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Effective January 1, 2008,
Blue Cross of
California’s new business rates on most
plans within the
EmployeeElect and
BeneFits portfolios will be
reduced by five
percent!
Renewing groups
starting January 1, 2008, will also take
advantage of this lower renewal rate.
Please rest assured there are no
medical benefit changes and this is
not an early FOCAL.
It’s business as usual for the following
innovative plans:
Rates for the following Blue Cross plans
will not change with January 1, 2008,
effective dates:
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Health Savings Account (HSA) and Lumenos consumer-driven health
plans.
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PPO 3500 (HSA-compatible).
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PPO 2400 (HSA-compatible).
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Lumenos HSA 1500.
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Lumenos HSA 3000.
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Lumenos HIA Plus 3000.
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Indian Tribe plans.
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EmployeeChoice portfolio.
Please also note, rates for the
EmployeeElect portfolio for groups of 51
to 99 will remain unchanged.
Lowered guaranteed RAF.
Blue Cross’s lower enrollment size
requirements make it easier for more AB
1672 new groups to
qualify for a lower
RAF. Health questions are not
required. Furthermore, the lowest RAF
available is .90 and RAFs are guaranteed
for the initial 12 months from the
medical coverage effective date.
The following guaranteed RAF continues
from August 1, 2007, through January 15,
2008, effective dates:
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Groups of 8 to 12 receive a .95 RAF.
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Groups of 13 to 50 receive a .90
RAF.
New Dental Blue 100-80 plans offer more.
Blue Cross is introducing six new dental
plans. They mirror the current Dental
Blue 100 Metallic plans, but offer 80
percent out-of-network reimbursement.
They also offer all the same benefits as
the existing dental plans, but with
added perks such as:
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Higher out-of-network reimbursements
(on par with the original Metallic
plans).
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Negotiated rates for non-covered
services obtained in-network.
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Negotiated discounts after calendar
year maximum is reached.
The new Dental Blue may just be the
alternative your clients are looking for
to offset the January 1, 2008, Dental
rate action. |