Small groups with renewal effective dates on or after July 1, 2008 can now be processed more quickly and efficiently.
New features on BluesEnroll SM make it easier to finish small group renewals:
- Automated email alerts regarding elections and open enrollment periods
- You or your group can process benefit elections, coverage changes, and new enrollments
- Open enrollment dates will appear on the HR home page and can be extended if necessary
- If the group has a rate change only, or a one-to-one renewal, the members will automatically be loaded with the appropriate plan for the new benefit year
- Only additions and changes will need to be made
- Once all enrollments are complete you will be able to submit the elections online
See how it works! You can also sign up for a training webinar that will provide a more in depth look at this feature.
Get the latest health news and information in the new and improved, redesigned Florida Blue magazine. Filled with information and tips on leading a healthy lifestyle and an interview with Gloria Estafan, Florida Blue will arrive in homes mid-July! It will also be available online in English and Spanish.
- Lower costs
- Tax advantages
- Attracting and retaining valuable employees
- Reduced absenteeism, increased productivity
- Increased employee awareness, accountability, ownership
Employers and health plans pushing health care consumerism expect that involving consumers in health care decisions will result in healthier members and reduced costs. Consumerism in health care simply refers to individuals evaluating, purchasing and using health care products and services. Consumer-driven products—including high-deductible health plans, health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs)—demand a major shift in how individuals think about and engage with their health care.
Driven by market forces, health care is becoming increasingly unaffordable—and the pace of change in our industry is faster and even more intense. Health insurance premiums are increasing at a rate that far exceeds income levels. In a five-year period in Florida, premiums increased 29%, whereas income increased only 2%. Consumers are responding by going uninsured or purchasing lower premium, higher out-of-pocket plans.
By the year 2012, the population enrolled in consumer driven health plans (CDHPs) is projected to grow to 70 million from 13 million this year. Now, more than ever, consumers are seeking information about their health coverage and looking for guidance on how to effectively navigate the health care system.
“Selling across the marketing continuum is crucial to assuaging the fears of hesitant employers and increasing CDHP adoption among uncertain consumers,” according to a report published by Forrester Research.
We have several capabilities focused on informing and engaging consumers, providing them with a better understanding of the health care options available to them, and explaining how they can get the most value from their health care budget. Our current capabilities and programs that promote customer engagement include:
- Tools such as CareCalc® and the magnetic stripe ID card, which allow physicians and providers to quickly and easily calculate our members’ financial responsibility. CareCalc now includes real-time claim adjudication.
- MyBlueServiceSM–-offering members secure access to health-related information like claims history, claims status and calendar year deductibles.
- Disease Management that provides our members with trusted resources for obtaining the information and services they need to effectively manage and make decisions about specific health conditions.
- Educating consumers through value added services and resources such as our WebMD® Tools, (Hospital AdvisorSM, Physician Selection AdvisorSM, Healthcare AdvisorSM, Treatment Cost AdvisorSM, Personal Health Advisor); Health Dialog® services (Health Coaches 24x7, Health Assessments, Lifestyle Improvement and Health and Wellness Resources), discounts through BlueComplementsSM, MyRxHealth to assist with prescription drug information and HSA calculators through ACS/Mellon.
The objective of our most recent initiative, “The Power of the Human Voice” is to listen and respond to our customers’ needs, by engaging everyday people in an ongoing dialog about health care. Their insight and opinions will help us develop new, personalized solutions in addition to what we already offer, as outlined above.
Clearly, there is no single answer for improving quality and value and expanding coverage. We all must take an active role in listening to and understanding our customers’ diverse perspectives and health care needs. Meaningful change will depend on thoughtful, coordinated contributions from everyone—and it will require payers, patients, providers and policymakers to accept responsibility for taking part in the solution.
As leaders in the health care community for more than 75 years, we look forward to working with all stakeholders to make quality health care affordable and accessible for all Floridians.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Revenue Procedure 2008-29, which contains the inflation adjusted amounts for the minimum annual deductibles, maximum annual out-of-pocket expenditure limits and annual contribution limits for 2009 health savings accounts (HSAs). The IRS Revenue Procedure was published on June 2, 2008 in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2008-22.
Below are the 2008 and the new 2009 adjusted IRS HSA minimum and maximum amounts.
| Tax Year | ||
| 2008 | 2009 | |
| Minimum Annual Deductible (Self-only Coverage) | $1,100 | $1,150 |
| Minimum Annual Deductible (Family Coverage) | $2,200 | $2,300 |
| Annual Out-of-Pocket Limits (Self-only Coverage) | $5,600 | $5,800 |
| Annual Out-of-Pocket Limits (Family Coverage) | $11,200 | $11,600 |
| Annual Contribution Amount (Self-only Coverage) | $2,900 | $3,000 |
| Annual Contribution Amount (Family Coverage) | $5,800 | $5,950 |
| Catch up contribution for individuals 55 years and older | $900 | $1,000 |
On May 20 you received a Breaking NewsfromBlue with details of the changes being made to this network, which will consist of suppliers whose core business is primarily dedicated to diabetic services. Traditional, BlueChoice® and BlueMedicareSM PPO members obtaining diabetic supplies through their medical (not pharmacy) benefit will be able to obtain supplies through the new Diabetic Supply Network. BlueOptions® members should continue to use their local pharmacy for diabetic supplies when they have their pharmacy benefits with BCBSF.
This network will go into effect this month on July 15.
Our four new large group BlueOptions® health plans, three small group BlueOptions health plans and BlueScript® large group pharmacy plans are now available to sell with July 1, 2008 effective dates, as described to you in the Breaking NewfromBlue. The benefit summaries are provided below. The new plans are:
- Large Group Health:
- Large Group Pharmacy:
- Small Group Health:
These materials are available to you through the normal channels and accessBlue.
We first introduced you to The Power of the Human Voice in a Breaking NewsfromBlue. We’re pleased to share the success we’ve had thus far – over 28,000 calls that have resulted in more than 300 recordings – all of which will help us understand consumers and their health care needs.
Click here to view a listing of providers that have recently joined NetworkBlueSM.
One of our subsidiaries, Comp Options® Insurance Company, Inc., (COI), has provided workers’ compensation management to many of the state’s foremost employers and major public entities over the last decade. To focus on delivering significant, measurable cost benefits to employers through superior outcomes and overall value, COI has introduced a “game-changing” business model, which is pro-injured worker, pro-employer and pro-clinician.
To better reflect the philosophy for which this business model operates, COI’s name is changing to OptaComp®––the optimal model for worker’s compensation management. An industry first, this model serves as a single source solution by bringing alignment to every aspect of workers’ compensation management: medical, legal, regulatory, safety/loss-prevention and stay-at-work practices. The key difference between OptaComp and the competition is that OptaComp delivers a uniquely comprehensive, integrated, criteria-based service model that benefits the employer, the injured worker and the clinician.
This name change is effective August 1. OptaComp will remain a subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and will be Blue-branded.
Reminder: In partnership with new Directions Behavioral Health, Florida Combined Life (FCL) will provide a new Online Employee Assistance Program free to all new employer-paid Group-Term Life (GTL), Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) customers whose group policy was effective on or after May 1, 2008. It is available to non-contributory employer groups. At this time it is not available to groups who solely provide employee-paid voluntary benefits. Please note: it is not available at renewal for current group customers. You can click here to review details on this program, as introduced to you in April.