Exciting Updates to Anthem Cornerstone Vision Plan!

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Anthem Cornerstone Vision Plan is Renewing for the Eighth Year with No Rate Increase

March 15, 2021, through April 15, 2021

Great news! As you know we have a multi-year rate hold for the Anthem Cornerstone Vision Plan with rates now expiring on March 31, 2024. Any group currently enrolled with the Anthem Cornerstone Vision Plan is approaching the open enrollment period. Enrollees added between March 15, 2021, and April 15, 2021, will become effective on the vision plan April 1, 2021.

Some important updates for this year’s open enrollment:

  • Please be reminded that any adds, deletes, or changes for open enrollment will have an effective date of April 1, 2021.

Two ways to enroll employees into the vision plan:

  • Employer Access Website
  • Online Employer Access is available. Please contact your broker advisor.
  • Changes may also be sent via Fax to: 877-628-4604. **Make sure to include the group number and the 4 digit sub group identifier (Ex: W42060-V001).

You will also find the updated summary of benefits and an additional flyer for Online Glasses and Contact Lens. Should you have any additional questions, please contact your Broker Advisor. Thank you for supporting the Anthem Cornerstone Vision product!

Resources

Cornerstone Anthem Vision Plan 2021–2024

Blue View Vision Flyer

Online Glasses and Contacts

Cornerstone Vision SOB 2021

Anthem Vision Employee Application

WealthCare Saver is Anthem’s New HSA Custodian

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On March 13, 2021, WealthCare Saver will replace PNC Bank as the custodian of the HSAs for:

  • Current Anthem members who are actively enrolled in an HSA-compatible health plan.
  • Current Anthem members who left their HSA-compatible health plan.
  • Anthem members who have left their employer.

No action is needed
There will be no change to debit cards, mobile apps, online portals, or account history. How your Group clients enroll, fund, and manage employees’ HSA programs will also stay the same. The only change account holders are likely to notice is that HSA communications will come from WealthCare Saver instead of PNC Bank after March 13.

Employees who have left their employer and active employees who left their HSA plan are being moved to a new administrative experience.
When an employee with an HSA leaves their employer, or an active employee leaves their HSA-compatible health plan, their HSA is no longer administered by Anthem. It is considered a stand-alone account. These account holders began transitioning to a new administrator, WealthCare, on July 1, 2020. The administrative and custodial transition will be complete for all stand-alone account holders by March 13, 2021.

Transition notifications will be sent to employers and employees
WealthCare Saver will send a letter to employees about the custodial change, as well as their new WealthCare Saver account holder agreement, 30 days prior to the transition.

Contact your Cornerstone representative for more information.

Anthem Releases Multiple Updates Regarding COVID-19

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Anthem recently released the following information regarding COVID-19…

Who Should Be Tested for COVID-19?

The Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) advises that only certain people should be tested for COVID-19. They recommend viral testing for a current infection when:

  • A healthcare professional or local or state health department recommends testing.
  • COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell are present.
  • Someone has close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone confirmed to have COVID-19.

Any Anthem member considering COVID-19 testing should notify their doctor or telehealth program first. Their doctor can help evaluate their risk and decide if testing is needed. Remember, members will have no out-of-pocket costs to worry about when their doctor evaluates their symptoms and orders COVID-19 testing.

If their doctor recommends testing, the member can use Anthem’s COVID-19 Test Site Finder tool to find nearby testing locations.

Register for Anthem’s Vaccines Webinar on January 12

Anthem is offering another opportunity to learn about important topics for your business.

Please join leaders from across Anthem at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, as they share the latest information on COVID-19, including clinical updates with a focus on vaccines.

Register here and save the event to your calendar.

This is a streamed event only. There will be no dial-in option.

Anthem Extends Health Plan Timeframes During COVID-19 Emergency

In response to the national COVID-19 emergency, Anthem is giving your clients more time to enroll in a health plan, file and appeal claims, elect COBRA continuation coverage, and pay COBRA premiums.

U.S. Department of Labor guidance effective March 1, 2020, remains in effect, suspending key timeframes until 60 days after the federal government declares the end of the national emergency or outbreak period in your area, whichever is later.

This applies to Fully Insured and self-funded ERISA employer-sponsored plans only.

