HMOSelect Coming to Colorado Springs

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1 isg November news 2006 INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP BUSINESS NEWS FOR COLORADO AGENTS Qualify for Our 2007 Top Producers Conference and Sales Academy! We re off and running with two exclusive West region agent incentive programs. Be among the 5 top producers invited to enjoy five days on the secluded island of Lana i, Hawaii, from August 4-8, And be one of the top 30 agents invited to our first-ever West Region Sales Academy at the La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California. From June 24-27, 2007, these agents will acquire valuable sales tools and techniques, while also recharging their spirit at one of California s premiere resorts. Qualifying for both events continues through January 31, 2007, so there s plenty of time to increase your sales and be invited to both of these exciting events. Look for your point status information in the mail, or call your regional sales manager if you have any questions. Tips for Online Individual Sales Here are some things to remember about online sales to your Individual customers: Most people shopping online don t want to talk with someone unless it s absolutely necessary. For that reason, there s often less opportunity for personal interaction with your online clients so make it count if you do get the chance to talk with them. Keep it simple the more companies you quote online, the more overwhelmed with information your customers could become. For example, quoting 10 companies with five plans each means your clients have to muddle through information about 50 plans. Not a recipe for success! Find the two or three companies such as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield that offer the widest range of plans with the best value, and quote those for maximum sales. Why sell Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield? When you offer our products, that can mean instant name recognition so your clients probably won t need an explanation about who we are. That can help minimize a potential purchasing barrier. By making it easy for your customers, they ll probably be less likely to look elsewhere in search of a simpler buying process. You may be concerned that limiting the number of companies you quote online could mean you re not offering a plan for every customer. But by quoting only the top two or three companies online, you ll still likely meet the needs of most potential buyers. And by making Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield one of your online offerings, you re providing your Individual clients with a wide range of coverage options our PPO, Tonik, HSA and no-deductible health plans, along with dental and life coverage while also making the shopping process as easy as possible for them. HMOSelect Coming to Colorado Springs Our HMOSelect network is expanding to Elbert, El Paso and Teller counties, effective November 1, This expansion into the Colorado Springs market means you can now offer your clients more choices in our EmployeeElect and BeneFits portfolios. Cost-conscious Small Group employers can make the most of their health care dollars, while their employees have access to community-based physicians and other providers near where they live and work. Rather than paying for access to our full HMO Colorado network, members receive services from a limited network. Except for urgent and emergency care, members must use health care providers in the HMOSelect network. This includes the members PCP, specialists and all health care facilities. The expanded HMOSelect provider directory is now available at Colorado Small Group Employee Applications The Colorado Division of Insurance has created a Colorado Uniform Employee Application for Small Group Health Benefit Plans. Effective January 1, 2007, all Colorado employer groups with 1-50 employees must use this state-mandated application when applying for new small group coverage or when requesting changes to their existing coverage, regardless of the groups effective date. Because the new application doesn t include plan options, employers also must submit the applicable completed Anthem supplemental form with the completed Uniform Employee Application. Employers must use the new Colorado Uniform Employee Application and the appropriate supplemental forms, and they must provide all the information requested on the application and supplemental forms. We ll return any incomplete or incorrect applications and forms to your clients, which could delay their enrollment or change requests.

2 Registering for AgentServices Go to anthem.com, and click the Brokers & Producers tab. Craig German Region 2: Metro Denver West and South Select your state, and click Enter. From the drop-down menu, select Login to AgentServices. Click Login to AgentServices again. Click Register for access to the site here. Complete the agent registration screen. If you need help with the AgentServices tool, please call our ISG sales support team at or toll free at We re here to help! Changing the Agent of Record When changing the agent of record for a policy, don t forget to include the following important information: For small groups, you must submit the change request on the company s letterhead. An officer of the company must sign and date the request, and the person s name and title must be printed under the signature. The request must be dated no more than 30 days before it s submitted. Be sure to include the group number and agent number. For individuals, the member must sign and date the change request and print his or her name underneath the signature. The request must be dated no more than 30 days before it s submitted. Be sure to include the agent number and the member s ID or Social Security number. It s helpful to include a letter of acceptance from the new agent, but it s not required. Please allow our finance department 30 days to process change requests. In most cases, the change will be effective the first of the month after we receive the request. Exceptions may apply when the change request is properly researched and we receive proper documentation. Care Outside of Colorado When your clients ask, Am I covered when I travel? you can say, yes! At no additional cost, our BlueCard program provides coverage for your PPO clients who get sick or have a medical emergency while they re traveling. They have access to doctors and hospitals across the country and around the world, giving them peace of mind that they ll be able to get care when and where they need it. For non-emergency care, members can go to to find nearby participating doctors and hospitals. Or they can call BLUE 2583). Members have to get preauthorization for some types of care and services, or they must make sure their provider obtains it. The pre-authorization phone number is on the back of the member s health plan ID card. How Do You Reach 110,000 Uninsured Small Businesses? BeneFits! A new way to offer health insurance for small businesses, this portfolio of Small Group plans provides a simple, affordable solution to help you sell in a wide open market. We ve also lowered the employee participation requirement to 60 percent. Small group employers can offer one plan, any combination or all plans. Please contact me if you want to learn more about the unique features of BeneFits or if you want to talk about marketing ideas. I m here to help you grow your business! Seminars If you need help navigating your way Date: November 14, 2006 Time: 10 a.m.-noon Location: 700 Broadway 9th Floor Executive Conference Room Denver, Colorado Our BeneFits portfolio is adapted to the special needs of small businesses that haven t offered group coverage before or those in danger of dropping coverage: It offers five targeted plans with affordable rates for cost-sensitive groups. We ve lowered the employer contribution amounts as low as 25 percent or $50 per employee.

