Torrance Health IPA (THIPA) was inadvertently omitted from Blue Shield’s 2016 Provider Directory for Blue Shield 65 Plus (HMO) in Los Angeles County.
Blue Shield seeks 9% rate increase on grandfathered family plans
Blue Shield of California has submitted a rate filing with the California Department of Insurance proposing an average increase of 9% in premium rates for older off-exchange plans. The rates would become effective January 1, 2016. Individual and family slated for the rate increase are from Blue Shield Life PPO Plans
Blue Shield ordered to pay mid-year rebates in 2016
If the emerging utilization and trend projections yield an updated projected federal MLR that is more favorable to Blue Shield than the current projections filed with the Department as part of the rate review process for Plan Year 2016, then Blue Shield must issue amid-year rebate to consumers by July 31, 2016.
Blue Shield approved to acquire Care 1st Medi-Cal provider
California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Director Shelley Rouillard has issued an order approving Blue Shield of California’s (Blue Shield) acquisition of Care1st Health Plan (Care 1st). “This order brings Blue Shield into the Medi-Cal program and requires the plan to improve quality and access for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Prior to approval, my team performed an exhaustive review of all aspects of the proposed transaction, performed complex legal analyses, conferred with external experts and considered all public comments,” said Director Rouillard.
Blue Shield enrolls final member group in Cal Index
Blue Shield will notify a final group of subscribers in mid-October 2015 of Cal INDEX enrollment. This final group of subscribers enrolled before a more streamlined process was created earlier this year. Through the end of 2015, new Blue Shield subscribers will be notified via the online welcome process or via a buck slip in their welcome letter of their enrollment in Cal INDEX. Beginning in 2016, the notification will be incorporated into all Evidence of Coverage documents.
Blue Shield to drop Stanford Health Care from IFP network
As part of our continuing efforts to help make access to health care more affordable for our members, Blue Shield of California is removing Stanford Health Care from our Individual and Family Plan (IFP) Exclusive PPO Network, effective January 1, 2016. Stanford Health Care remains a provider for all of our other plans outside of the IFP Exclusive PPO Network.
Blue Shield releases 2016 California health plan information
Blue Shield released information and documents relating to their California individual and family plans (IFP) for 2016. They have dropped their 2015 Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans that offered no out-of-network coverage. All Blue Shield of California IFPs will be PPO with their Exclusive PPO Network of providers. Blue Shield will also be expanding coverage areas to offer plans in the counties of Alpine, Monterey, Sutter and Yuba counties in 2016.
Blue Shield California members at risk from Excellus cyber attack
Blue Shield of California is aware of the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield cyber attack and we are working to gather more information to understand the scope of this issue.
Blue Shield’s Medical Loss Ratio Rebates and Notifications
Blue Shield of California Medical Loss Ratio Rebates August 12, 2015 Last week, The LA Times published an article about Blue Shield’s 2015 Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rebates. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health plans to spend a minimum percentage of premium revenue on medical expenses. This percentage is known as the Medical Loss […]
Blue Shield updates, improves Medicare Supplement billing
Subscribers will also receive a new bill with an improved format that includes their new subscriber and group numbers and new billing payment address. Their first bill post-migration will be delayed for two to three weeks. Included with their first new bill, there will be a Bill Quick Guide that outlines the changes.