Frequently Asked Questions
As a service to our members and the community, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) continues to analyze and evaluate the impact reform will have on us all. You can be confident that Blue KC is working hard to understand the complex reform legislation that was passed. We will continue to update this FAQ as we gain more clarity on the different reform elements. Thank you for your interest and please check back often.
Health Care Reform Legislation – Get the Facts!
Read the detail behind the health care reform legislation passed in March 2010. Click below for detailed Fact Sheets on the key elements of reform.
Blue KC Hosts Broker Reform Meetings
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City hosted meetings with its broker distribution network recently to update and inform them about evolving elements of health care reform. Senior management at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and Deloitte Consultants provided an overview of reform, where it stands now, and its anticipated impact to key stakeholders. To see a copy of Deloitte’s presentation and handouts, click on the links below.
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BCBSKC Broker Reform Presentation |
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Broker Brochure |
To view Blue KC’s broker handouts, click below:
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Early Retiree Reinsurance Program – What You Need to Know…
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) would like to update you on the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program that is part of the health reform bill that was passed in March. This write-up includes information on how we plan to support our clients who wish to apply for funds under this program. This program encourages employers to maintain insurance benefits for early retirees by reimbursing the employer for some of the increased costs of providing insurance for them.
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program Established
An interim final regulation on early retiree reinsurance was issued last week. This program encourages employers to maintain insurance benefits for early retirees (ages 55-64) by reimbursing the employer for some of the increased costs of providing insurance for them. The program will reimburse claims for early retirees, their spouses, surviving spouses and dependents (if currently on the employer’s plan) at 80 percent of claims between $15,000 and $90,000 per plan year. The reimbursement must be used to offset plan costs, or to reduce premiums, copayments, deductibles or other out-of-pocket member expenses.
Temporary High Risk Pools to Help the Uninsured
Thirty states have agreed to take part in a new program to offer insurance to people with pre-existing health conditions. Missouri and Kansas have both agreed to participate. Both states will use the current administrators of their high risk pools to administer this program as well. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City administers the Missouri High Risk Pool today in our service area.
Tax Credits Available for Small Businesses
Small businesses are very interested in the tax credits offered under reform. Blue KC’s BlueChoice® package of plans for small businesses can help these employers maximize their savings with the tax credit and gain control over employees’ health care costs.
HHS Web Portal Coming
Last week, HHS released information on its Web portal, to be established by July 1, 2010, to help individuals and small businesses identify affordable coverage options in their states. Because of the short timeframe for establishing the portal, HHS will launch it in two phases.
Rescissions Request a Non-Issue for Blue KC
In late April, members of Congress sent letters to several health plans asking them to end their efforts to rescind health insurance coverage except in cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City did NOT receive such a letter, and for good reason. We have never had the practice of rescinding members’ policies, except in instances of fraud or material misrepresentation on the part of the applicant, and we intend to maintain this course into reform.
Dependent Children Coverage Extended
This is a press release distributed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, in conjunction with an announcement made by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association stating that all 39 Blues plans have committed to doing the same thing.
Count On Us
This advertorial is part of a national campaign the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association started a couple weeks ago. A national version of this ad ran in USA Today earlier this month. This ad has been personalized to address Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City’s members and employer groups.
The Count On Us campaign was started to give members, employer groups and brokers the assurance that Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are here to help people make sense of the new health care reform legislation, and we will do what it takes to comply with the regulations as they are established. While we still have some concerns about reform, namely the cost increases we see as inevitable, there are also other elements of reform that we are pleased to see. As a result of reform, 32 million Americans will now have access to coverage, and pre-existing health conditions will no longer be excluded.
We hope you find this advertorial reassuring and helpful.
The 3rd annual Health Summit, The Face of Health Care Tomorrow, was well attended and those assembled represented a powerful force of positive energy regarding health care reform. The keynote speaker, Senator Bob Dole, presented a bipartisan view with his characteristic wit and expressed the hopeful promise of what can be achieved by working together. For details on the information presented, summit summaries or communications materials, click on any of the links below.