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July 2023 Broker Newsletter

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

*New* Individual Gap Plan From MWG

Introducing a new supplemental insurance product for ACA Individual plans - the InPocket Plan. It covers everything that is applied to the Major Medical plan's deductible, coinsurance or copays (excluding Rx, Major Medical excluded services and professional fees in a Dr.'s office). InPocket Plan features include:

    • Pre-Existing Conditions Covered
    • No Health Questions
    • Guaranteed Issue
    • Calendar Year Benefits
    • Online Enrollment
    • ACH or Credit Card Payment

In addition to offering a great plan for your Individual clients, Brokers can earn an additional $45 a month commission by selling the InPocket Plan. Click here to learn more! 

Click here to get appointed with MWG.

Mid-Atlantic Women's Care to Leave Anthem Network

Mid-Atlantic Women’s Care, PLC (MAWC) has notified Anthem in Virginia that it intends to leave its care provider network on August 1, 2023. Anthem remains open to continued dialogue to negotiate a new agreement to keep MAWC practices and its physicians in their network. The negotiations center around Anthem's goal of maintaining equitable access to quality, affordable healthcare for its members and minimizing healthcare costs for Virginia families who are already struggling with the effects of high inflation. 

If MAWC ends their contract with Anthem, members may have to pay more for care received at the following:

    • Center for Women's Health
    • Chesapeake Women's Care
    • Complete Women's Care
    • Gynecology Specialists
    • Harrisonburg OB GYN Associates, PC
    • Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates of Hampton
    • Peninsula Women's Care
    • Physicians to Women, Inc.
    • Specialists for Women
    • The Group for Women
    • Tidewater Physicians for Women
    • TotalCare for Women
    • Virginia Beach Obstetrics & Gynecology
    • Virginia Center For Women
    • West End Obstetrics & Gynecology, PC
    • Williamsburg Obstetrics & Gynecology
    • WomanCare Centers
    • Mid-Atlantic Imaging Centers

Anthem 2023 Small Group Success Webinar Series

Upcoming Sessions:

    • August 3 | WealthCare Savers
    • September 7 | Specialty
    • October 5 | Peak Season Partnership

Click here to register. 

Optima Broker CE Opportunity

Topic: HSA Record Keeping Taxes & Penalties
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM
Credit: One hour

Click here to sign up!

The Standard to Acquire Anthem's Life & Disability Business

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. (The Standard) will soon acquire Anthem's life and disability (L&D) business. The contract is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. To prepare for the transition to The Standard, Anthem is migrating L&D groups to a single enrollment and billing system called Compass. The migration will happen in waves based on your clients’ renewal dates:

Group Renewal Date

January (California only)

January (non-California groups)

February - March

April - June

July - September

October - December

 

Migration Starts

January 2024

October 2023

September 2023

November 2023

December 2023

February 2024

About two months before a group's migration start date, they will receive letters detailing the changes and outlining the next steps. Click here to see these sample client letters. Some clients will need to sign and return a form to access the Compass employer self-service tools, and if so, the form will be included with their letter.

This change only impacts L&D plans. There are no changes to Anthem's medical, dental, vision, and supplemental health plans. 

If you or your clients have questions throughout this transition, you can contact the L&D team by phone 833-755-0483 or email LifeandDisabilityMigrationCommandCenter@anthem.com.

Important Updates from Optima Health

Effective June 1, 2023, Optima's headquarters has a new mailing address. The new address is PO Box 66189, Virginia Beach, VA 23466. Optima's phone numbers and email addresses remain the same. The remit address for premium payments also remains the same.

Effective July 1, 2023, Optima's legal entity names will change as follows:

    • Optima Health Plan (HMO, POS products) --> Sentara Health Plans
    • Optima Health Insurance Company (PPO products) --> Sentara Health Insurance Company
    • Sentara Health Plan, Inc. (Administrator for self- and level-funded groups) --> Sentara Health Administration, Inc.
    • Optima Health Behavioral Services --> Sentara Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
    • Optima EAP --> Sentara EAP

You may still see the name Optima Health on materials, ID cards, and in conversations until the end of 2023. Official name change notifications will begin going out to employers and members starting in July. 

In August 2023, they will begin a new marketing campaign to introduce their new name and look. This will include social media, digital advertising, radio, and other media.

In October 2023, open enrollment and renewal materials for Medicare members, individual product members, and employer groups effective January 1, 2024 and after will reflect the new name and branding.