June 27, 2007

All ConnectiCare Plans Now Open Access

As of July 1, 2007, all ConnectiCare plans available through CBIA Health Connections will be Open Access. Effective on a group’s renewal, beginning July 1, 2007, we will convert any ConnectiCare members currently enrolled in a Gated plan to a comparable Open Access product – i.e., POS $10 will convert to the POS $10 Open Access.

What does this mean to an employee? ConnectiCare will no longer require referrals from a Primary Care Physician. Employees will receive a new ID card and new Certificate of Coverage reflecting the ConnectiCare Open Access plan.

Spanish Health Connections Documents Now Available

Spanish versions of Health Connections enrollment and benefit materials are now online. We created a separate page to house all the following:

• HC and HC2 (including HSA) single page benefit summaries
• HC and HC2 enrollment forms
• HC enrollment checklist
• Family health statement
• CBIA membership application

You will find a Spanish Documents link under Product Info in the left-hand navigation bar on the CBIA Health Connections Web site.

Agent Web Site: New Features

Rate Sheet PDFs on Case Info screen

You can now easily locate the correct medical rate sheets for your in force group. Just click on the new Rate Sheet Links on the Case Info screen.

Generate Pre-filled Enrollment Forms & Family Health Statements for Individual Employees

You've been able to generate pre-filled enrollment forms and family health statements for entire employer groups (helpful at open enrollment). Now you can produce them one at a time for individual employees (helpful for life event changes). You'll find these new features on the Employee Info Screen in the Employee Transactions list.

Visit Agent Web site.

Updated Termination Notification Policy

Effective immediately, all requests for employee terminations must be received in writing. Please submit termination requests in one of the following ways:

• On the CBIA Health Connections agent or employer Web sites
• By fax to 860-278-0883
• By mail to CBIA, Insurance Operations, 350 Church Street, Hartford, CT 06103

A notice advising your clients of this update will be included in August bills.

REMINDER: CIGNA Coverage for non-Connecticut Residents

CIGNA enrollees have access to the Connecticut provider network only.  Members enrolled in CIGNA may NOT access “CIGNA participating providers” in Mass, NY or any other state where they reside. Members must choose a PCP in Connecticut and access CIGNA’s Connecticut provider network.

Changing Groups from Health Connections (HC) to Health Connections 2 (HC2) at Renewal

To change a group from Health Connections (HC) to Health Connections 2 (HC2), the following forms are needed:

• A new Employer Participation form or a letter from the group on their letterhead requesting the change
• Enrollment form or waiver form for all medical enrollees. Employees who do not submit a form may have their medical benefits terminated.
• A Family Health Statement for any employee who is either changing carriers, adding medical coverage or adding dependents

Please submit  paperwork to your Account Manager.

If you have any questions regarding the contents of this Agent Update, please contact your CBIA Sales Team.