AGENCY ACTION ALERT FOR JULY 23, 2015

This week's Agency Action Alert covers the following topics:

HSAs to remain with Highmark if members leave their QHDHPs
New document upload process for members who do not pass the HSA security check
New HRA, FSA debit cards to be distributed to members

Please share this information with your sub-agents by forwarding this email, posting this content to your internal website, or copying and pasting the text into another format.

If you have any questions regarding the content in this email, please contact your Highmark client manager.

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

HSAs to remain with Highmark if members leave their QHDHPs

Effective July 23, 2015, members who leave their qualified high-deductible health plans (QHDHPs) will not experience any changes to the management of their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). This means that these members can continue to use their HSAs as they are used to, keeping their funds and using their accounts online, without transfers or any blackout periods.

For additional information, please review the talking points.

New document upload process for members who do not pass the HSA security check

When opening an HSA, members will have their identity checked against the National Security Database to ensure they are the true holder of the HSA. If a member's identity cannot be verified, he/she will receive a letter from Highmark asking for identification documentation (driver's license, birth certificate, etc.).

Members can now upload this documentation through Highmark's member portal under the Spending tab. Faxing documents is still an option, but it is more efficient for members to upload this information through the member portal.

For additional information, please review the talking points, and you can share this flier with your clients.

HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNTS / FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

New HRA, FSA debit cards to be distributed to members

Members who have Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) and/or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) will receive new debit cards this year. Highmark has a new debit card vendor, and this partnership has added advantages for our members:

Members can use their debit card during the plan year extension period, which provides additional time to incur and submit expenses against a prior year balance.
Each family member's debit card has its own individual account number. If one card is lost, it doesn't affect any others in the family.
Similarly, any card that is suspended at the individual level doesn't affect the other family members.
Up to 7 cards can now be requested for dependents age 18 or older.

Additional information about the new debit cards can be found in the talking points. Please review this information.