NEWSROOM

Here is an overview of updates and news you can use from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any), or contact your Word & Brown (W&B) representative.
 

Bonus News

• Aetna
  • Small Group Producer Program: You still have time to earn extra credits on new sales of Aetna Small Group insured or Aetna Funding Advantage plans. Download the flyer for details on a credit of up to $100 per enrolled employee plus an added reward when adding Dental or Vision to new Medical cases.
• Humana
  • Dental Bundling Bonus: Your ability to earn a bundling bonus on Dental for groups of 10-299 is nearing an end for effective dates through October 31, 2026. Ask us for details or  or download the flyer. 
• Sharp Health Plan
  • Ongoing Broker Bonus: The countdown has begun on Sharp Health Plan’s bonus on new Small Group sales.  Earn $75-$250 for each new subscriber enrolled, based on total enrolled subscribers, for effective dates through September 1. There’s also a $250 “welcome back” bonus for qualifying groups.Download the flyer or contact us for details. 

Medical​ Coverage

• Aetna
  • Transition Credit Ending: Aetna’s $400 per employee transition credit on Aetna Funding Advantage (AFA) sales is set to end soon. It applies only to groups with an effective date through 9/1/2026. Download the AFA flyer for details.
  • New Dental Portfolio: Aetna has updated its Dental portfolio effective September 1. Contact us for details.
• Anthem Blue Cross
  • Anthem Balance Funding (ABF) Update: Anthem is one of the only carriers offering both Affordable Care Act plans and Balance/Level Funding plans – and allowing its own HMO to be written alongside. Ask your W&B rep about applicable eligibility and participation guidelines.
  • Small Group Medical Rate Changes: Anthem’s Affordable Care Act plan rates for Q4 have increased – 3.4% for PPOs and 4.3% for HMOs. There are no changes for Dental plans 
• CaliforniaChoice​
  • Value-Prop Video: In case you missed it, there's a CaliforniaChoice value-prop video offering a brief introduction of why the multi-carrier, employee-choice exchange is right for so many groups. Watch it on YouTube and save it on your laptop to promote CalChoice to clients and future prospects.
  • Pet Insurance Options: Employees participating in CaliforniaChoice can enroll in discounted pet insurance from MetLife or Spot. With more than 57.2% of California households owning at least one pet, your clients can protect their pets and save when choosing coverage through the CaliforniaChoice Member Value Suite. Encourage them to log in at CalChoice.com.
  • Q4 Rates: Five of the seven participating CaliforniaChoice plan partners have new Q4 rates. Kaiser Permanente and Western Health Advantage have no rate changes. 
• Evolved Benefits
  • Plan Updates: Evolved Benefits has updated its Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) plans to include unlimited office visits and behavioral health coverage with a $0 copay. Download the brochure for details or contact your W&B rep to learn more. 

Ancillary​ Coverage

• Landmark Healthplan
  • 2027 Rate Increase: Landmark Health will increase rates for its Chiropractic and Acupuncture plans effective January 1, 2027. Rates are increasing 6.5% for all new and renewing, fully insured employer contributory and group voluntary plans. Brokers can self-quote groups with fewer than 200 enrolled employees. Download the rate quote and premium calculator. Or contact W&B for assistance. 
• UnitedHealthcare
  • Q4 Ancillary Rates: UnitedHealthcare has updated its rates for Q4. Vision and HMO Dental rates have increased. Dental PPO rates have decreased. There are no benefit changes. Contact your rep for details.

Word & Brown Updates

• Q4 Quoting: All carrier partners are now quoting Medical and Ancillary for Q4 – and some are quoting for Q1 2027. While some carriers have rate updates, others have rate passes. Login and start your quote now or reach out to your W&B team for assistance. 
• PEO Extractions Flyer: W&B’s new PEO extractions flyer can help you better serve your clients’ needs when it comes to Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). It explains what to do when your client outgrows the PEO model. Learn more in our Newsroom post.