February 15, 2008

Contents

1. ConnectiCare converts HC2 plans to "contract year"

2. Dental update

ConnectiCare Converts HC2 Plans to Contract Year

There is increasing demand for benefits to run on a contract year basis to be aligned with a group’s effective and renewal date. Beginning April 1, 2008, all ConnectiCare plans available in the Health Connections 2 (HC2) product suite will convert from a “calendar year” to a “contract year” basis.

For new business, the change will become effective on April 1, 2008. For existing HC2 business, the change will become effective upon renewal, beginning on April 1, 2008. The contract period will run for 12 months.

What happens if an in-force/existing ConnectiCare member has already met their in-network hospital/facilities deductible during this calendar year, prior to the group’s renewal date?

• Deductible credit will be applied to in-force/existing members enrolled in an HC2 ConnectiCare plan who remain in the same plan at renewal.
• Deductible credit applies to in-network deductibles only and excludes copays or copay maximums.
• ConnectiCare will apply credit for any in-network charges applied to a member’s deductible (not including copays) during the 90-day period prior to the company’s renewal date. This credit excludes HSA plans.
• Deductible credit will be applied as a one-time provision during the transition period (April 1, 2008 to March 1, 2009)

How does the change to contract year affect benefits that have an annual limit based on number of visits (e.g., Chiropractic Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Durable Medical Equipment)?

All accumulative benefits will re-set at the start of the new contract period.

How does a member receive their deductible credit?

ConnectiCare will automatically apply a credit equal to any charges made against the member's deductible during the 90 day period prior to renewal.

How will employers and employees be notified of this change?

We will notify your HC2 employer groups with ConnectiCare enrollees of this change in their next renewal (beginning April 1, 2008) communication. ConnectiCare will send its HC2 members a new ID card and a new Certificate of Coverage, reflecting the new “contract year” benefit year. Employers should discuss this change with their employees so they will know why they are receiving a new ID card and Certificate of Coverage. Questions on deductible credit should be directed to ConnectiCare member services at 800-251-7722.

Click here for information on all HC and HC2 plans regarding contract year vs. calendar year.

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Dental Update

Thanks to your efforts, the new dental suites are taking off! We are seeing more new dental business since the introduction of the suites; and more in-force groups are making the switch upon renewal.

Here are some helpful reminders about our dental program:

Dental quotes can be generated through Choiceware by you, or you may choose to provide us with census and we’ll run a proposal for you. In either case, until our proposals are modified to show the choice option, separate quotes need to be run for each plan. For example, if you are running a quote for Suite 2, you would run three separate quotes: (1) Suite 2 DMO, (2) Suite 2 PPO and (3) Suite 2 Enhanced PPO. We will notify you when Choiceware is updated so that you can view all available plans in a suite by running the quote only once.

Plan availability is determined by number of total eligibles. Rates are determined by the number of dental enrollees; and a group must meet the minimum 75% participation required, excluding those employees who have coverage under a spouse’s plan. Refer to the Enrollment Guide for more information.

DMO reminders
Employees who are enrolling in a DMO plan must elect a Primary Care Dentist (PCD) at the time of enrollment for each family member enrolling. Members may find a PCD that is accepting new DMO patients through Docfind. We encourage DMO enrollees to contact their PCD to confirm that the dentist is accepting new DMO patients.

Please read important DMO enrollment information for details.

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