Summer 2008

To help you serve your clients, we would like to remind you of the current Underwriting guidelines for submitting signed renewal plan changes for small group accounts (2-150 employees). When plan changes are being requested, BCBS must receive the signed Benefit Plan Selection (BPS) form from us by the close of business on the 15th day of the month prior to the renewal date. Timely receipt of the BPS form allows BCBS to make all benefit changes in their systems in order to be able to process claims as per the new benefit configuration by the effective date.

If the signed BPS form is not provided on time, BCBSIL will continue processing claims and billing premiums based upon the existing plan design until the new paperwork has been received and processed. BCBSIL is strictly enforcing this deadline. This means that paperwork received after the close of business on the 15th day of the month prior to the renewal date the plan change will be processed as of 1st day of the following month (even if requested sooner). For example, paperwork received on August 17, 2008, intended for an September 1, 2008 effective date would be delayed until October 1, 2008. The renewal premium rates will be billed for the current plan design until the new paperwork is processed.

One other sales note, you can make plan changes for any of the 9 months prior to the renewal (as per the above guidelines) and the rates that are included in the groups renewal will be apply for that entire year. NO PLAN CHANGES OR ADDITIONS will be allowed during the 90 day period immediately prior to the renewal as the case will have started to be processed by the home office at that point in time.

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