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Here is an overview of updates from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any).

Bonus Updates

• Aetna
  • Continuing California Broker Bonus: Aetna continues to offer California brokers a bonus of up to $100 on each new employee enrolled in groups of up to 100 eligibles. It’s payable on fully insured and Aetna Funding Advantage^SM plans. Visit our Newsroom for details.
• Delta Dental
  • Small Business Broker Rewards: Delta Dental’s Small Business Broker Rewards Program pays you additional comp on new and retained eligible groups of 2-99 lives. Sign up at ddsbrewards.com and read our Newsroom post to learn more.​​​

Medical​ Coverage

• Multiple Carriers​
  • Q3 Quoting: Word & Brown has received Q3 updates (or rate passes) from Anthem Blue Cross, CaliforniaChoice, Cigna + Oscar, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, Sharp Health Plan, Sutter Health Plus, UnitedHealthcare, and Western Health Advantage. Login to quote now or contact your rep for quoting assistance.
• Anthem Blue Cross​
  • Network Expansion: Anthem’s Priority Select HMO service area now includes Ventura, Kern, and San Luis Obispo counties. Quoting systems have been updated to add new ZIP Codes.
  • Block of Business Sale Completed: The Anthem sale of its Disability and Life business to The Standard is complete. Word & Brown is working with The Standard toward a new GA agreement, so brokers can continue to offer DI and Life in combo with Anthem Medical.
• Blue Shield of California​
  • Forms Updates: For Q3, Blue Shield has amended several forms, including the Master Group Application, Employee Application, Group Change Request, and Subscriber Change Request. Be sure you have the latest forms for your Q3 enrollments. Download copies from W&B’s online Insurance Forms Library.
• ​​​​CaliforniaChoice
  • Rate Guide Summary: CaliforniaChoice has released a Q3 Rate Guide Summary for its Medical plan offerings. Download your copy today.
  • Form Updates: Be sure you’re using the updated Employer Application and Employer Change Request Form for your cases. Prior editions are no longer being accepted for new business or renewals with June 2024 or later effective dates.
• Health Net​
  • Self-Service Tools: A revised Broker Portal Guide is now available from Health Net. Download yours from Word & Brown’s online Insurance Forms Library.
• Humana​
  • Agent of Record Change: Humana has updated its Agent of Record (AOR) Change Form. Download your copy now.
  • No-Added-Cost Benefits When Bundling: For groups bundling three lines of group benefits – one of which is Disability – Humana is offering an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) solution through Telus. Ask us for more information.
  • Expanded Dental Options: Humana has refreshed its Dental HMO and Prepaid Dental choices while also adding Dental PPO product enhancements. Get details from your rep.
• Nippon Life Benefits
  • New Options: Nippon Life has new options available for select groups. These include LYNX, a Group Medical product for foreign-owned companies; Large Group Medical for 101+ eligible employee groups; international benefits like Medical and Rx when traveling outside the U.S.; Quest Select outpatient lab benefits; Teladoc®; and a range of Ancillary products to pair with Medical. Contact us for details.
• Sutter Health Plus​
  • Employer Guide Update: Sutter has published a new guide for employers that includes pharmacy benefit manager information, contact details for Account Services, health plan and specialty plan partner information, member options for accessing care and wellness programs, and network and service area info. Tell your clients they can access the guide via the Sutter Health Plus Employer Portal.
• UnitedHealthcare
  • New Guides: UnitedHealthcare has published its 2024 Producer Performance Guide for California brokers. Also available is a 2024 Small Business Product Catalog. Download your copies from our Insurance Forms Library.
• Word & Brown
  • Week of Webinars 2024: The most-anticipated Continuing Education (CE) Credit event of 2024 is coming in June. Word & Brown’s annual “WOW” gives you an uncomplicated way to earn up to 12 CE Credits. Check out the 2024 schedule and sign up today.

Ancillary & Other​ Coverage

• Ameritas​
  • Forms Update: The new Ameritas microsite for Word & Brown brokers offers access to the most up-to-date California Small Group (2-50) Ameritas forms.
• Anthem Blue Cross
  • Bundling Update: With the sale of Anthem’s Disability and Life block to The Standard, as of 4/1, the bundling discount applies only if Dental and/or Vision are added or sold together with Medical. Disability and Life no longer apply toward the Specialty Bundling Discount.
• Blue Shield of California​
  • Specialty Discount: Blue Shield continues to offer a 10% bundling discount on small business Dental and/or Vision added to Medical.
• ChoiceBuilder​
  • Q3 Changes: ChoiceBuilder reports new rates for Chiropractic & Acupuncture from Landmark Healthplan for the third quarter. There are no planned changes to other product rates (for Dental, Vision, and Life).
• Humana​
  • Group Benefits Marketing Kit: Download your copy of Humana’s Marketing Kit for Group Benefits. It’s everything you need to know about sales resources for Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability products from Humana.
• MetLife​
  • Quoting Tool: MetLife’s quoting tool for groups of 2-99 eligible lives is available for coverage effective through 09/30/2024. Download the Excel file to quote Dental, Vision, Life, STD, LTD, or Voluntary Disability.