3 Registering for AgentServices Go to anthem.com, and click the Brokers & Producers tab. Donna Wilson Region 1: Colorado South Select your state, and click Enter. From the drop-down menu, select Login to AgentServices. Click Login to AgentServices again. Click Register for access to the site here. Complete the agent registration screen. If you need help with the AgentServices tool, please call our ISG sales support team at or toll free at We re here to help! Changing the Agent of Record When changing the agent of record for a policy, don t forget to include the following important information: For small groups, you must submit the change request on the company s letterhead. An officer of the company must sign and date the request, and the person s name and title must be printed under the signature. The request must be dated no more than 30 days before it s submitted. Be sure to include the group number and agent number. For individuals, the member must sign and date the change request and print his or her name underneath the signature. The request must be dated no more than 30 days before it s submitted. Be sure to include the agent number and the member s ID or Social Security number. It s helpful to include a letter of acceptance from the new agent, but it s not required. Please allow our finance department 30 days to process change requests. In most cases, the change will be effective the first of the month after we receive the request. Exceptions may apply when the change request is properly researched and we receive proper documentation. Care Outside of Colorado Seminars When your clients ask, Am I covered when I travel? you can say, yes! At no additional cost, our BlueCard program provides coverage for your PPO clients who get sick or have a medical emergency while they re traveling. They have access to doctors and hospitals across the country and around the world, giving them peace of mind that they ll be able to get care when and where they need it. For non-emergency care, members can go to to find nearby participating doctors and hospitals. Or they can call BLUE 2583). Members have to get preauthorization for some types of care and services, or they must make sure their provider obtains it. The pre-authorization phone number is on the back of the member s health plan ID card. Date: November 21, 2006 Location: Wyndham Hotel 5580 Tech Center Drive Colorado Springs, Colorado begins at 8:45 a.m. How Do You Reach 110,000 Uninsured Small Businesses? BeneFits! A new way to offer health insurance for small businesses, this portfolio of Small Group plans provides a simple, affordable solution to help you sell in a wide open market. Our BeneFits portfolio is adapted to the special needs of small businesses that haven t offered group coverage before or those in danger of dropping coverage: It offers five targeted plans with affordable rates for cost-sensitive groups. If you need help navigating your way Date: November 28, 2006 Location: Marriott South Denver Park Meadows Drive Littleton, Colorado begins at 8:45 a.m. Date: November 29, 2006 Location: Pueblo Convention Center 320 Central Main Street Pueblo, Colorado begins at 8:45 a.m. We ve lowered the employer contribution amounts as low as 25 percent or $50 per employee. We ve also lowered the employee participation requirement to 60 percent. Small group employers can offer one plan, any combination or all plans. Please contact me if you want to learn more about the unique features of BeneFits or if you want to talk about marketing ideas. I m here to help you grow your business!

