California Carrier Partner Updates
Here is an overview of updates from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any).
Bonus Updates
- Aetna
- 2024 California Broker Bonus: Aetna is offering a new broker bonus to California brokers in 2024. You can earn $75 or $100 on each new enrolled employee in groups of up to 100 eligibles who purchase fully insured and Aetna Funding AdvantageSM plans. Visit our Newsroom post for more information.
- Delta Dental
- Small Business Broker Rewards: Enroll in Delta Dental’s Small Business Broker Rewards Program and you could earn additional comp for selling and retaining eligible groups of 2-99 lives during 2024. Sign up at ddsbrewards.com. Read our Newsroom post to learn more.
Medical Coverage
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Contract Termination: Anthem has initiated an updated contract termination with Cottage Health in Santa Barbara County. The planned 7/1/2024 termination applies to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, Cottage Urgent Care (PPO), and Pacific Diagnostic Laboratories (PPO and Medicare). Negotiations are underway to prevent a termination. An earlier planned termination of 3/1/2024 has been rescinded. Watch for further updates. In Northern California, Anthem has ended its contract with Sonoma Valley Hospital effective 3/1/2024.
- Attestation Form: Anthem will accept an Attestation Form in lieu of a prior carrier bill under specified circumstances: if the group has 25 or more enrolled and the group is coming out of a large or multiple employer scenario. These include an association plan, trust plan, non-renewed Large Group due to company size reduction, or a spin-off from a large employer group. Ask your W&B rep for details about SEO sub/hybrid groups eligible to enroll.
- Contract Extension: Anthem and University of California (UC) Health have agreed in principle to a new contract giving Anthem members access to affordable care at UC Health’s doctors and hospitals.
- CaliforniaChoice
- New Video: CaliforniaChoice has added a new video to help you promote the program to prospects and clients. “Your Gateway to Affordable Small Business Health Insurance” can be viewed on YouTube or downloaded from the CalChoice site.
- Q2 Quoting: Second quarter quoting is now available for CaliforniaChoice.
- E.D.I.S.
- Self-Funded Trend: E.D.I.S. wants to remind brokers of the trend toward self-funded or partially self-funded health plans. An article discussing this trend (and others) was featured in a recent edition of California Broker. If you’re considering alternatives for your clients, you should talk with the experts at E.D.I.S. – or ask your W&B rep for more information.
- Debit Card Plan: If self-funding isn’t something your clients are interested in, ask about the Debit Card Plan, which can deliver substantial savings for mid-sized groups.
- Heath Net
- Q2 Quoting: Health Net is now quoting for Q2 Small Group business. There’s a 2.5% increase on HMO plans and a 0.03% increase for PPO plans. No rate changes are planned on Dental or Vision currently. All 2024 plans have a Chiro rider option, which adds $3.00 PMPM for all Medical plans.
- Cost Comparison Tool: A self-service online tool for Health Net members to get cost estimates and better understand potential cost-sharing for covered items and services is now available via the health plan’s member portal.
- Kaiser Permanente
- Hospitals Updates: Twenty-five Kaiser Permanente hospitals have been recognized among the nation’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals by Newsweek magazine. In other news, Kaiser Permanente’s South Sacramento Medical Center is currently undergoing an expansion that will double its current size; the renovations should be completed during Spring 2024.
- Sharp Health Plan
- Rate Sheet Update: Sharp Health Plan has updated its rate sheets for Q2 2024. You can access them in Word & Brown’s Insurance Forms Library.
- Sutter Health Plus
- Youth Mental Health App: Scout, a resiliency and mental health app for teens and young adults, is available through Sutter Health Plus. Download the Scout flyer for details and to share with your clients.
- UnitedHealthcare
- New Guides: UnitedHealthcare has published its 2024 Producer Performance Guide for California brokers. Also available is a 2024 Small Business Product Catalog. Download your copies from our Insurance Forms Library.
- Q2 Quoting: Second quarter quoting is available for UnitedHealthcare. The average statewide increase is 1.1% for HMO. In SoCal, there is a PPO rate pass; in NorCal, there’s a 1.5% increase on PPO coverage
Ancillary & Other Coverage
- Ameritas
- Forms Update: Ameritas has a new microsite for Word & Brown producers to access the most up-to-date California Small Group (2-50) Ameritas forms. If you want forms related to Ameritas Small Group Dental and Vision, you can no longer get them through Word & Brown. You must go the Ameritas microsite for Ameritas forms.
- New Plans: New Dental PPO and Vision plans are available from Ameritas for coverage effective March 1, 2024. Quoting is now available. Large Groups can be quoted via RFP.
- BEST Life
- Active and Passive PPO Dental Updates: BEST Life has updated some of its Dental offerings. Active PPO Dental offers competitive monthly rates and national network providers. Passive PPO Dental offers the same coinsurance, Calendar Year Maximum, and benefits for in- or out-of-network services. All Dental plans offer a two-year rate guarantee, no waiting periods, $1,000 to $1,500 Lifetime Child Ortho, and more. Visit the BEST Life website for more information, or contact your W&B rep.
- Blue Shield of California
- Specialty Discount: Blue Shield continues to offer a 10% discount on small business Dental and/or Vision when added to Medical.
- New Vision Provider: Effective 1/1/2024, EyeMed is the new administrator for all Blue Shield of California Vision plans. Existing groups with Vision will transition to EyeMed in 2024.
- ChoiceBuilder
- Nearly 40 Ancillary Options through a Single Program: If your clients are shopping for Ancillary, introduce them to ChoiceBuilder. It offers employer-sponsored and voluntary coverage from leading insurers and plans. Ask your CHOICE Administrators or Word & Brown rep for details.
- Humana
- Group Benefits Marketing Kit: Humana’s new Marketing Kit for Group Benefits is now available. It’s everything you need to know about sales resources for Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability products from Humana. Download your copy today.
- UnitedHealthcare
- Dental & Vision Rate Card Updates: UnitedHealthcare has released new rate cards for Q2 2024; download the Dental and Vision rate cards for your region using these links:
- Other New Literature: UnitedHealthcare has also released four new sales sheets, including:
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