Get on the Q4 Fast Track with Blue Shield and RBG

4th Quarter Rates – Statewide average 0.0% rate action for all small business plans

See table for HMO and PPO rate action breakdown:

Fourth Quarter Renewal Kits Include New “Your Options” Section

All 4th Quarter Blue Shield renewal kits feature a new census section, which presents different options for each group’s renewal. Your employer groups can now see a snapshot of the following options for their group renewal:

  • Current (2017) plan and rate
  • Renewal – New (2018) Medical plan and rate
  • Increased Plan benefits (benefit upgrade) option for a slightly richer plan than current
  • Decrease premium (benefit downgrade) option for a leaner plan than current
  • Try a Trio HMO plan and Try a Tandem PPO plan columns show premiums for plans similar to current benefits using these more cost competitive networks

New Enhanced Member Benefits Management Tool in Employer Connection Plus

Several upgrades have been made to EC+ to simplify and streamline renewal and benefit administration processes, creating a more user-friendly experience, including improved site functionality on both desktop and mobile devices.

Blue Shield began moving employer groups to the new benefits management tool starting the end of July. The transition is taking place in a staged release, based on the group’s renewal cycle, to ease the transition on groups and their brokers during this upcoming busy season. The migration will occur in waves based on renewal dates as shown in the table below:

EC+ Benefits Management Tool Enhancements 2018 FAQ

Updated Blue Shield forms are available on the RBG website

Blue Shield Master Group Application– Effective October 1, 2018 Blue Shield Underwriting will require the October 2018 version of the MGA for 10/1/18 and later effective dates – no exceptions.

The following statement has been added to the MGA in the group authorization and signature area:

By signing below, the group acknowledges that it understands that in the event Blue Shield coverage is issued and group fails to pay any premiums due, Blue Shield reserves the right to collect such unpaid premiums before issuing new coverage, if the unpaid premiums came due during the 12-month period preceding the effective date of any new coverage.

  • This was added because of a new federal rule that will allow Underwriting to collect past due premium before effectuating new coverage.

Blue Shield Employee Enrollment Form – Effective October 1, 2018

Subscriber Change Request Form – Effective October 1, 2018

Blue Shield Group Information Update Form – Effective October 1, 2018

Blue Shield Request for Contract Change – Effective October 1, 2018

Rogers Benefit Group is your expert Blue Shield team for Q4. Be sure to ask about online enrollment!