NEWSROOM

Here is an overview of updates from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any).

Bonus Updates

• Aetna

  • Continuing Broker Bonus: Aetna’s bonus of up to $100 on each new employee enrolled in groups of up to 100 eligibles is ongoing through 12/31/2024. (Bonus amount varies based on group size and employees enrolled.) A bonus is payable on fully insured and Aetna Funding Advantage^SM plans. Extra credits apply for Dental and Vision sold alongside Medical. Visit our Newsroom for details.
• ​Delta Dental
  • Small Business Broker Rewards: Delta Dental’s Small Business Broker Rewards Program offers you added comp on new and retained business for eligible groups of 2-99 lives. Read our Newsroom post for details.
• ​Health Net​​​
  • Small Group Broker Incentive: For sales with an effective date of September 2024 through January 2025, Health Net is offering a Peak Season Incentive Program. A special commission of 6% will apply for the life of each case with six or more enrolled subscribers. This offer does not apply to CaliforniaChoice business.
• UnitedHealthcare​
  • Additional Comp Program: UnitedHealthcare has added a new broker bonus opportunity for agents with groups that currently have a carrier that are exiting the Small Group market. You can earn a $60 bonus for each fully insured and level-funded employee and a $20 bonus for each self-funded enrolled employee. The program is available nationally and is not limited to Cigna + Oscar groups in California. Download the flyer for program details.
• United Concordia Dental​
  • 2024-2025 Reward Programs: United Concordia Dental has new bonuses for business with July 2024 to January 2025 effective dates. You can earn up to $20 per subscriber on Small Group business and/or up to $3,000 on Large Groups. The bonuses vary by group size. Download the two flyers for details: Small Business Reward Program; Large Business Reward Program.

Medical​ Coverage

• Multiple Carriers​

  • Updated Checklists: Several of our California carrier partners have updated their submission checklists. Look for the latest versions in our Insurance Forms Library.
  • HSA Contribution Limits for 2025: Health Equity recently published the Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits for 2025. The maximum contribution level is increasing to $4,300 for individuals (up from $4,150) and $8,550 for families (up from $8,300). The limit on catch-up contributions for those 55 and older continues to be $1,000. Read HealthEquity’s Remark Blog for more information.
  • Cigna + Oscar Alternatives: Talk with your Word & Brown rep about special underwriting promotions that some of our carrier partners are offering for groups coming off Cigna + Oscar (with the pending exit from the Small Group commercial market). Not all carriers are actively promoting their limited time offers.
• Anthem Blue Cross​
  • Vivity Health: As noted below, Anthem Blue Cross is adding Vivity Health to its CaliforniaChoice options for Los Angeles and Orange County groups. However, it’s worth mentioning that Vivity Health is also available through Word & Brown (and it has been since 2022) for small businesses. To quote this value-based program for your clients, log in now.
• Blue Shield of California​
  • New Online BOR Tools: Blue Shield is rolling out new online Broker of Record self-service tools. You can submit BOR change requests online, get real-time tracking using the Online Client List feature, access and submit most updated forms, and get a guided tour to help you better navigate the submission process. Log into Broker Connection now.
  • 2025 Large Group Plans: New Virtual Blue PPO savings portfolios are expanding for next year for Large Groups. Four new plan designs with a fertility rider and a new enhanced Rx $15/50% pharmacy rider are also being added. Another change coming is a pharmacy network expansion for members with hemophilia starting 1/1/2025.
  • Employer Connection Autopay: Blue Shield is encouraging employer groups to pay their premiums via the Employer Connection. You and your clients can download a step-by-step guide from the Blue Shield website.
• ​​​​CaliforniaChoice
  • New Vivity Health Option: CaliforniaChoice is quoting Vivity Health from Anthem Blue Cross for 9/1. Vivity is high-quality care without the high price tag. Members can choose from nearly 30 of the top health care facilities across Los Angeles and Orange counties, including Cedars Sinai, Huntington Health, Providence, UCLA Health, and more. Visit vivityhealth.com for the complete provider list.
• Cigna + Oscar​
  • Early Renewal/Small Group Market Exit: As we shared previously, the two companies have announced an exit from the Small Group market as of December 15, 2024. However, Cigna + Oscar will allow current groups to renew early (for coverage effective 12/1/2024) to maintain coverage through most of 2025. Groups will need to provide notice 60 days in advance (by 10/1/2024). Groups renewed with an early renewal date of 12/15/2024 will terminate 12/14/2025. Quoting for renewals and new business between now and the end of the year will be available exclusively through your Oscar account. Contact your W&B rep to discuss possible Cigna + Oscar alternatives for 2025.
• Health Net​
  • Participation Requirements Reminder: Health Net wants to remind brokers of the insurer’s participation for Small Group Medical. For groups enrolling 5-100 employees, enroll five or more owners and employees plus 25% participation excluding valid waivers (IFP, Medi-Cal, Medicare, or spousal group plan). For groups enrolling 6-100 employees, enroll six owners and employees with no other participation required. Write Health Net as a full take-over or wrap. For groups enrolling 1-4 employees, 70% participation is required. A wrap is not a valid waiver for groups of this size. Ask us about mix and match details.
  • Elite Partners Program: Health Net’s Elite Partners Program is offering a trip to Hawaii in 2025 for the top eight selling brokers in Individual & Family Plan (IFP), Small Group (SBG), and Large Group sales for business written during the June 1, 2024-January 31, 2025, contest period. For SBG, a minimum of 250 members is needed to qualify. For Large Group, the minimum is 300 members to qualify. Brokers selling IFP business must write 250 members to qualify. CaliforniaChoice business does not qualify. Ask us for details.
  • Canopy Discontinued: Health Net is no longer offering proposals that include Canopy Health. However, Full HMO and PPO options are available throughout the Bay Area.
• Nippon Life Benefits
  • New Options: Nippon Life is offering new options for select groups. Now available are LYNX, a Group Medical product for foreign-owned companies; Large Group Medical for 101+ eligible employee groups; international benefits like Medical and Rx when traveling outside the U.S.; Quest Select outpatient lab benefits; Teladoc®; and a range of Ancillary products to pair with Medical. Ask your W&B rep for details.
• Sutter Health Plus​
  • 2025 Portfolio Update: Sutter Health has published its product portfolio for 2025; materials are available on the Sutter Broker Portal and in the W&B Insurance Forms Library.
• UnitedHealthcare
  • Quoting Update: UnitedHealthcare has discontinued quoting for Harmony plans utilizing the Canopy network in Northern California.
• Western Health Advantage​
  • Forms Updates: Western Health Advantage has updated its Employer Group Application (for employers with 1-100 employees) and EFT Authorization Form. Both are available in our online Insurance Forms Library.

