We’re reaching out to small-group customers

We’re using email and direct mail to reach employers who used to be ConnectiCare customers and asking them to take a new look at our plan choices – both fully-insured and level-funded plans. The communications ask if they’d like us to contact their brokers for them and encourage them to ask their brokers to include ConnectiCare when it’s time to renew. The first wave of outreach begins this month. Efforts will continue through 2020.

Sales support for you:

*Fixed Funding Solutions (FFS) plans are self-funded and are exclusively available to CBIA members who qualify. ConnectiCare Insurance Company, Inc., provides certain administrative services and stop loss coverage to employers.

Helping individual members find the best plan for their needs

Open enrollment ends Dec. 15. Please reach out to clients to remind them about the deadline and to review their options.

Clients received a packet from ConnectiCare during the first week of November with information about renewing their health plan. The packet included information on 2020 plans and presented a comparison of their current plan to how it was updated for 2020.

For members whose plans are no longer being offered for 2020, we presented the closest option for comparison, along with a brochure of all 2020 plan options.

We have plans that let members visit a doctor’s office, urgent care, and more – without worrying about a deductible. We also have Exchange plans that include adult dental.

When reviewing the 2020 Exchange product brochure and the 2020 SOLO product brochure, please note the Choice Bronze Alternative POS with DENTAL plan (through Access Health CT) and the Choice Solo POS Copay/Coins $4,500 ded. – 40% plan (SOLO). These plans may be good options for your clients.

View our exchange broker training and SOLO broker training for more information.

Preferred portfolio plans for large-group clients

Give your large-group clients the benefits they need to keep their employees healthy. ConnectiCare offers a variety of plans in our preferred portfolio for employers with 51+ employees, including:

Contact your ConnectiCare sales representative with any questions about our preferred portfolio of plans.

View our 2020 Preferred Portfolio Plans

2020 commission programs

ConnectiCare’s 2020 Producer Commission Program information for Connecticut individual, middle market and small group segments, and Massachusetts is now available.

Remind clients that individual premium payments are due Jan. 1

New and renewing subscribers with Access Health CT or SOLO plans must have paid their January premium before they can use their benefits in the new year. Remind them to pay by Jan. 1, 2020 so they are covered. You can point them to our website to see the several ways to pay their premium.

How individual clients can end their ConnectiCare coverage

Your clients with Access Health CT or ConnectiCare SOLO plans must take action if they want to end their coverage.

ConnectiCare members with plans through Access Health CT must call Access Health CT at 1-855-805-4325 by the last day of the month they want their coverage to end. If they don’t notify Access Health CT by the deadline, they may end up owing the premium. And, they may be responsible for reconciling with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if they receive advance payments of the premium tax credit for the next month.

ConnectiCare SOLO plan members must go to connecticare.com/members, sign in, select “Update Your Information” and then “Make Changes to My Plan.” There are directions for ending coverage. They can also mail or fax their cancellation request. They should include their name, policy number, and the date their policy should be cancelled:

Simply stopping premium payments does not cancel coverage. Members are automatically re-enrolled if they don’t notify us and will be responsible for the January premium.

Fixed Funding Solutions level-funded plans featured on CBIA BizCast

ConnectiCare’s Vice President of Sales Strategy and Business Development, Steve Gallacher, recently appeared on CBIA BizCast, a podcast from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA). Gallacher chatted with Kenneth Comeau, president of CBIA Service Corporation (a division of CBIA) about Fixed Funding Solutions (FFS),* available exclusively for CBIA members. FFS is ConnectiCare’s suite of level-funded medical plans for groups with as few as five (5) enrolled employees.

Listen to the podcast

*Fixed Funding Solutions (FFS) plans are self-funded and are exclusively available to CBIA members who qualify. ConnectiCare Insurance Company, Inc., provides certain administrative services and stop loss coverage to employers.

Reminder about new ID cards

Most Medicare members will get new, 11-digit member numbers that start with the letter “K.” Cards will be mailed to members within 10 days of enrolling or making a plan change. Renewing members with no plan changes will get new ID cards in December. Members will receive one ID card to use for their medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage (for clients with prescription drug and/or dental benefits).

Let your clients know there is still time if they need to make plan changes – the annual enrollment period (AEP) ends on Dec. 7.

Ways-to-pay premium bills for your Medicare clients

Your clients will get their 2020 Medicare Advantage invoices in the mail on the third week of December. Invoices will include some changes, including new member ID numbers as well as a new bank address for members who mail payments.

JP Morgan Chase will process premium payments starting with 2020 Medicare Advantage plans. The address will appear on 2020 premium invoices. We will also move to the JP Morgan Chase online payment website, accessible through connecticare.com. The look of the payment website will change, but capabilities remain the same. Your clients can still:

In December, we will reach out to renewing Medicare Advantage members who have recurring payments to tell them they have to set up new automatic payments for their 2020 premiums. They can do this as soon as they get their 2020 invoices.

Medicare enrollees who are new to ConnectiCare can set up recurring payments or sign into the ConnectiCare member website after Jan. 1, 2020. These clients can, however, pay their first month’s bill online as a guest or use one of these payment options:

As we mentioned in last month’s SalesCall, we are no longer offering direct debit. Your renewing Medicare clients who have direct debit will get an invoice from us next month. We will encourage them to set up automatic online payments to replace their direct debits.

*Please note, Medicare members who are not renewing for a 2020 ConnectiCare plan and still owe 2019 premium will need to pay that outstanding balance through the Bank of America online website. We will direct them accordingly on our website.

Enhanced member service and support with Medicare Connect Concierge

Medicare Advantage members in 2020 can enjoy expanded member services through Medicare Connect Concierge. With one phone number, members can get help with everything from benefits questions and coordinating preauthorizations to making doctor appointments, arranging transportation, and more. Let your Medicare Advantage members know they can call toll free 1-800-224-2273 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Remind your clients: check what services and medicines need preauthorization

Preauthorization means that we review a medical service or prescription medicine before we’ll cover it. This helps see that your clients (and all members) are using medicines or getting services that are right for their conditions. We encourage you to advise your clients to look up what services or medicines will need preauthorization in 2020. The services are included in their plan documents or Evidence of Coverage.

Here’s some general preauthorization information you can share with your clients.

Online provider directory available in Spanish

Members can now select their language (English or Spanish) in the “Find a Doctor” provider directory on connecticare.com. The directory covers primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and facilities.

NOTE: Spanish translations are only available for medical providers and facilities. A search for dental, chiropractic, or mental health providers will take members offsite to partner directories in English.

Palliative care supports patients and families

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Hospice and palliative care are related – but different. Palliative care helps a patient (and family) manage a serious illness or chronic condition. Aspire Health is a national leader in community-based palliative care. And it cares for ConnectiCare members.

Find out more about palliative care