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You can take the Blue Health Assessment, check drug costs, change your address, request a member ID card and more. An official website of the State of Georgia. After Frank Lalli, the former editor of Money and George magazines, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a potentially deadly blood cancer, he turned his experiences with our health care system into becoming The Health Care Detective and the author of Simon & Schusters Your Best Health Care Now. In addition, the smoking surcharge does not qualify for ACA premium subsidies; you pay the premium entirely out of your pocket. A physician or other medical professional who serves as a group member's first contact with a company's health care system. Heres What to Do Next, Health Insurance After Divorce: Your Options, Turning 26: Health Insurance Guide for Those Aging Off Their Parents Plan, How to Keep Your Doctor When Your Health Insurance Changes, Health Insurance After the Death of a Spouse, Parent or Other Plan Member. A person's tobacco use can play a role in how much they pay for health insurance coverage even though the Affordable Care Act brought dramatic changes to the way individual and small group health insurance premiums are determined. If you are eligible for the Federal Employee Program (your member ID starts with the letter R immediately followed by numbers), your overseas claim form and instructions can be found here. 0000001462 00000 n
This website serves as an invitation for you, the customer, to inquire about further information regarding health insurance, and submission of your contact information constitutes permission for an agent from to contact you with further information, including complete details on cost and coverage of health insurance marketed by Healthcare.com Insurance Services, LLC or HealthCare, Inc. subsidiary Pivot Health Holdings, LLC. Access a wealth of healthcare resources and tools with MyBlue. They are therefore addicted and need help. if (document.getElementById('inArticle_hc-radio1').checked == true){ The EX Program qualifies as a reasonable alternative standard and has helped over 940,000 tobacco users build the skills and confidence for a successful quit. Older people are charged more than younger people, with a cap of three times the rates that apply to a 21-year-old, and smaller premiums for people under the age of 21. We regulate the brand and licenses to all 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield local companies. But ACA allows individual and small group health insurers to adjust premiums based on just four factorsgeographic location, age, family size, and tobacco use. State specific rating variations. Does Short-Term Health Insurance Cover Essential Benefits? Blue Cross Blue Shield. Plan members need to attest to their tobacco status in their Virgin Pulse portal by May 31, 2022. Do you still have to pay the surcharge if you quit? The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight. Have you decided to kick your smoking or tobacco habit? 0000000016 00000 n
Health-contingent programs are further divided between activity-only and outcomes-based programs. If you're paying a tobacco surcharge and you've kicked the habit at least six months ago, you can update your information when your health plan renews for the coming year (either through the exchange, directly through your health insurer, or through your employer, depending on how you get your health coverage). If you have doubts, contact your health insurance company and discuss your e-cigarette habits. The Online Health Coach can help you manage common triggers such as stress, certain foods and emotions and help you develop your Quit Plan to reach your health goals. Health insurers took in more than $1.25 trillion to cover policies for function isChecked(){ Health Insurance Alabama | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama During the Public Health Emergency (PHE), over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 FDA-authorized test kits are covered for eligible members and will be reimbursed with no member cost share based on the federal guidance. If youve been tobacco-free for at least six months, be sure to update this information on your application at www.HealthCare.gov. We adhere to strict editorial standards to provide the most accurate and unbiased information. Plans may not seek physician verification for health-contingent programs. This program is available to members with PPO or HMO coverage. Plans have flexibility to determine how to provide the portion of the reward corresponding to the period before an alternative was satisfied (e.g., payment for the retroactive period or pro rata over the remainder of the year), as long as the method is reasonable and the individual receives the full amount of the reward. By being truthful with your insurance company, you can save yourself all sorts of onerous complications down the road.The potentially grave consequences for misrepresenting your tobacco use should convince you to always be transparent. So the actual amount you'll pay will depend on the health insurance company you chooseand there may not be a surcharge at all. } 0000002154 00000 n