Anthem is extending timeframes to make it easier for employees to:

  • Take advantage of special enrollment if they previously declined employer-sponsored coverage but would now like to enroll.
  • Elect COBRA continuation coverage if they lose their job or their work hours are reduced.
  • Pay COBRA premiums.
  • File or appeal claims.
  • Notify their plan of qualifying life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a baby or adoption, or disability determination related to COBRA coverage.

Anthem developed a letter you can share with your clients to explain the extended timeframes.

 

Contact your Cornerstone representative with any questions you may have.

ER Doctors at OhioHealth are Staying with Anthem

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Anthem reached an agreement with Mid-Ohio Emergency Services to keep them in your clients’ health plans. Your clients’ employees will remain covered for care they receive from this group, which provides emergency services at OhioHealth’s hospitals (Grant Medical Center, Riverside Methodist Hospital, and Dublin Methodist Hospital) and OhioHealth’s freestanding emergency rooms (ERs) in Westerville, Pickerington, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Obetz, Powell, and New Albany.

Contact your Cornerstone representative for more information.

December Anthem Updates to Know About

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Anthem Reaches Agreement with Two Physician Groups

As of December 1, 2020, Anthem reached an agreement to keep Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio and Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Richland County (Sound Physicians) in their clients’ plans. Clients’ employees will remain covered for care with both physician groups.

Site of Care Expansion

Anthem has expanded our Site of Care review program to determine whether it’s medically necessary for members to have various surgical procedures, such as hernia repair, biopsy, and hysteroscopy, in addition to upper endoscopy and colonoscopy, in a hospital outpatient facility.

Click here to learn more.

Remember to Use EDE Technology to Simplify Individual ACA Enrollment

Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE) technology makes it easier for customers to compare plans and apply, renew and enroll in health coverage with Anthem. It’s available for on-exchange ACA plans in federally facilitated marketplace (FFM) states. EDE technology lets you and your Individual clients complete the eligibility and enrollment process on a single website instead of healthcare.gov.

Click here to learn more.

September Anthem News Updates

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Helping Employees Protect Themselves and Their Loved Ones

Life insurance is a key part of an employee’s overall financial wellness. This September is Life Insurance Awareness Month—and a good time for your clients to remind their employees of the importance of protecting their family members if they, unfortunately, face a loss.

You can guide your clients by reminding them of the life insurance provisions that can help their employees receive the coverage they need, even if they were to lose their job or have their hours reduced:

  • Continuation of coverage: If an employee is not working due to a layoff, leave of absence, or disability, their employer can continue to pay their premiums for a period of time — usually 1 to 3 months.
  • Conversion: If an employee leaves or loses their job, they can convert their group life coverage to an individual life policy and pay the premiums directly to Anthem.
  • Portability: If an employee leaves or loses their job, they may be able to keep their voluntary or supplemental life plan by paying the premiums directly to Anthem.

Click here to learn more.

Cancer Care Navigator Program

Anthem’s new Cancer Care Navigator program helps fully insured and ASO members understand their cancer diagnosis and treatment plans, make sense of benefit options, and connect to helpful resources in their community.

Cancer Care Navigators serve as the central point of contact at Anthem for members and their cancer care teams across the care experience. They work to reduce the burdens facing many members with cancer by:

  • Supporting member and caregiver needs.
  • Connecting the member to critical Anthem and community resources.
  • Reinforcing treatment plans and medications, and providing education about possible side effects.

Click here to learn more.

Updates to ACA Preventive Care Drug List

Anthem is removing Annovera, Balcoltra, Falessa Kit, Lo Loestrin FE, Natazia, Slynd, Taytulla, and Twirla from the ACA Preventive Care Drug List January 1, 2021, for fully insured and ASO members with women’s contraceptive benefits. Members will pay their plan’s cost share for these branded drugs. Anthem will continue to cover generic contraceptives at no cost to members.

Anthem is sending letters to affected members and their prescribing doctors on October 1, 2020, to allow time to explore options and provide new prescriptions for their patients. Letters to health care professionals will include some generic contraceptive alternatives that our plans cover at no cost to members.

Click here to learn more.

Mental Health Trends Webinar

Anthem is offering another opportunity to learn about important topics for your business.

Please join Anthem leaders at 2 p.m. (ET) on Monday, September 21, 2020, as they share the latest information on COVID-19, including legislative and clinical updates. They’ll focus on regulatory and mental health trends and resources.

REGISTER NOW and save the event to your calendar.

Click here to learn more.

