Important changes coming to our membership and claims system

We are pleased to announce that on June 1 we are moving employers with medical, dental, vision* or life insurance* coverage with a July, August, and September 2014 renewal period onto our new membership and claims system. The system is now used by more than 70 other health plans across the country. Download the reference guide (PDF, 1.3MB) and provide the member ID card portion to your employees before June 1.

What changes will I see as an employer?

• A new combined bill for June, including medical, dental, vision* and life insurance* plans (as applicable) with an improved format and tear-off remittance slip (if you do not pay your bills online).

  • You will no longer receive separate bills for any dental or vision* coverage you obtain through Blue Shield.

• A new account number for billing purposes.

• A new group number that replaces your current customer number.

• Your June 2014 bill will be delayed. We will mail it the last week of May and you should receive it the first week in June. Our standard 30-day grace period for payment will extend from the date we actually produce your June bill.

• Your June bill will be the first one generated by our new system. The June bill will not reflect outstanding balances or adjustments from May, so please pay your May bill as usual. Our customer service team will work with you to resolve any open balances.

• For customers with vision* coverage: After June 1, please contact Blue Shield with any questions about or updates to your vision products, including member maintenance.

What changes will my employees see?

• New subgroup number(s) that replace your existing billing unit number(s).

• New member ID card(s) for their medical plan with a new subscriber number.

• New customer service numbers, which will appear on their new member ID cards.

• Members may continue using their current ID cards and should not use their new ID card until June 1.

• New dental ID cards with a new subscriber number (as applicable).

What will remain the same?

• Your 2013 benefit plan(s) and rates, and your 2014 renewal date.

• Your employees will continue to have access to quality coverage.

• Your employees who established an online account at blueshieldca.com before June 1 will be able to access their online account using their current username and password.

• Your employees and their covered dependents will be able to use their current ID cards to access care until they get their new ID card.

• Groups that currently use Employer Connection will keep their Employer Connection login username and password.

*Underwritten by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company. Please note MES online vision Employer tools will not be available after migration. Similar capabilities are available through Employer Connection Plus; you will need to go through Blue Shield to make any changes to your vision plans and enrollment.

On June 1, you will have access to Employer Connection Plus, our enhanced online account management system. If you are currently registered for Employer Connection, your account will automatically be upgraded. If you are new to Employer Connection, after you receive your June invoice visit blueshieldca.com/employer and select Register Now to get started.***

Employer Connection Plus includes new features that allow you (and others to whom you grant access) to:

• View and manage your medical, dental, vision* and life insurance* plans (as applicable) in a single place.

• Manage your member roster with real-time** enrollments and terminations.

• Create and download census and billing reports.

• Conduct open enrollment online, with an option for your employees to self-enroll.

• Grant additional user access to your Employer Connection online account.

• Receive and pay your Blue Shield invoice online.

• Order Blue Shield member ID cards online (available for members enrolled in a medical plan).

Additional resources

• Learn more about Employer Connection Plus

*Underwritten by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company.
**There are some instances in which a transaction may first be queued for Blue Shield review, particularly when additional documentation may be needed.
*** The Primary Contact on file is the only one who can register for Employer Connection. This contact will need to have the new Group/Subgroup number and the June bill (with the new Group numbers listed on it) to register. Once registered, the primary contact can then delegate access to others.