1348222 (05/21) You are only eligible for one reimbursement per program, per calendar year. Do you have a Business BlueEssentials plan through a small employer? Kate Hobbs Knutson, MD, MPH Shop plans or check claims Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Follow These 8 Tips to Reduce Your Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs, 6 Things to Remember As You Negotiate Medical Bills, How to Save Money with Expanded Bronze Plans. These members will be responsible for paying a tobacco surcharge equal to 20 percent of their total monthly premium beginning Jan. 1, 2020. 2023 Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. What you need to know about the disease and our commitment to ensuring you have access to the right care at the right time. Residents of California should use this form: CCPA Personal Information Request. In some circumstances, an individual may not satisfy the reasonable alternative standard until the end of the year. To access your member services, please visit your BCBS company. Your rates will then be adjusted for the coming year to reflect the removal of the tobacco surcharge. Currently, seven states plus the nations capital prohibit insurers from charging smokers extra: Three other states allow a surcharge of less than 50% : In the other 40 states, smokers can be charged 50% more for monthly premiums compared to non-smokers. } else { That paper trail could be uncovered and flagged as your insurer is reviewing your treatment before paying your bills. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. endstream
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We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Blue Shield Association. That depends on your plan. Call the National Information Center at 1-800-411-BLUE (2583) weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. The idea is if an employee contracts COVID-19, it could lead to higher healthcare costs . If you are experiencing difficulty accessing our website content or require help with site functionality, please use one of the contact methods below. Follow these steps: Once we receive and process this form, well remove the surcharge for the next billing cycle. Don't have your card? Claims and Billing Doctors, Hospitals and Specialties Insurance Basics My Coverage and Benefits Purchasing Insurance Member Questions As noted, roughly 6 million people over 18 are using electronic nicotine-inhaling devices, such as Juuls, e-cigarettes, and vapes. This article will explain the federal rules that apply to tobacco surcharges, and how some states have modified those rules. Discrimination under the ADA includes requiring medical examinations and making disability-related inquiries, including medical history inquiries, unless 1 of 2 exceptions applies: (1) such exam or inquiry is job-related and consistent with business necessity; or (2) the medical exam is voluntary and part of an employee health program available at the worksite. As for when the lower premium to those who meet the reasonable alternative standard must be available, the plan must provide the lower premium even for the months during which the individual did not meet the reasonable alternative standard. For most Blue Cross members: Quitting tobacco and vaping support line Call toll-free 1-888-662-BLUE (2583) Hours: Mon. This update is effective as of January 1, 2020. Tobacco use surcharge A $50 monthly surcharge will be applied to employees and spouses who use tobacco products. Insurance premiums could rise across the board. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association does not have access to member information. Non-Discrimination Statement and Foreign Language AccessCopyright {{ new Date().getFullYear() }} All Prescribing FDA-approved tobacco cessation medications to nonpregnant adults of any age. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an . With that ruling, you can say the old tobacco policies went up in smoke. You must enroll in or complete a quit tobacco program. The Federal Drug Administration labeled inhalers as tobacco products in 2016, and, therefore, so do most health insurers. SET. Should smokers pay more for health insurance? But others, including the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association, point out that higher health insurance premiums essentially just make health coverage less accessible to people who use tobacco. It means that any premium surcharge for tobacco use must not be so large that an employee feels forced to participate in the biometric screen. But if they do use tobacco, the surcharge can result in unaffordable health insurance premiums for these applicants. For more insurance terms and definitions, please see ourGlossary. FOR BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF GEORGIA (BCBSGa) AND UNITEDHEALTHCARE MEMBERS It takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements. 31 0 obj<>stream
2018 Mar;37(3):473-481. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1062, Bains J, Pesko MF, Maclean JC, Cook BL. Read about your data and privacy. Call WebMD at 1-855-326-5102 to determine your eligibility and schedule your first call. and UnitedHealthcare Active Employee Tobacco Surcharge Policy, and UnitedHealthcare Active Employee Non-Tobacco Surcharge Policy, Permanente Active Employee Tobacco Cessation Policy, Permanente Active Employee Non-Tobacco Cessation Policy, and UnitedHealthcare Retiree Tobacco Surcharge Policy, and UnitedHealthcare Retiree Non-Tobacco Surcharge Policy, Permanente Retiree Tobacco Cessation Policy, Permanente Retiree Non-Tobacco Cessation Policy, Summary Plan Description and Evidence of Coverage. 0000013935 00000 n
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