WELCOME. Broker NEWSLETTER. Fall 2015

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1 Broker NEWSLETTER Fall 2015 WELCOME We are excited to present our newly redesigned quarterly broker and member newsletter. It includes some exciting changes that we hope you will find informative as well as helpful. Stories focus on best practices to help you grow and retain your business, listings of upcoming events you can take advantage of, changes to group and individual products and processes, as well as Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes. Your Broker Relations team is here to help you and your staff understand the tools, products, services and capabilities that bring even more value to Blue Cross of Idaho. Most importantly, we want you to know that we value our partnership with the broker/agent community. Please contact me or the Broker Relations Team at or com with suggestions of how we can better serve you. Our goal is to be your first and best choice when recommending a health carrier and plans to your clients. Thank you for your continued support. Terrie Havis Director, Broker Relations

2 Open Enrollment Begins November 1 The annual open enrollment period is fast approaching, but there s still time to make sure you re ready for this busy time of year. This year, the open enrollment period runs from November 1 through January 31, 2016, for all qualified health plans (QHPs), whether they are purchased through the online Your Health Idaho (YHI) exchange or off the exchange. If your clients are purchasing on-exchange plans, applications must be submitted no later than December 15 for a January 1 effective date. Applications for off-exchange plans will be accepted through the end of December for a January 1 effective date. Thanks to your responses to last year s broker survey, Blue Cross of Idaho has continued to develop our plan offerings. This year we re introducing both an individual Silver HSA option, as well as a St. Luke s Health Partners CCO. Keep an eye out for more details coming on both of these new products. Remember, anyone selling QHP products, either on- or off-exchange must be certified with YHI. Please see the YHI Certification story below. NOV 1 Don t forget to save to date the attend one of our fall Broker Training sessions held in locations across the state, where you can get details about plans and more for the upcoming year. For a full list of dates, see the fold out on the back page of this newsletter. YHI Certification Don t forget that anyone planning to sell individual QHP plans needs to be certified by Your Health Idaho (YHI). The Affordable Care Act requires that all brokers create a user ID and complete online training through YHI before they can sell QHP products on exchange. Blue Cross of Idaho also requires certification to sell off exchange individual QHP products. If you created an account last year, you can use the same information to log in, but anyone setting one up for the first time can contact YHI at outreach@ yourhealthidaho.org. Remember, this is an Idaho-specific training and certification process and is done entirely online. YHI will send out a notification to all certified brokers as soon as 2016 training is available. Coverage that fits

3 Join Your Local Health Underwriters Association Blue Cross of Idaho is a proud supporter of health underwriters at all levels, including the National Association of Heath Underwriters, the Idaho Association of Health Underwriters, and local chapters of the organization. If you re not already a member, there are many reasons to consider joining. First, the association is an excellent source of information on what s happening with healthcare reform regulation, product and industry innovations, as well as best practices for growing and keeping your business. Additionally, the association helps to lobby the legislature to protect the interests of brokers and agents, as well as the entire industry from the local to the national levels. The association also offers numerous opportunities for professional development, including certifications, designations and continuing education credits for all meetings. If you re interested in learning about this important organization, you can find more about the Idaho Association of Health Underwriters at iahu.org, or the national organization at nahu.org. Keep an eye out for upcoming events in this newsletter. New Director of Sales joins Blue Cross of Idaho Tom Loach joined Blue Cross of Idaho as the Director of Sales in July. Tom has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and joins us from UnitedHealth Group/Optum where he served as the director of sales and account management for Medicare Advantage plans in the Georgia market. Prior to being at UnitedHealth Group, Loach worked at Anthem for 18 years in sales. He received his Masters in Business Administration and a BA degree in Economics from the University of Georgia. We re happy to have Tom as part of the Blue Cross of Idaho team.

4 Broker Relations Contacts Need some help? Here is the information you need when you need a quick, reliable answer. Need help with billing, benefit, or claims questions? Broker Hotline Need assistance with applications or group sales? District Sales Office Questions on Medicare Advantage? Call our MA Broker Hotline! Commission, appointment or certification inquiries? Broker Relations brokerrelations@bcidaho.com

5 Save the Date Make sure these important dates are on your calendar and join us for our Fall 2015 Broker Meetings. Register on the Online Learning Center found on the broker portal at bcidaho.com/brokers. Treasure Valley Friday, September 18 Nampa Civic Center 311 Third St. S., Nampa Monday, September 21 Courtyard Marriott 1789 S. Eagle Road, Meridian Monday, September 28 Courtyard Marriott 1789 S. Eagle Road, Meridian Magic Valley Tuesday, September 22 Hilton Garden Inn 1741 Harrison St. N., Twin Falls Eastern Idaho Wednesday, September 23 Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Events Center 777 Bannock Trail Dr., Fort Hall Thursday, September 24 Hilton Garden Inn 700 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls North Idaho Tuesday, September 29 Quality Inn 700 Port Dr., Clarkston, Wash. Wednesday, September 30 Hampton Inn 1500 W. Riverstone Dr., Coeur d Alene Blue Cross of Idaho bcidaho.com

6 3000 E. Pine Ave. Meridian, ID PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOISE, IDAHO PERMIT NO. 78 IE Published by Blue Cross of Idaho by Blue Cross of Idaho, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement not take the place of the recommendations of your healthcare provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or healthcare regimen. Blue Cross of Idaho makes no endorsements or warranties regarding any of the products and services included in this publication or its articles. Meet the Broker Relations Team We place a high value on our relationship with brokers across the state, which is why we have a team dedicated to working to make your jobs just a little easier. We re always available to help answer questions or get you the information or materials you need. Thank you for all you do. Back Row (left to right): Megan Smith-Hallingshead, Lynette Gaskell, Julie Johnson, Adam Caldwell, Suzanne Finch, Teresa Wendell, Lisa Wilson Front Row (left to right): Terrie Havis, Crystal Hayes 2015 by Blue Cross of Idaho, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association