GM/Legacy Renewals for January 1, 2021

The average rate increase for the entire Renewal Block is 6 percent. Anthem also has about 80 percent of the block coming in at less than a 10 percent rate increase!  There will obviously be some outliers, but they believe this will give your groups’ some relief during these uncertain times.  Also, the GM/Legacy renewals will be released in mid-September.

Dental PPE Reimbursement Extension to October 31, 2020

Many dental providers are charging an additional $10 per visit to help them cover the cost of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their staff. Anthem will reimburse members for this additional charge up to $10 per patient per visit to in-network PPO providers through October 31, 2020.

Telehealth Cost Share Changes

As of September 30, 2020, Anthem member cost share waivers for video only telehealth visits will expire.

Starting October 1, 2020, Anthem members will pay their usual cost shares for visual telehealth visits with in-network providers. Anthem will continue to cover in-network telephone only visits at no cost share through December 31, 2020.  Starting October 1, 2020, LiveHealth Online visits will require member cost shares.

Eligibility Requirements Continue to Be Relaxed to the End of the Year

Anthem’s requirement for employees to be actively working in order to be eligible for coverage will be relaxed through December 31, 2020, as long as the monthly premium payment is received.

Anthem will allow employees that have a reduction in hours (work less than 30 hours per week) to continue coverage through December 31, 2020, as long as the monthly premium payment is received.

SBC Template Updated for 2021

CMS released an updated 2021 SBC Template, Instructions, Uniform Glossary and Guide, Narratives (Maternity, Diabetes and Foot Fracture) and Calculator for coverage examples. The AI/AN zero cost sharing template is now also available for use.

As a reminder, group health plans and health insurance issuers will be required to use the 2021 SBC template and associated materials beginning on the first day of the first open enrollment period for any plan years (or, in the individual market, policy years) that begin on or after January 1, 2021, with respect to coverage for plan or policy years beginning on or after that date.

Contact your Cornerstone representative to learn more.

Important September Anthem Updates

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Plasma Donations to Fight COVID-19

Members who have fully recovered from a positive COVID-19 diagnosis can support research that might save lives by donating their blood plasma. It may contain antibodies that can help researchers understand how the immune system fights the virus and how to more effectively treat patients. Help Anthem spread the word by sharing this information with your clients.
Plasma donation is safe, quick, and similar to donating blood. Visit the Anthem coronavirus website to learn more about the donation process and eligibility requirements.

Dental PPE Reimbursement Extension

To protect the health of their members and minimize unexpected fees, Anthem began paying dentists a personal protective equipment (PPE) reimbursement as of June 15, 2020. They pay $10 per dental patient, per visit, on dental PPO network claims for PPE. Anthem will be extending the reimbursement from August 31 through October 31, 2020.

Phishing Scams Target Brokers

Email-based malware has targeted health care professionals and brokers recently. Anthem has identified information-security practices that you should consider adopting to protect your business and clients.
  • Microsoft Office macros often deliver email-based malware. You can disable macros if you do not need them for day-to-day work.
  • Consider blocking access to websites that have no category or no reputation in the network security product you use.
  • Reject email messages that contain attachments with software scripts, executable files, or zip files containing scripts (such as .vbs or .js) or executables.
  • Call a trusted contact number for the payee to verify before authorizing a change to electronic payment details when the payee requests the change in an email message. Report suspicious email messages to the payee immediately.
  • Require two-factor authentication for remote access to work-related applications, including web based email. This is like having two locks with different keys.
  • Train your employees and users to recognize their login pages and to be suspicious when they’re asked to login to a system or page that they do not recognize.

RSVP Today! 2021 Small Group Carrier Update Webinars

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Join us for these brief, informative sessions focused on small group to get up-to-speed on 2021 plans, what to expect with renewals, and more!

Unable to make a session? No problem! We are recording sessions for our agents who aren’t able to attend. Please contact your Cornerstone representative for a link to the recording and materials.

*Sessions are for active Cornerstone Employee Benefit agents.

Webinar Schedule:

Day 1: Monday September 14, 2020

9:00 am–10:00 am — Aetna, hosted by Nelson Culp

  • Scott Bredmour from Aetna will cover their 2 to 100 eligible level-funded product (Aetna Funding Advantage). With Aetna now a CVS company, Scott will go through how all members can get a COVID-19 test through one of their CVS locations without a doctors note and no cost to the member, as well as how you can book an appointment online.

