Overview from Jeff Smith | Rate changes | Product and network news | Selling Trio HMO | Medical benefit changes | Specialty benefit changes | Client notifications | Sales materials
Hello,
Welcome to the 2019 Broker Sales Guide. Thank you for your continued dedication and service to Blue Shield of California clients. Together, we’re advancing our mission of ensuring all Californians have access to quality health care at an affordable price.
In 2019, we will continue offering plans both on- and off-exchange, giving you the choice and flexibility to provide a wide range of Blue Shield options to your clients.
We’re continuing to increase our Trio HMO network, with Pomona Valley Medical Group becoming a new ACO partner. Trio HMO offers your clients affordable coverage, comprehensive benefits, and dedicated one-stop customer service with Shield Concierge.
As we develop more choices for your clients, we remain committed to our statewide PPO network. We continue to be the only insurance provider offering PPO plans in every ZIP code across the state, providing your clients with access to 50,000 doctors and 350 hospitals.
Our specialty plans allow you to offer even more complete coverage to your clients. For 2019, we're adding new accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) plans, which can be purchased with life insurance coverage.
In early 2018, we completed the transition to our new online billing and payment system for all IFP members. This should help alleviate issues that you
and your clients have experienced over the last few years, and we thank you for your support in helping to make this transition happen. In addition,
our broker tool enhancements include the ability for you to see pending payments through the Online Client List (OLCL). We continue to invest in
our broker tools to make your job easier and more efficient, which should reduce your administrative burden.
Our medical plan rate increases will be just over 7% on average for Trio HMO and less than 10% on average for our PPO medical plans. Our grandfathered plans will experience a 6% average rate increase. These increases are largely driven by regulatory changes and the increased utilization of hospitals and prescription costs. For specialty plans, we’re pleased to announce a significant rate reduction for some of our dental and vision plans by as much as 25%.
We remain committed to all Californians and their need to access quality health care. For 2019 and beyond, we’ll continue to focus on delivering choice, quality, and value through Trio HMO, our statewide PPO, and more. As ever, we're here for you at Broker Connection to support your efforts during this open enrollment season.
Regards,
Jeff Smith
Vice President and General Manager
Individual and Family Plans
Contact Us
Producer Services (800) 559-5905
Employer Services (800) 325-5166
Blue Shield of California
PO Box 272540
Chico, CA 95927-2540
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Health insurance products are offered by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company. Health plans are offered by Blue Shield of California.