BEST Health Plans Company Blog

BEST Life Plans Come with Useful Discount Programs

besthealthplans — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:10:21 +0000

BEST Life’s plans also include access to some useful discount programs offered through the BEST Employers Association (“BEA”). Here is an explanation of what these discount programs can offer to your clients.

When you offer your clients a BEST Life plan, you are also offering ALL their employees the opportunity to save with discount programs sponsored by the BEST Employers Association (“BEA”). This means that these programs can be used by full-time, part-time employees, and their family members, regardless of whether or not they have enrolled in a BEST Life plan.

BEA currently offers 6 discount programs and has plans to expand the program with more affiliates that will help Association members save on health or personal related products or services.

Association Sponsored Services include:

HealthScreen Lab Services – Offers discounts on a variety of health and wellness blood chemistry tests. Helps members monitor their health. No doctor’s order is necessary and tests can be ordered directly online.
EyeMed Vision Care – Discounts on eye exams, eyewear and eye correction surgery.
QualSight – Offers 40 to 50% off the average national charge for LASIK surgery through a QualSight provider.
Global Medical Conextions – For dental and medical treatment not eligible or covered by insurance. Offers members a way to obtain costly medical services at up to 70% less the US retail hospital price when performed in another country.
Sears Commercial – Offers discounts on brand name appliances, exercise equipment, televisions and more.
Car Rentals through Avis – Offers discounts when cars are rented at any Avis location.

For more information and to check for updates, please visit the BEST Employers Association website at www.beassoc.org.

Need a flyer to share with your clients? We offer a flyer on the BEST Health Plans Sales Tools webpage, and can also be downloaded here.

5 Reasons to Offer Short Term Disability

bestlifeinsurance — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:55:10 +0000

1. A better working environment

Injuries, like a back injury or heart attack, cannot be planned for. While most companies offer sick days, relying on sick leave or vacation alone is not enough. If those days are already used, or if the medical condition outlasts the available time off, a BEST Life short Term Disability plan with 13, 26 or 52 weeks of income replacement can fill that gap.

2. Serious injuries are common

More than one out of four diability claims are attributed to muscle or bone disorders, such as back problems, or joint and muscle pain. Cancer and cardiovascular problems are the second and third leading causes of a claim.

3. Financial Security

According to the American Payroll Association, 71% of Americans find it very difficult or somewhat difficult to meet their current obligations if their next paycheck were delayed for one week.

4. Employee Retention

Employers who value their employees can provide them financial security and a peace of mind with a BEST Life Short Term Disability plan.

5. If you don’t, someone else will

Contact BEST Life today for a quote at 1-888-210-BEST or visit www.besthealthplans.com for product details.

Short Term Disability is available in Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennyslvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

Sources: American Payroll Association, “Getting Paid in America” Survey, 2008. Council for Disability Awareness, “The Disability Divide” Survey, 2010.

HIPAA Question and Answer: When do I need an Authorization Form?

besthealthplans — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:28:43 +0000

Employers hire insurance agents to help them purchase and administer their employee benefits program. Many times that help can include handling protected health information (“PHI”) about employees and their dependents. As you represent your clients, it’s important to understand when an activity requires a signed authorization form from the insured.

Before we move forward, please note that this article explains BEST Life’s business practices to comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, and is not a source for legal information or advice. For more specific details on the HIPAA Privacy Rule, we recommend reading the Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule posted on the US Department of Health and Human Resources website, or consulting with your legal counsel.

Why would I need a signed authorization form?

The US Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) is in charge of regulating violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and has issued the Privacy Rule to establish the standards for the implementation of this act.

HIPAA violations are taken very seriously. Covered Entities (a health care provider or insurance carrier) that violate HIPAA can be penalized with fines; while individuals who knowingly violate HIPAA can be fined up to $250,000 or even be sentenced to prison, depending on the degree of violation.