10:00 am–11:00 am — Humana, hosted by Shelly Brownell

  • Humana’s Leslie Isler will cover dental and vision, a level-funded premium overview, On Hand, a reminder about EAP, and Go365 updates.

Register for the September 14 webinars

Day 2: Monday September 21, 2020

9:00 am–10:00 am — Anthem and Anthem SOCA, hosted by Shelly Brownell

  • Please join the Anthem sales team as they cover new products and networks for 2021, technology enhancements for members, and more for small group 2 to 50 and key accounts 51 to 99.

Register for the September 21 webinar

Day 3: Monday September 28, 2020

9:00 am–10:00 am — MMO and MMO COSE, hosted by Kim Kinnaird

  • MMO will present updates on all their plans for January 2021 including ACA, Grandmothered/Grandfathered, the COSE MEWA, and ancillary. They’ll also cover what to expect with upcoming renewals and new options for wellness.

10:00 am–11:00 am — UnitedHealthcare, hosted by Jeff Lewis

  • Get up to speed for fourth quarter with UnitedHealthcare. UHC will discuss January 1, 2021, readiness for small businesses (2–50).

Register for the September 28 webinars

Anthem Updates: New Producer Toolbox Dashboards, Live Chat, and More

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Live Chat and New Producer Toolbox Dashboards

Anthem’s new Producer Toolbox dashboards give you a window to your business and quick, easy access to the tools and information you use most often:

  • Frequent Tasks: Use a button to Start a New Quote, Start an Application, or View All Clients.
  • Recent Activity: Check the status of your recent quotes and applications, and upcoming renewals.
  • Commissions: View your last 3 months of commissions and access a full report.
  • Billing Summary: See the status of your clients’ invoices.
  • Last Viewed Clients: Return to clients you’ve recently viewed.
  • Popular Documents: Access all resources and forms quickly and generate reports here.
    Coming soon: Pin your favorite documents and reports.
New Producer Assistant live chat
Producer Assistant now connects you to a live representative from Broker Services or User Software Support to give you the answers you need right away, including assistance with billing inquiries.

Click here to learn more.

Anthem Joins XPRIZE to Foster COVID Testing Innovation

The Anthem Foundation and Anthem, Inc., are Founding Anchor Partners of the $5 million XPRIZE Rapid COVID Testing competition.

XPRIZE, OpenCovidScreen, and a coalition of partners are calling on the global community to develop frequent, affordable, and easy-to-use screening tests with fast results to catch COVID-19 occurrences before they become outbreaks. Affordable testing and rapid results are designed to enhance access to testing and support better, data-driven contact tracing and isolating strategies.

Click here to learn more.

New EmployerAccess Mobile App Now Available

Anthem’s new EmployerAccess mobile app has added features to make managing group plans easier. If you’re designated as the group administrator for your clients, you will be able to manage your groups from anywhere. You can make payments, find member benefit information, and view/share ID cards. The virtual Employer Assistant will help you navigate the app and find the information you need, including the latest Anthem news and notifications.

Click here to learn more.

Anthem Will Issue MLR Rebates in August

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In an effort to ease the financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anthem will fast-track the annual medical loss ratio (MLR) rebates that groups and individual members typically receive in late September to August.

The medical loss ratio provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) encourages health plans to spend most of the premium dollars they collect on health care costs rather than overhead. It’s a ratio of insurance claims costs to insurance premiums, and is expressed as a percentage.

In the fully insured small group and individual markets, the MLR provision requires plans to spend at least 80 percent of premium income on health care claims and quality improvement. In the fully insured large group market, it requires at least 85 percent. In markets where Anthem doesn’t meet the minimum ratio, they are required to issue rebates to employer groups and individual members. ASO plans and stop-loss insurance are excluded from the rebates.

Anthem groups and individuals in 8 states will receive rebates this year.

Anthem will send rebate checks to employer groups and individual members along with a federally mandated notice that explains MLR and how it is calculated. They are also mandated to notify employees of the groups that receive rebate checks.

ACA rules require that employers either distribute the rebate among their employees covered by the rebated plan or use it to lower premiums in the next plan year. Rebate distributions must be made within three months of the policyholder’s receipt of the rebate. Group plans that are subject to Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) laws may also use the rebate funds to pay current plan premiums.

View this FAQ for more details on the rebates.

Contact your Cornerstone representative with any questions.

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