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PRODUCER NOTIFICATION FOR JAN. 27, 2016
This producer notification covers the following topics:
- Small group clients can opt-in to ID protection services at no cost through
Friday, Feb. 5
- 2016 small group forms are now available
- Individual open enrollment ends Sunday, Jan. 31
- Reminder - Producers and clients should update browsers if using Internet Explorer 8
- John Paul, Allegheny Health Network President and CEO, assumes new role at Highmark Health
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. |
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SMALL GROUP
Clients can opt-in to ID protection services at no cost through Friday, Feb. 5
On Dec. 30, 2015, the Treasury Department and the IRS announced that identity protection services provided to employees or other individuals before a data breach occurs will not be considered taxable.
Specifically, the announcement stated:
- Individuals will not be required to include in their gross income the value of identity protection services provided by their employer or by another organization.
- Employers will not be required to include the value of the identity protection services in the employees' gross income and wages or to report these amounts on Form W-2 or Form 1099-MISC.
This week, small group clients, who have not yet enrolled in identity protection services, will receive this letter from Highmark. It details how they can opt-in through our approved vendor, AllClear ID, at no cost through Friday, Feb. 5.
If you have any questions, please contact your Highmark client manager.
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SMALL GROUP
2016 small group forms are now available
Revised small group forms for clients who have migrated from Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BCNEPA) are now available. You will soon have access to these forms in the Resources section of the producer portal.
For coverage that hasn't migrated from BCNEPA to Highmark, please continue using the BCNEPA forms.
If you have any questions, please contact your Highmark client manager.
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INDIVIDUAL MARKET
Open enrollment ends Sunday, Jan. 31
The 2016 Open Enrollment Period for individual coverage closes Sunday, Jan. 31. After that date, individuals must qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in an insurance plan.
Off-exchange SEP enrollment
Members must complete Highmark's full application along with an SEP form to enroll in an off-exchange plan starting Monday, Feb. 1.
Applications with an SEP form can be submitted to Highmark one of three ways:
On-exchange SEP enrollment
All SEP enrollments for on-exchange plans must be completed through healthcare.gov.
If you have any questions, please contact your Highmark individual sales channel consultant.
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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Reminder - Producers and clients should update browsers if using Internet Explorer 8
For the best experience using all of Highmark website tools and applications, producers, clients and members should all upgrade their browsers if they are currently using Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). This is especially important because not all systems will support IE8 after January.
To upgrade, just type in your browser's search field "upgrade IE" and look for instructions from Microsoft.
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HIGHMARK HEALTH
John Paul, Allegheny Health Network President and CEO, assumes new role
On Jan. 26, Highmark Health announced that Allegheny Health Network (AHN) President and Chief Executive Officer John Paul is joining Highmark Health as special advisor to David Holmberg, Highmark Health President and Chief Executive Officer. He will consult on strategic initiatives that advance Highmark Health's efforts to transform health care. Cynthia Hundorfean will succeed Mr. Paul as President and Chief Executive Officer of Allegheny Health Network in February.
For additional information, read the Highmark Health press release.
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