UnitedHealthcare and Canopy Health announced the launch of the California Doctors Plan, the latest addition to the portfolio of health plans that have resulted from the collaboration between the companies. California Doctors Plan is available for people with employer-sponsored health coverage in nine Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma. Canopy Health is an integrated, high-performing accountable care network of providers and health systems in the Bay Area that are committed to delivering high-quality, affordable care. UnitedHealthcare established a product partnership with Canopy Health in 2017 to give commercial members enrolled in the SignatureValue HMO plan access to the unique value proposition of the network: the flexibility of accessing care from a variety of physicians and hospitals across the Bay Area but at a lower premium than a traditional HMO plan. UnitedHealthcare and Canopy Health expanded their relationship earlier this year with the launch of the UnitedHealthcare Canopy Health Medicare Advantage plan. Now with the introduction of California Doctors Plan, the companies aim to not only offer significant cost-savings but also a more personalized, simplified and coordinated care experience, according to Steve Cain, CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Northern California. “Our relationship with Canopy Health is working so well because we share a commitment to providing consumers and employers with high-value health care.” UnitedHealthcare members in Northern California enrolled in the plans have access to more than 5,000 physicians and 19 hospitals in Canopy Health’s network, which includes UCSF, John Muir Health, John Muir Medical Group, Hill Physicians Medical Group, Meritage Medical Network, Santa Clara County IPA (SCCIPA) and Dignity Health Medical Network – Santa Cruz. The California Doctors Plan offers plan participants the opportunity to save up to 25% on premiums compared to a traditional PPO offering as well as $0 co-pays for primary care and urgent care, 24/7 telehealth visits, and care coordination driven by a patient’s primary care physician.
Colonial Life Offers New COVID-19 Coverage
Colonial Life announced a new group critical illness plan with an optional rider that offers a lump sum benefit for hospitalization for treatment of COVID-19 and more than a dozen other infectious diseases such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Legionnaires’ disease, meningitis, Lyme disease and sepsis. Colonial Life’s new group critical illness plan has a flexible plan design with a wide range of face amounts to meet different needs. Coverage is available for up to 56 different serious conditions and treatment procedures, including heart attack, stroke, cancer, organ failure or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Additional conditions covered for children at no additional cost include Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and cleft lip or palate. Employees can further personalize their coverage with riders that provide additional benefits for infectious diseases, cancer, first diagnosis, heart procedures and progressive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Other features of Colonial Life’s new group critical illness plan
include:
* Spouse and child coverage — available with employee coverage
* Guaranteed issue — provides all employees, spouses and eligible
dependent children access to coverage
* HSA-compatible — allows employers to provide coverage that can be
used alongside employees’ health savings accounts
* 100% coverage for all breast cancer — invasive or noninvasive
* Wellbeing assistance benefit — is designed to pay a benefit for one
of 25 different health screening tests, such as a colonoscopy, mammogram
or BRCA genetic test that identifies breast cancer risk
* Additional diagnoses coverage — benefits are payable for multiple
different critical illnesses as well as reoccurrence of the same
illness, including cancer
* Access to Helpsy Health mobile app — easy-to-use online tool to
track symptoms, treatment plans and appointments and find resources for transportation,
financial assistance, and emotional support while dealing with cancer.
California Among States That Won’t Follow New COVID-19 Testing Plan
Arizona, California, New York, Florida and Texas have said “no thanks” to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest advice on COVID-19 testing. The CDC called to reduce COVID-19 testing, issuing guidance saying that asymptomatic people who have been exposed to COVID-19 shouldn’t be tested. The CDC had previously recommended that all people in close contact with anyone with COVID-19 should be tested even if the exposed person shows no sign of illness. California and the other states say they will continue down the original course. The new CDC guidance shocked doctors and politicians and spurred accusations the guidance was politically motivated.
Stronger On The Other Side
We love the positive thinking and practical tips from the folks at Aflac. They’ve recently published a white paper called “Stronger on the Other Side,” which examines how COVID-19 has impacted benefits and offers brokers solutions for navigating open enrollment and beyond. The whitepaper looks at ways to boost benefit packages that address a potentially long-term recovery and employees’ emotional well-being. Find the report at Aflac.com.
Ensight Partners with Proformex
San Diego-based Ensight, a life and annuity digital sales acceleration platform for insurance carriers, distributors and financial professionals, announced it has partnered with Proformex, an inforce management platform. The company will integrate Ensight’s quoting API platform to enhance Proformex’s intelligent inforce policy monitoring, which provides insurance agents and financial advisors better oversight and visibility into inforce policy contract performance. The partnership is part of Proformex’s strategy to simplify the complexity and challenges of managing inforce business at scale, while providing actionable insights for its customers. Integrating the Ensight Quoting API aims to enable Proformex customers to evaluate potential protection options for their clients during the policy review process without ever leaving the Proformex platform.
Congrats NAIFA Winners!
NAIFA-Los Angeles won the gold Excellence in Achievement Award from NAIFA-California, NAIFA-Greater Foothills won silver and Greater Bay Area took home bronze. Fresno received the affiliate gold. A hearty congratulations to all!