The HHS is very specific about how an individual’s PHI cannot be released without consent, unless it is to provide treatment, pay a claim, or for the operations of a Covered Entity.

Group Health Plans may disclose the following PHI to the employer, and through the Business Associate Agreement, to you the insurance agent as well:

Enrollment or disenrollment
Summary health information to obtain premium bids, or to modify, amend or terminate the group health plan

Summary health information is defined as claims history, claims expenses, or types of claims experience of individuals and that is stripped of all individual identifiers other than five digit zip code

PHI of the group health plan’s enrollees to perform plan administration functions

Situations outside of the above will require a signed authorization form from the insured. The HHS also states that while the employer may ask for PHI directly from the employee, no health care provider may release PHI without that employee’s authorization.

In order to comply with this intent, BEST Life requires an authorization form signed by the insured, for the purpose of disclosing specified PHI, for one incident or event, to an employer or employer’s insurance agent.

What about the Business Associate Agreement I signed?

BEST Life’s Business Associate Agreement is to provide assurance from the organizations that do business with us that they will comply with the Privacy Rule and will disclose PHI only as permitted by the Privacy Rule and as it relates to their area of service or function.

As an insurance agent, BEST Life may provide you with the same information we can provide to an employer for the purposes listed above. The Business Associate Agreement still does not allow us to disclose PHI without authorization from the insured.

How do I obtain an Authorization Form?

BEST Life has an Authorization Form you can use. You can download a copy here or request BEST Life Customer Service or your Sales Representative to email you one.

The Authorization Form can only be used for one specific activity. An expiration date or description of the event is required. Once the authorization has expired or the event that triggered the need for this form is over, BEST Life will no longer be authorized to disclose PHI. A new Authorization Form will need to be submitted after the original authorization has expired, if necessary.

The insured has the right to revoke given authorization at any time or refuse to sign the authorization form. The rights of the individual are provided on the second page of the Authorization Form.

For any more questions on BEST Life’s process, please contact BEST life’s Privacy Officer by writing to BEST Life Privacy Officer, 2505 McCabe Way, Irvine, CA 92614 or by telephone at (949) 253-4080.

For all other assistance, contact your BEST Health Plans Sales Representative at 1-800-237-8543 or BEST Life Customer Service at 1-800-433-0088 or via email at cs@bestlife.com.

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/

Why voluntary plans make sense

besthealthplans — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:17:08 +0000

Voluntary dental, vision and term life group plans canbe a versatile tool for your clients. Adding voluntary plans can spice up an otherwise boring employee benefits package, or be used to increase company loyalty and employee satisfaction.

Most importantly, voluntary plans allow businesses that can only afford to contribute towards health plans to offer a more complete employee benefits program. This is the main reason why an employer would consider including voluntary plans along side a health plan.

How can voluntary plans benefit the employee and the employer? Here are a few illustrations we’ve provided.

1. They can fill in the gaps of a limited employee benefits package.

If employee benefits are currently limited to health and dental plans, adding additional insurance would help address other employee needs.

Some health plans may not provide coverage for eye exams or eyewear. A voluntary vision plan would fill this need and help preserve eyesight.

Employees can purchase more life insurance if a voluntary plan is offered alongside an employer-contributory life plan.

2. Use pre-tax dollars to pay for these plans.

Pre-tax dollars may be used to cover the cost of voluntary plans, and help employees save even more.

3. Offers desirable benefits at low group rates.

A complete benefits package gives employees a reason to stick around. Employers who offer a variety of benefits look more attractive to current employees and to new hires. This can help encourage company loyalty by increasing employee satisfaction.

4. Encourages preventive care.

Employees who have dental benefits get dental care more compared to those who do not have dental insurance. According to a 2007 National American Dental Plan (“NADP”) Consumer Survey, people who do not have dental coverage are 2.5 times more likely not to visit their dentist.

Preventive dental care can also save employees from steep future costs. The American Dental Hygienists Association estimates that every $1 spent on oral preventive care (meaning those cleanings and check-ups at least twice a year) saves $8 to $50 on restorative and emergency procedures.

