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MYBLUE
UPDATE
Flexible
Blue Maternity Benefit
Clarification
Members
who have Flexible Blue 1500 or 2500 plans with the
optional maternity rider have received a letter
explaining how the benefit works.
Below
is information that was communicated to
members:
If the
member is on the individual plan alone, they will
pay the single deductible of $1,500 or $2,500, depending
on his or her plan. If the member is
on the individual plan with a spouse or children, including a
newborn who is added to the plan as soon as he or
she is born, the member will have to pay the family
deductible of $3,000 or $5,000 before these services are
covered.
Please
review your maternity benefits below:
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Plan
1500 |
Plan
2500 |
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Delivery and
routine newborn nursery
care |
In
network
Covered - 100% after deductible
Out of
network
Covered - 80% after deductible
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In
network
Covered - 80% after deductible
Out of
network
Covered - 60% after deductible
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Pre and post
natal maternity care |
In
network
Covered - 100% after deductible
Out of
network
Covered - 80% after deductible
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In
network
Covered - 80% after deductible
Out of
network
Covered - 60% after deductible
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SALES
AND RETENTION TIPS
Blue
Care Network
Build
a Plan Brochures Updated
The
Blue Care Network Build-a-Plan brochures have been
updated with 2008 changes to the Traditional Plus Dental
Plan. The updated brochures became effective April 1, 2008, so
be sure to destroy any brochures dated before that. Call
Agent Alliance at 888.313.9571 for a supply.
To
view the brochures, click on the appropriate
package:
Access
to Utilization Reports
Good
news! For groups with a minimum of 50 contracts, BCN
will supply utilization
reports.
These
reports will include:
- Demographics
- Enhanced
benefits/standard benefits as a percentage of the group's
membership
- Office
visit usage
- Emergency
room usage
- Outpatient
surgeries
- Inpatient
surgeries
- Admissions
- Top
10 drugs by utilization
- Top
10 drugs by cost
Please
contact Agent Alliance at 888.313.9571 to obtain your
reports.
One
Subscriber Group Update
OSG
Flexible Blue and
Medicare Supplement
The
OSG Flexible Blue Option was removed from the menu as of
07/01/07. Subscribers who have Flexible Blue may not
transition into Medicare Supplement coverage. However,
coverage is available to OSGs requesting Supplemental
coverage. One Subcriber Groups may make a Group
Wide Change to select Community Blue Plan 8 (the only
OSG product) or any of the Individual products
including
Flexible Blue.
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UNDERWRITING
UPDATE
Updated
Enrollment Change of Status (ECOS)
The
updated ECOS form should be used for July 1,
2008 new business effective dates and after.
Please
encourage members to complete the online forms. This
insures faster, more accurate processing of their forms, thus
getting ID cards more quickly!
Members
should give a copy to their employer and retain a copy
for their records. Note: The ECOS form may be
completed online and printed, but contents will not be
saved.
- The top
of page 3 has fields for the subscriber's name
- The
following required fields were added to page 3:
- Average
number of hours worked per week
- Job
title
·
The
bottom of page 3 includes fields for Blue Health Care
Bank Options. Please do not use these fields
until you are notified that the Blue Health Care Bank
Options has been rolled
out. |
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TECHNOLOGY
UPDATE
Online
Claims Feature Debuts
BCBSM
has recently launched a new Online Claims Status system that
allows members to view the status of their claims at any time
at www.bcbsm.com.
Members
will be able to:
- View
claims
- Search
by Member, Date of Service range, In process/finalized
claims
- Claim
type (facility/physician)
Displays
include:
- Claim
number
- Service
date
- Member
- Member birth
year
- and
more
Click
on decision-maker flyer or payroll stuffers to view the documents.
These are great tools for new business prospects or open
enrollment meetings.
Don't
forget to educate your members on the online Explanation of
Benefits (EOBs) - another useful tool available through the
Member Portal.
NOTE:
Individual Blue Basic and Medicare Advantage members will not
have access to the Online Claims Status
Summary application at this
time.
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MEMBER
ID CARDS
The
Blues are issuing redesigned ID cards!
The
purpose of the new ID cards is to give all Blue ID cards a
similar look and feel and to make them easier to
use.
The
redesigned ID cards will be send out in phases with the first
phase beginning this month. All members will have
received a new ID card by January 1,
2011.
The
following changes have been made to the front of the
card:
- The enrollee
name is listed first instead of second
- The contract
number is now referred to as the enrollee ID and is listed
second
- The issuer
number, which identifies Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan,
is listed last
- The group
number and plan code have been removed from the ID card
- The suitcase,
which tells providers about your travel benefits, is in the
bottom left corner of the card instead of being centered at
the top
- The drug plan
number is centered on the right instead of in the bottom
right corner
- The drug plan
logo is in the bottom right corner
- A dental plan
logo is centered at the bottom of the
card
The
following changes have been made to the back of the
card:
- The card
includes a magnetic stripe that is not operational at this
time, but will streamline billing procedures for providers
in the future. The stripe includes only the information on
the front of the card and the subscriber's birth date. No
personal health information is included on the card.
- VSP
(inquiries) refers to Blue
Vision
Although
the cards will look different, member benefits will not be
affected. |
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COMPANION
UPDATE 
Companion
Life Announces Dental Bonus
Program
Dental
and Life rates have been reduced 10% and STD has been reduced
5%. Sell this summer and take advantage of a special
bonus dollar. For groups sold with an effective date
between June 1 and September 1, you receive an extra $25, $50,
$100, or $200. Sell three groups over ten lives
and receive an extra $250!
Along
with the above incentives, our popular Companion Plan Life
& STD for 2 to 9 size groups is now better than
ever!
- Life
maximum increased to $100,000
- Guaranteed
issue increased to $35,000 for 2-4 lives
- Guaranteed
issue increased to $50,000 for 5-9 lives
- STD
Maximum increased to $750 per week
- All
STD is now guarantee issue. No Pre-Existing
- Both
Life & STD available on a stand alone basis
Don't
forget the trip incentives-join us at the 2009 Leaders Conference at the Four Season's
in sunny Punta
Mita, Mexico! All
dental and group LTD premiums are credited 50%. All
other products are 100% credit. Qualification
period: Effective dates of January 1-December 31,
2008.
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