Ancillary & Other​ Coverage

• Aetna​

  • Standalone Dental Quoting: Standalone plans are now available for Aetna Dental. That means for allowable SIC Codes, you can get a quote on Aetna Dental where no Aetna Medical plan is being quoted. Ask your W&B rep for details.
• Ameritas​
  • Forms Update: The Ameritas microsite for Word & Brown brokers offers access to the most up-to-date California Small Group (2-100) Ameritas forms. Ameritas forms are no longer part of the Word & Brown Insurance Forms Library.
• Anthem Blue Cross
  • New Specialty Benefit Modification Form: Anthem has updated its Specialty Benefit Modification form to reflect the recent sale of its Life and Disability business to The Standard. The new form is for Dental and Vision only. Download your copy today.
• ChoiceBuilder​
  • Q3 Changes: Rates for Chiropractic & Acupuncture from Landmark Healthplan have increased for the third quarter. There are no changes for Dental, Vision, and Life.
• E.D.I.S.​
  • Supplemental Offerings: E.D.I.S. wants to remind brokers of potential savings of 15-35% on Level-Funded Stop Loss plans and Section 105 HRA/MERP (Medical Expense Reimbursement Plans). Best of all, there’s no reduction to benefits or shift in contributions. Plus, E.D.I.S. plan retention is 95%, year over year. Ask us for details.
• Guardian​
  • Large Group Capabilities and Collateral: Guardian is encouraging brokers to take some time to get to know about the carrier’s expanded Large Group capabilities. New services include Administrative Services Only (ASO), a Claims Direct Bill Option, and enrollment support free on new business. Download the Guardian Access and Enrollment Capabilities flyers.
• Landmark​
  • Quote & Premium Calculator: An updated version of the Landmark Healthplan rate quote and premium calculator for groups of 2-99 employees is available. Download your copy today – and delete any previous version you may have been using.
• Principal ​
  • New Dental Rates: Quoting is now available for Principal Dental with new rates effective through January 31, 2025. Log in to quote now or contact us for assistance.
• UnitedHealthcare​​
  • “Activate the Savings” Is Back: For June 2024 through January 2025 effective dates, UnitedHealthcare has brought back the “Activate the Savings” program for groups of 10+ subscribers. Download the flyer or ask your rep for details.