Vision plans are an important prevention tool as well. Signs of disease like high blood pressure and diabetes may be caught early due to eye exams, and early detection can help lower a company’s medical costs.

5. Protection for families during the event of a death or serious injury.

Group term life insurance provides an inexpensive way to have money available during the event of a death. Most BEST Life policies include Accidental Death and Dismemberment, which provides a benefit in the event of a serious injury or death due to an accident. With both benefits, $15,000 or even $30,000, depending on what is selected by the employer, can help financially protect a family from a diminished household income.

The more employees enroll, the more the group saves.

BEST Life is currently offering special rates for voluntary dental and vision plans. Companies with more than 60% of their employees enrolled in a voluntary dental or vision plan will receive the same rates and waiting periods offered to employer-sponsored plans. Offer is valid for July through December 2011 effective dates.

Start saving today!
Download our special offer and
request a quote today.

BEST Health Plans Sales Team
tel: 800.237.8543
fax: 949.553.0883
info@bestlife.com
www.besthealthplans.com

The Challenges of Creating Uniform Benefit Summaries

bestlifeinsurance — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:34:02 +0000

Work in the insurance industry long enough and you will hear the same issue over and over again: that the basic individual cannot understand an insurance policy.

This issue is why the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) includes the creation of a standardized summary of benefits and coverage explanation for non-grandfathered plans. This provision will go into effect March 23, 2012.

This provision also requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to invent these standardized documents.

This is a great undertaking and if done right, can be a very useful tool to finally explain to an individual how a health plan works. It would also allow individuals to comparison shop plans and select the plan that best fits their needs.

Of course, nothing in insurance is that simple. There are many components to a health plan and it can be quite confusing to explain benefits with terminology that needs to be defined as well.

This is the type of situation the NAIC is finding itself in a recent focus group it conducted to test “coverage facts labels”. This is a document that would illustrate coverage under common benefits scenarios, like what an individual would pay for having a baby, managing diabets or treating breast cancer.

In one focus group, participants compared two documents. Here’s example one and here’s example two, courtesy of Susan Jaffe who reported on the results.

“A young man dives into the task, but is stopped by the word co-insuance. The form offers a definition he says he doesn’t understand. During a break halfway through the session, he tries unsuccessfully to call a friend who is an insurance agent.

… One woman, who appeared to be in her early thirties, said she and her husband have no insurance and go to a free clinic for medical care. The forms puzzled her, until some numbers grabbed her attention: ‘Showing what the plan is paying and what I’m paying, that’s a big eye-catcher for me,’ she said. ‘A lot people think they are paying for the majority of the cost.’

The testing targested the ‘coverage facts labels’. The labels say that the information can help consumers compare plans by showing how much they would pay for procedures based on the national average costs. A beneficiary’s actual costs might be different, based on the doctor’s advice, what providers charge, how much the policy pays, amonth other factors. That didn’t go over well with some testers.

‘The word ‘might’ ruins everying,’ one young man says. ‘It’s kind of sketchy.’”

At the end of the focus group, testers are asked which plan they would buy. All except two participants are able to make a decision. Not too shabby of a result for testing something full of insurance terms.

What is your opinion of the samples?

Why you should put the focus on vision

besthealthplans — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:24:12 +0000

Vision plans save money and promote health. BEST Life’s vision plans offer coverage for eyewear and eye exams. Combined with access to retail and private practices and discounts, BEST Life provides two well-rounded vision products with powerful cost-savings features.

