will learn The 2018 research is out and it’s clear. More than any other time th...
09/07/2018
Anthem Blue Cross Issues MLR Rebates
Anthem Blue Cross is issuing rebate checks to certain employers in accordance with medical loss ratio (MLR) provisions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Small group medical carriers are required to...
09/07/2018
A Look at Out-of-Network Billing
In more than 15% of inpatient admissions, a patient gets a bill from an out-of-network provider even though they used an in-network facility, according to a national study of large employer plans by t...
09/07/2018
Many Employers Are Not Ready for Open Enrollment
A significant number of employers are not on the right pace to gear up for open enrollment. As of July, many had not yet planned or designed employee communications, reviewed compliance and eligibilit...
09/06/2018
Premier Physician Network Satellite Sites to Close
Anthem Blue Cross was recently informed that the Premier Physician Network satellite sites listed below will close and discontinue services effective December 1, 2018: PPN United Care Medical Gr...
08/31/2018
