Anthem Blue Cross of California
April 1, 2017 rate action for California Individual Grandfathered plans
Beginning April 1, 2017, Anthem Blue Cross will adjust the base rates for existing business on all California Department of Insurance (CDI) grandfathered medical plans with an April 1, 2017 effective date. Members will also receive an adjustment for age changes. The base rates for members on Department of Manage Health Care (DMHC) grandfathered medical plans, that were effective April 1, 2016, are not scheduled to change in 2017. DMHC members will receive an adjustment for age changes.
Later this month, Anthem will begin notifying impacted grandfathered members of their new rate and the date it will go into effect (the effective date will be April 1, 2017 for the majority of these members). This mailing will provide the required 60-day advance notification to your clients.
In addition, any Dental members entering a new age category will also be notified of their dental rate change.
Sample Communications
- CDI Member Letter
- DMHC Member Letter (sent 60-days prior to their age change increase)
- Dental Member Letter
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Notice: This notice of renewal is required by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Please remember, because this notification overlaps the current Open Enrollment and as outlined in the letters, grandfathered members have the option to change their coverage by:
- Downgrading to another Grandfathered Anthem Individual Health Plan if available
- Choosing a New Non-Grandfathered ACA compliant Individual Health Plan during the Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
- Grandfathered members (CDI and DMHC) qualify for a SEP on their 2017 renewal. If they wish to change to an ACA plan due to this qualifying event:
- They should select the “non-calendar renewal” qualifying event on the 2017 application
- They may apply up to 60-days before or 60-days after the effective date of their rate change
- And they need to submit a copy of their grandfathered rate action/renewal notice as documentation of their qualifying event
This article applies to:
- California
- Individual (under 65)