Benefits to the Employer

Employer-contributory or voluntary
Voluntary plans make this inexpensive insurance even more affordable for employers
Combined with dental, medical and life, provides a more complete employee benefits program
Expanded employee benefits encourages company loyalty
Encourages employees to get their eyes examined
Signs of disease like high blood pressure and diabetes may be caught early due to eye exams
Early detection of diseases help lower a company’s medical costs
ID cards and Certificates within 7 business days after activation

Benefits to the Employee

BEST Life Vision PPO:

Coverage for additional lens options like UV coating, tints, polycarbonates, and scratch resistance
In-network benefits at co-pay or allowances
Customer Service 24/7, including evenings and weekends
Network includes 21,000 eye care centers national, LensCrafters, Target Optical, Sears Optical, JC Penny Optical, and most Pearle Vision locations

BEST Life Access Vision Indemnity:

Freedom to choose any licensed eye care professional
Coverage for medically necessary contact lenses and Lenticular lenses
Flexible frequency and deductible options
EyeMed discount plan included for discounts off of the regular retail priced of eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses and corrective surgery

Dr. Ella Faktorovish, a San Francisco Vision Health Examiner, explains “How an eye exam can save your life”. Read article.

BEST Health Plans Sales Team
tel: 800.237.8543
fax: 949.222.1004
info@bestlife.com
www.besthealthplans.com

Underwritten by BEST Life and Health Insurance Co., Irvine, CA 92614. Network and call center for Vision PPO plans administered by EyeMed Vision Care, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company. Claims administration for Vision PPO provided by First American Administrators, Inc., an Arizona corporation and licensed Third Party Administrator. Vision PPO billing and eligibility administered by BEST Life and Health Insurance Co. BEST Health Plans is licensed to market and distribute BEST Life products. Plan availability and benefits may vary by state.

Ideas for Saving Clients Money: Ancillary Benefits Go Voluntary!

bestlifeinsurance — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:57:45 +0000

It seems that everywhere we go, everyone and every business is looking at how to reduce costs. Cutting costs may be a concern in this economy, but as businesses start to recover they will need to attract and keep talented employees. One emerging solution is to offer a voluntary benefit or two along with a medical plan. Voluntary plans can enhance a benefits package without adding cost to the employer and still offer employees highly valued benefits.

If some of your clients fit this scenario, offering a voluntary benefits plan may be the solution for them.

In 2010, voluntary dental plans attributed to 30% of BEST Life’s new dental sales. That is up from 16% in 2009![1]

Start the conversation with voluntary dental plans. Dental plans have a high-perceived value. According to a NADP’s 2008 Group Purchaser Behavior Study found that 62% of employers offering dental coverage say it is not just “a differentiator,” but an “essential” part of their benefits package, up nine points from 53% in 2005. With BEST Life’s voluntary dental plans, employers can offer dental benefits and save their company money:

Lower employer contributions help employers save. To qualify as a voluntary plan, employers can contribute 50% or less of the employee’s premium cost.

High participation means lower rates. BEST Life offers voluntary dental plans at the employer-contributory rate for groups who demonstrate above 60% participation. Not only do employers save on how much they contribute, with high participation they can offer affordable dental plans at lower rates.

Popular plan design options. Many of our employer-contributory plans are may be purchased as a voluntary plan. With BEST Life, employers may modify a voluntary dental plan by:

Calendar Year Deductible: $25, $50, $75 or $100
Calendar Year Maximum and Coinsurance:
100/90/60: $1,000, $1,500, $2,000 or $2,500
100/80/50: $1,000, $1,200, $1,500 or $2,000
80/80/50: $500, $750, or $1,000
Endodontic/periodontic benefits in Major or Basic
Out-of-network UCR at the 80^th or 90^th Percentile
Child orthodontic benefit options
New! Coverage for implants, posterior composites and intravenous sedation included on all dental indemnity/PPO plans.

PPO networks available for multiple locations and when traveling. BEST Life dental plans include access to DenteMax, a national PPO network, for additional out-of-pocket savings. We also offer regional networks in select states in addition to the DenteMax network.

If an employee is located in a state where we offer a primary network other than DenteMax, we are happy to enroll them for that network at no extra charge. Members traveling out-of-state may also use the DenteMax network, which provides them access to care at their plan’s in-network benefits.