4 Earn More on Small Group Business Now you can earn more money on health benefits sales to Colorado small groups who are new to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield with effective dates between October 1, 2006, and January 31, We ll pay a one-time bonus of $35 per enrolled employee for new groups purchasing health coverage, in addition to your standard commission. To qualify: The group must have 1-50 employees. You must have a current Anthem appointment. The business must be written during the qualifying period and remain qualified through February 28, We ll base the bonus on the number of covered employees as of February 28, Accounts transferred due to a change in the broker of record, or the purchase of, merger with or partnership with another agency, are excluded. Classification Carve-outs Sometimes small group employers ask about offering our products alongside other brands. Although we don t co-exist with other carriers, we might be able to help small group business owners through classification carve-outs. Rob Kosick Region 3: Metro Denver East and North Rob.Kosick@anthem.com Here s how it works: We can recognize groups of employees by classification, if each class has distinct characteristics and at least two eligible employees. Owners and managers or salaried and hourly employees are examples of employee classifications. We treat each class like an individual group within the whole group. The carve-outs still must meet all small group requirements, such as the employee participation rate and the employer contribution level. We ll consider classification carve-outs with underwriting approval. We can offer a group plan to one class, while another carrier can offer coverage to the other employee class. We can even offer EmployeeElect to one class and BeneFits to the other class. Each class will have its own group contract and group number. They ll receive separate billing, and the employer can submit the same UITR for each carved-out class when submitting the group s enrollment. Each class will also have a unique rate adjustment factor and rates. Seminars If you need help navigating your way Date: November 14, 2006 Time: 10 a.m.-noon Location: 700 Broadway 9th Floor Executive Conference Room Denver, Colorado

5 Earn More on Your Small Group Business The fourth quarter is coming up time for the final rush to get more green! Now you can earn more money on health benefits sales to Colorado small groups who are new to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield with effective dates between October 1, 2006, and January 31, Your bonus will be based on the amount of new Small Group business you do with us. The more new business you close, the greater your reward. Individual and Small Group Health Insurance Is a Big Deal for Us Many small business owners and individuals without access to a group health plan worry about whether they can afford health insurance. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is here to help these customers, because we re committed to changing their health insurance experience. We have special business units dedicated to serving the Individual and Small Group markets. By understanding their needs, we can design and offer health care plans that work for them. Our Tonik, RightPlan PPO 40, EmployeeElect and BeneFits portfolios all take into account the special and distinct needs of individuals and small business owners. By offering choice, simplicity and service from a company that s dedicated to these markets, you can help assure your clients that they re getting the kind of coverage they need and deserve. Tammy Banich Region 7: Outlying Areas Tammy.Banich@anthem.com Submission Deadline for New Small Group Business Extended Because the fourth quarter is such a busy time, we ve extended the deadline for submitting new Small Group business to the fifth of the month in which the group becomes effective. Seminars If you are need help navigating your way Date: November 28, 2006 Location: Marriott South Denver Park Meadows Drive Littleton, Colorado begins at 8:45 a.m. Date: November 29, 2006 Location: Pueblo Convention Center 320 Central Main Street Pueblo, Colorado begins at 8:45 a.m. Date: November 21, 2006 Location: Wyndham Hotel 5580 Tech Center Drive Colorado Springs, Colorado begins at 8:45 a.m.

6 Individual and Small Group Health Insurance Is a Big Deal for Us Many small business owners and individuals without access to a group health plan worry about whether they can afford health insurance. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is here to help these customers, because we re committed to changing their health insurance experience. We have special business units dedicated to serving the Individual and Small Group markets. By understanding their needs, we can design and offer health care plans that work for them. Our Tonik, RightPlan PPO 40, EmployeeElect and BeneFits portfolios all take into account the special and distinct needs of individuals and small business owners. By offering choice, simplicity and service from a company that s dedicated to these markets, you can help assure your clients that they re getting the kind of coverage they need and deserve. Troy Muckerheide Region 4: Colorado North Troy.Muckerheide@anthem.com You must have a current Anthem appointment and be acting as our agent for sales of health benefit products to small groups with effective dates between October 1, 2006, and January 31, Groups sold with effective dates of September 30, 2006, or before don t count toward the bonus. We ll pay the bonus only for new business written during the qualifying period and that remains continuously qualified through February 28, We ll base bonus calculations on the number of covered employees as of February 28, The bonus applies solely to commissioned business general agents aren t eligible for the bonus). Earn More on Your Small Group Business The fourth quarter is here time for the final rush to get more green! Accounts transferred due to a change in the broker of record, or the purchase of, merger with or partnership with another agency, are excluded. Now you can earn more money on health benefits sales to Colorado small groups who are new to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield with effective dates between October 1, 2006, and January 31, Your bonus will be based on the amount of new Small Group business you do with us. The more new business you close, the greater your reward. We ll issue bonus checks by the end of March Program overview We ll pay a one-time bonus of $35 per enrolled employee for new groups purchasing health coverage, in addition to your standard commission. The following conditions apply: The group must have 1-50 enrolled employees. Seminars If you are need help navigating your way Date: November 16, 2006 Time: 9-11 a.m. Location: The Ranch Country Club Tejon Street Westminster, Colorado begins at 9 a.m. The bonus doesn t apply to transfers between Anthem or our affiliates ) group plans. We may amend or discontinue the terms of this program at any time, and we may report bonuses when permissible by law.