CalCPA ProtectPlus

Vision Service Plan benefits include periodic check-ups, frames, lenses, and contacts, but its up to you to know when you are eligible for these benefits. You can access eligibility information, and more, online in your own password protected area of the Vision Service Plan website. That way, as soon as you know you are eligible for benefits, you can schedule your next eye exam, or get the new pair of glasses or contact lenses that you’ve been wanting.

To access your account visit your plans login on the ProtectPlus website.

1. Next, you can select among medical, dental, and vision plans. When you click on “vision,” you will be taken to the VSP login page where you will need to register if you haven’t already done so.
2. Once you have logged in, you will see a page that lists each benefit with an entry that specifies if you are currently eligible or the date on which you will gain eligibility.
3. You can also view the online “savings statement” from your last vision appointment to see how much you saved by using your vision plan benefits.

This is a short presentation that covers the new form “Group Insurance Change Report” for CalCPA ProtectPlus Group Insurance Plans, what it is and how to use it. Click the image below to view presentation.

Presentation Highlights:
•    Move Employees between health plans
•    Remove Life or Disability from all employees
•    Declare which health plans you will be offering (any combinations)

The end of the calendar year marks the ProtectPlus annual open enrollment period. It’s also the time to make plan changes. For employees who opted not to enroll in ProtectPlus for whatever reason, this is another chance to join. For current subscribers it’s an opportunity to make changes in their coverage.

Maintaining the longer open enrollment period adopted in 2007, the Group Insurance Trust has announced that open enrollment begins on November 2 and ends December 31.

CalCPA member firms that haven’t offered ProtectPlus plans to their employees can, of course, enroll in Group Insurance Trust plans at any time.

Firms can consider the full range of offerings for 2010 that include;

• 5 copay plans
• 3 HSA-eligible plans
• 2 Anthem Blue Cross HMO plans

This is also the time of year that the Trust announces plan changes and premium adjustments. As always, premium  increases are anticipated with concern, but the good news is:

The Trust has been able to maintain its single digit  premium increases for the seventh consecutive year.

This is a remarkable achievement when you consider that ProtectPlus also beat industry averages in each of these years.

Several benefit improvements will be implemented in 2010.

• All ProtectPlus copay plans will see a reduction in the copay amount for generic prescription drugs from $15 to $10.
• Improved coverage for mental health and substance abuse services on all copay, HSA-eligible, and Anthem Blue Cross HMO plans.
• Medical plans will now align all mental health and substance abuse member cost-sharing provisions with those offered for in-network and out-of-network medical services and remove any visit limitations (in accordance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008).

The Trust will also combine several copay plans for 2010.
Last year the Trust offered eight copay plans, including both regular and enhanced versions of:

• Protect 15
• Protect 25
• Protect 35

The enhanced versions of these plans—which waive the deductible for the first six in-network office visits—proved so popular that trustees were persuaded to include the enhanced benefits as standard features in the copay plans at these levels.

For 2010 the Protect 15, Protect 25 and Protect 35 plans will all feature the enhanced benefit of six office visits that are not subject to the plan’s deductible, while the Protect 10 and Protect 45 plans will retain their original structure.

Vision Service Plan and Delta Dental rates will be restructured for 2010.
Going forward, rates for both plans will be based on firm size in much the same way the medical plan rates are structured.

• Effective January 1, 2010, firms with two or more participants will see a reduction in VSP and Delta Dental rates while others will note a small increase.

Changes in Premiums
Some ProtectPlus members will see changes in their premiums next year that reflect altered geographical rate bands. Anthem Blue Cross has re-aligned several zip codes in rate areas one, two, and three, and the Trust has followed its lead in order stay consistent. For some, these changes will mean lower than average premium increases, while for others, unfortunately, it may mean an increase in excess of the average overall premium increase.

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The Group Insurance Trust has always made a priority of providing CalCPA  members the first-class service that they deserve. This goal is expressed in the quality benefit plans offered by the Trust, the range of choices, and the customer service that supports the use of those plans on a daily basis. Aiming to enhance this experience even further, the Trust has recently contracted with Banyan Administrators, LLC, to handle the administrative services formerly provided by Seabury & Smith.

About this Change
Susan Young, executive director of the Group Insurance Trust commented,

In light of Seabury’s long service to the Trust, deciding to move our account wasn’t easy. However, in seeking the best possible service for our members, we wanted to take advantage of Banyan’s skills.

Starting November 1, 2009, Banyan will be responsible for the following:

• Customer service
• Billing
• Payment processing
• Record-keeping
• Marketing support
• Receiving and accounting for participant contributions
• Maintaining records of eligible participants
• Preparing financial reports for GIT staff and trustees
• Banyan will also process all enrollment and change applications
• Maintain an interface with Anthem Blue Cross
• Help new firms and new employees set up their accounts, and manage employee eligibility

For many ProtectPlus members, of course, the primary and often the only point of contact with the plan administrator is when they call or email with a question. Banyan brings to this customer service role a history of serving 220 organizations and group plans beginning in 1994, including other MEWAs (Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements) in its home state of Pennsylvania that have similar needs and concerns as the Group Insurance Trust. Scott Fair, executive vice president of Banyan, is very clear about “how important customer service interactions are in presenting the face of an organization.”

Banyan Customer Service Center
The Banyan customer service center is staffed by Banyan representatives—all  are licensed brokers—who are there to answer your questions whether by phone or email. Moving all these services to a higher level, Banyan brings with it a high degree of technological sophistication, so that relevant information will be more quickly and easily accessible. For a benefits  administrator this can mean resolving an eligibility issue online, and for Trust staff, the ability to monitor plan performance more closely. (continue reading…)

As mentioned in a previous posting there are plenty of new features coming for ProtectPlus policy holders. But, there will also be some great new tools on the website.

We will be launching a plan selector tool that will ease the process of selecting the right plan options for your firm. This tool will be in the form of a quick survey that will result in a recommendation of the three plans that are most likely to suit your needs. We are very excited about this new tool, and we think you will enjoy its ease of use as well!

Be sure to let us know what you think of it, once you’ve tried!

The Group Insurance Trust of the California Society of CPAs is pleased to announce that it has selected a new administrator for the CalCPA ProtectPlus programs. Effective later this fall, program administrator responsibilities will transition from Seabury and Smith Insurance Program Management to Banyan Administrators, LLC. Banyan is a firm with extensive experience in administering multiple employer health plan arrangements.

What’s Next?

• Additional Web Features on CPAProtectPlus.com
• Brainshark Multimedia Online Presentation
• Detailed Administrative Guide Released
• Annual Enrollment Communications

The Trust is committed to continually improving the ProtectPlus member experience and the quality of the CalCPA ProtectPlus programs. The administrator transition will allow ProtectPlus program members to take advantage of a host of new and enhanced services, including:

• Simplified enrollment processes
• Improved program invoice design
• Enhanced communication capabilities – new web features; dynamic, multi-media presentations
• Streamlined administration leveraging web-based technology
• Online HR and Benefits reference materials

ProtectPlus Members
Your Annual Enrollment materials will be mailed to you on November 2, 2009 and will include new plan contact information.