Bundled discounts. Save more with discounts on dental premiums, which are applied when purchased along with a BEST Life de vision and/or life plan.

Your client already offers dental? They can expand their voluntary offerings with additional plans like vision or life insurance. Vision plans do not cost much, and can help employees save a chunk of money on eye exams and eyewear. Group Term Life is becoming popular for people looking to protect their families (in the event of a death) with a good life policy.

Groups, as small as 5 employees enrolling, can purchase any of BEST Life’s dental and vision plans on a voluntary basis.

Voluntary group term life is available for groups with 2 or more enrolling. For more details on these plans and bundling discounts, give your BEST Health Plans Representative a call at 1-800-237-8543.

[1] Based on internal data from 2009 and 2010 new case sales.

BEST Life makes selling medical plans easier

besthealthplans — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:48:56 +0000

The story of High Deductible Health Plans:
A winning product for employers who want to save money

BEST Life’s High Deductible Health Plans offer important features that can save employers money:

“Build your own” benefit options allow the plan’s deductible, family deductible (aggregate or embedded) and coinsurance to be tailored to a client’s needs and budgets.

Low Out-of-Pocket Maximums. Low premiums and low out-of-pocket maximums not only provide very affordable plans, they also cover plan participants 100% after the yearly deductible and out-of-pocket maximum are met.

Open a personal health savings account with any bank. Health savings accounts (HSA’s) offer employers and employees tax-saving advantages. Employer contributions qualify as a business tax deduction. Employees can accumulate money tax-free and take it with them to another job or even into retirement.

To encourage the use of an HSA, we do not restrict which banks can be used. Instead, the employer or employee may open an HSA from the bank of their choice.

PPO networks work well for multiple locations and when traveling. Employers may select a national or regional network. If an employee would like to access a different network, we are happy to enroll them at no extra charge.

Members traveling out-of-state also get the PHCS Healthy Directions network, which provides them access to care at their plan’s in-network benefits.

Bundled discounts. Save more with discounts on medical premiums are applied when purchased along with a BEST Life dental, vision and/or life plan. Click here for details.

We also offer quick quotes, direct phone access to underwriters and claims processing within 7 days* or less !

BEST Health Plans Sales Team Directory
tel: 800.237.8543
fax: 949.553.0883
info@bestlife.com
www.besthealthplans.com

*Based on the average claims processing for the fourth quarter 2010.

Underwritten by BEST Life and Health Insurance Co. BEST Health Plans is licensed to market and distribute BEST Life products. Plan availability and benefits may vary by state.

New Dental Plan Enhancements for BEST Life Clients

bestlifeinsurance — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:32:21 +0000

Last quarter, new enhancements were added to BEST Life’s dental plans. These include coverage for:

Posterior Composites,
Implants,
Intravenous Sedation,
Limited oral exams, and
Periodontal exams

To learn more about these new benefits or request member literature that explains these benefits, please contact your BEST Health Plans Sales Representative or General Agent.

Important changes effective 10/1/10

besthealthplans — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:41:05 +0000

This posting is to keep you up-to-date on the implementation of health care reform required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) and other changes that went into effect as of October 1, 2010.

New dental and vision dependent age limits. As of October 1, 2010, married and unmarried dependents up to age 26 are now eligible for coverage, regardless of student status. Any groups starting with October 1, 2010 effective dates may include these dependents at open enrollment.

The new dependent age limits will apply to in-force groups upon renewal, or can be applied upon the employer’s request. Employees will be given a 30-day period to enroll their dependents. In-force groups have been notified of this option at the beginning of this month, and a copy of the notice has been sent to their brokers.

Updated medical benefit summaries now available. Grandfathered and Non-Grandfathered benefit summaries are now available upon request. To request one, please contact Customer Service by calling 800.433.008 or via email at cs@bestlife.com. Please expect a 24-hour turnaround for your request.