As the 2017 Open Enrollment period begins, we recognize the responsibility that you have to your clients and will continue to provide the producer community with the essential tools and information needed to perform your job.

ALERT FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 31, 2016

This week's Alert covers the following topics:

NEW INDIVIDUAL ACA APPLICATION AVAILABLE
WHAT INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS AND COVERAGE (SBC) LINKS AND BENEFIT BOOKLETS
NEW CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP) RATES
SHORT TERM BLUE APPLICATION REPLACEMENT
MARKETPLACE CERTIFICATION AND SENTINEL ELITE Q&A

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.

NEW INDIVIDUAL ACA APPLICATION AVAILABLE

Download the new application or view it on the producer portal under the Resources section. In order to be an Agent of Record (AOR), the application must be submitted through the producer portal. No AOR credit will be provided on paper application submissions.

WHAT INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE

Highmark members will receive open enrollment materials in the mail between October 27 and October 31, 2016. The official Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notice will also be included with this mailing. Below are example materials that may be included:

Please ensure to read this educational piece for producers only:

Educational PowerPoint - rate increases in CMS issuer notice

A follow up mailing will be sent to members who are eligible for financial assistance in mid to late November. This will provide members with their 2017 Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) amount once the final information is received from CMS.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS AND COVERAGE (SBC) LINKS AND BENEFIT BOOKLETS

SBCs and benefit booklets are now available online:

NEW CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP) RATES

Click here to view the CHIP premium rates, effective December 1, 2016.

SHORT TERM BLUE APPLICATION REPLACEMENT

A new Short Term Blue application is now available on the producer portal under Individual New Business and should be used immediately.

stb app

Please note the following changes to the application process:

The ability to quote and sell through producer portal will be removed
Only the paper application will be accepted - email applications will not be accepted
In order to be processed, applications must be accompanied with payment (check or money order)

Postmark date is used to determine effective date if requested for next day requests
Cannot use credit card payment by mail
Must include a Producer's Certificate to get credit

MARKETPLACE CERTIFICATION AND SENTINEL ELITE Q&A

In order for Highmark to recognize an agent as an Agent of Record (AOR) for an individual market sale, on- or off-Marketplace, the agent will have to be certified through FFM training and will need to notify Highmark of their certification by using the Sentinel Elite system.

Please review the Q&A to learn more about steps to take to remain an AOR.

If you have any questions, please contact your Highmark Individual Sales Channel Consultant.

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