Grow your earnings with the spring small group bonus!
Spring into action to earn up to $10,000 per group in bonuses with BCBSAZ’s 2nd quarter 2012 broker bonus program.
Get into the green by earning up to $15,000 with the 2012 Spring IU65 Broker Bonus!
Sow the seeds of success for your individual book of business and earn up to $15,000 through the BCBSAZ 2nd quarter Individual Under-65 broker bonus program.
BCBSAZ enhances Health Services leadership team
BCBSAZ’s Health Services Department is generating a great deal of buzz resulting from the acquisition of four new experienced executives who will play a key role on the Health Services leadership team.
Individual Under-65 plan rates updated for 2nd quarter 2012
Rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) Individual and Family plans will increase on average by 2.9% beginning on April 1, 2012.
PRODUCTS & BENEFITS
New voluntary plans, enhanced features add value and flexibility to BluePreferred® Dental Plan
Employer groups have something new to smile about with the addition of four voluntary plans for BluePreferred® Dental. These plans do not require employer contributions and allow participating employees to save on premium costs through pre-tax payroll deductions.
Announcing new, more affordable HSA-eligible plan options from BCBSAZ
We’ve listened to you! We are pleased to announce new BluePreferred HSA Plus coinsurance options that can help you broaden the range of affordable health plans for your 2-99 groups.
GeoBlue provides new coverage option for international employees, travelers
BCBSAZ has launched GeoBlue to provide health plans and services for employees of U.S. based businesses that are assigned to international locations or traveling internationally on business. Employees working overseas take on critical assignments and represent a significant investment by their organizations.
INDUSTRY INSIDER
Charting a path for quality and accreditation
BCBSAZ is making great strides toward achieving the URAC accreditation required to participate in the insurance exchange mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Joann Cipiti joins BCBSAZ as Government Strategic Executive
BCBSAZ is pleased to announce JoAnn Cipiti as the company’s Government Strategic Executive. In this newly created role, Cipiti will establish the company’s sales acquisition and retention strategy for government and municipal businesses.
CUSTOMER CORNER
New Member Health Statement now online
The new Member Health Statement – the redesigned explanation of benefits mailer we told you about last fall – is now available online to members through their BlueNetSM member account at azblue.com along with their regular Explanation of Benefits statements. This added online access comes with many additional features that make doing business with BCBSAZ even easier for members.
Good employee benefits like wellness programs can equal employee retention and satisfaction
As consumers become more health conscious, it’s no surprise that they’re increasingly looking for their employers to provide employee benefits that will aid them in their efforts to live healthier lives.
We are excited to launch the 7th annual Walk On! Challenge for 2012. As the largest health care provider in the state of Arizona, our goal is to educate and inspire fifth-grade students, their teachers and their families to focus on healthy choices through the 5-2-1-0 goal.
TOOLS & TIPS
Saving members time and money through Direct Bill Pay
And going green with paperless delivery options
BCBSAZ is committed to helping your customers cut costs, save time and play a part in efforts to go green by providing various electronic solutions instead of paper.
Enhancements made to BlueNetSM Online Portal for Group Benefit Administrators
Group Benefit Administrators will soon see changes to their BlueNet online portal. There will be a new look as well as changes to the Employee Roster, Member Profile and Enrollment sections.
Data accuracy on renewal documents key to securing best renewal
Changes in employee population size may have significant impact on quotes for health plans. Therefore, in order to ensure that you are receiving the most accurate rates for your client, BCBSAZ encourages brokers to provide any change in total eligible employees that may move the group across the 51+ threshold at least 90 days prior to the renewal date of their contract.
BCBSAZ to accept plan and/or effective date changes via telephone
BCBSAZ has implemented new guidelines for effective date and plan change requests related to Individual/Family Plans to make it even easier for you to provide exceptional service to your clients. Brokers, on behalf of their customers and Individual under-65 policyholders, can now make changes to their plan and/or effective date by calling BCBSAZ’s Enrollment department at 602-864-4115.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Notice 2012-9 providing additional guidance on requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for employers to report the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on employee W-2 wage statements.
BCBSAZ employees are here to serve you!
We’re here to help make you more successful. Please contact your account executive for assistance with training, marketing and events.
