New Retail SEP Begins Next Week

New Retail SEP Begins Next Week

Reminder: The special enrollment period (SEP) runs from Feb. 15 through May 15, and we are participating. To help you get ready, see the main features of the new SEP for the individual ACA market in last week’s article.

Resources for you. More details are being added as they become available. Be sure to bookmark these or save them to your favorites. And check back for updates.

Find information for consumers on the special enrollment webpage Use the producer microsite Review these FAQs

All Markets

Statewide Provider Group Joins BCBSTX Network; Expands Care for Members On Jan. 1, 2021, Schumacher Clinical Partners became in network for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas members. Their providers staff emergency rooms and hospitalist programs across Texas, representing 15% of Texas hospitals. Helps solve a serious problem: Bringing this large practice in network helps protect our members from potential balance billing. Too many Texans have received surprise bills after unknowingly seeking emergency treatment from out-of-network providers. Expanded coverage includes: More than 2,000 emergency room and hospitalist physicians 33 physician groups staffing 50-plus hospitals and emergency rooms Hospitals located in El Paso, The Valley, Corpus Christi, South Texas, East Texas and West Texas. All lines of business Review the provider list  with the hospitals, locations and the physician group names.

Group

*Client’s Employees Achieve Sizable Weight Loss Success Employees lose a total of 6,378 pounds, improve health A public educational client with many schools and districts asked for help. Many of their employees had a high rate of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. And 65% of them live in rural areas with limited health care resources. The recommendation: To help reduce employees’ health risks, wellness consultants suggested Naturally  Slim, a clinically proven program (available to ASO groups with 151+ employees). Healthy outcomes: The program helped employees adopt new skills and achieve healthier results. See what it could do for your clients.

Medicare

COVID-19 Vaccine Email Informs Medicare Members Members want to know about the COVID-19 vaccines, cost and safety. Reaching out to members. We recently sent an email to MAPD and Medicare Supplement members  to tell them:  Vaccines are covered at no cost to them Other details about the vaccines They should contact their doctors with any questions Members who don’t have an email address on file will receive a letter. Reminder: Refer members to our COVID-19 site for the latest information on the pandemic.

Legislative Update

*Texas Legislative Digest, Issue 5, 2021 In his recent State of the State address, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated five items to be considered by the Legislature as emergencies. The designation means lawmakers can pass bills related to the issues before day 60 of the 140-day session. Two of the designated emergencies impact health care: Expanding broadband access for telehealth Protecting individuals, business and health care providers from civil liability under COVID-19. Get all the details in the Texas Legislative Digest, Issue 5 .

Earn Compensation for Retail SEP Sales; Affirm Training Are you planning to sell an off-exchange qualified health plan due to a client’s qualifying life event? Then you must complete and affirm our annual special enrollment period (SEP) training. Follow these 4 steps: Download and review the training  . See Pages 52-54 for the SEP business rules. See Pages 55-58 for detailed screen-by-screen steps to affirm.  Log in to Blue Access for ProducersSM using your own account, not your agency's. The writing producer must make the affirmation. Select “Producer Services” at the top of the page and click the “SEP Training Affirmation” link.  Read the affirmation language and click the green “Submit” button. Be sure to keep the “Service Request” ticket confirmation number for your records. Don’t miss this opportunity – especially with the extended SEP.

Small Group and Mid-Market Sales and Renewal Kits Find all the tips, tools, forms and product information to sell or renew your Small (1-50) and Mid-Market (51-150) groups.   Next Small Group deadlines: April 1 renewals: paperwork is due March 2 May 1 renewals: paperwork is due April 1 See all 2021  due dates.