Nearly 1,000 small businesses renewing their qualified health plans for 2015 used a new online enrollment tool developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermontto allow full employee choice among exchange products. According to the state's largest health insurer, the businesses were among 3,500 small employer groups that enrolled directly through Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The vast majority of the employers completed their renewals by December 10, allowing, it said, for timely processing, billing and distribution of member materials by their January 1 effective dates.
“We promised to ‘see our customers through’ the changes in health care and as part of that commitment we met with hundreds of small employers last fall in community meetings across the state,” said Don George, BCBSVT’s president and CEO.“
“We enhanced our online Employer Resource Center to make it easier to use and to allow employees to select from a full menu of Qualified Health Plan products. We are pleased to have delivered an effective and efficient renewal process for employers and their employees.”
Under contingencies announced by the state in the fall of 2013, small businesses, which are required to purchase exchange-approved qualified health plans, have purchased their coverage directly from insurers, rather than through Vermont Health Connect.
To enhance and improve the process, BCBSVT developed a secure online enrollment tool for employers that wanted to change their coverage, or to allow full choice of plans to their employees. Employers that chose to remain in the same coverage they had in 2014 needed to take no action, and were sent updated invoices and member materials for January.
“We look forward to providing exceptional coverage and service to our groups and members in 2015, and to continuing to enhance our support to hold down costs, increase efficiency and provide access to timely, effective, affordable health care to Vermonters,” said Mr. George.
Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont 1.22.2015
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is the State’s only Vermont-based, not-for-profit health plan, providing coverage for more than 240,000 Vermonters. It employs about 400 Vermonters at its headquarters in Berlin, a branch office in South Burlington and its Information and Wellness Center in South Burlington’s Blue Mall, and offers group and individual health plans to Vermonters. More information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is available on the Internet atwww.bcbsvt.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent corporation operating under a license with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.