Talking Points:
- Anthem Blue Cross’ priority remains meeting the health care benefit needs of more than 33 million members and ensuring they have access to affordable, high-quality care. As such, we will continue to put these members and our customers first.
- At the same time, affordability is more important than ever before, and we remain concerned the bill signed into law by the president does not address long-term cost containment measures that will make the system sustainable.
- The reconciliation process has started and may be finalized by the end of the week. Anthem has teams of individuals reviewing and analyzing the impact of the legislation and any near-term requirements to ensure we are prepared to implement all required changes in accordance with the law.
- The legislation has far-reaching implications, which will be phased in over several years beginning in the coming months. We will continue to communicate with you about these changes throughout the implementation period.
- While the Department of Health and Human Services and others work through the regulations and provide guidance related to this legislation, we will continue to remain engaged and provide input to help ensure the thoughts and needs of our members and customers are taken into account.
Questions and Answers:
What does this mean for Anthem?
- Anthem’s priority remains meeting the health care benefit needs of more than 33 million members, and ensuring they have access to affordable, high-quality care. As such, we will continue to put these members and our customers first.
- At the same time, affordability is more important than ever before, and we remain concerned the bill signed into law by the president does not address long-term cost containment measures that will make the system sustainable.
- The reconciliation process has started and may be finalized by the end of the week. Anthem has teams of individuals reviewing and analyzing the impact of the legislation and any near-term requirements to ensure we are prepared to implement all required changes in accordance with the law.
- The legislation has far-reaching implications which will be phased in over several years. We will continue to communicate with you about these changes throughout the implementation period.
Will there be changes to my benefits or my network?
- While the president has signed the legislation into law, the reconciliation process is not complete and many provisions require federal agencies to issue more detailed regulations, so there may be additional changes to the requirements and provisions of the legislation.
- Based on the current law and the current reconciliation proposals, we do not anticipate members will see immediate changes to their benefits. The requirements in this legislation will be phased in beginning later this year and continue over the next several years.
- This legislation does not impact our current physician or hospital networks. However we do believe members may see an impact to their benefits and their premiums as the legislation is implemented.
How will be premiums be affected?
- At this point we do not know what the impact will be on our members’ premiums as changes continue to be made to the legislation and the impact will vary depending on the type of product they have.
Do I need to do anything?
- At this time there is not anything for you as a member/customer/employer to do.
- We take our commitment to customers and members very seriously. We want to make sure you, our customers and members, understand what this legislation means for your coverage and your benefits.
- We have a team dedicated to reviewing and implementing the various requirements in the legislation and will provide additional information as quickly as possible to members and customers.
What changes will take effect immediately?
- Several near-term requirements will impact all contracts for new sales and renewals beginning in approximately six months. While there is a provision that “grandfathers” existing plans and allows members in these plans to keep their products, the new law requires us to add several new elements to all contracts, regardless of whether the plan is “grandfathered.” These include elements like:
*Allowing members to add dependents up to age 26 regardless of student status
*Eliminating lifetime limits on policies
It is important to note that our preliminary analysis of the “grandfathering” provision indicates that if a subscriber changes products after March 23, 2010, he or she will likely be subject to additional product requirements that are effective in the future.
For new sales and subscribers who change policies after approximately six months, we will be required to make additional changes, such as:
Removing any member cost sharing for “preventive” benefits, as defined by the legislation. - Other, more comprehensive insurance reforms will begin in 2014. Many of the more significant changes to the insurance marketplace — such as rating reforms, the individual and employer mandates, Medicaid expansions, the insurance exchanges and the insurance subsidies — are set to be effective on January 1, 2014.
- Many of the new laws require federal agencies to issue more detailed regulations that will guide implementation, and we will share more information when it is available.
How is Anthem preparing to implement the changes required this year?
- Anthem’s priority remains meeting the health care benefit needs of more than 33 million members and ensuring they have access to affordable, high-quality care. As such, we will continue to put these members and our customers first.
- At the same time, affordability is more important than ever before, and we remain concerned the bill signed into law by the president does not address long-term cost containment measures that will make the system sustainable.
- The reconciliation process has started and may be finalized by the end of the week. Anthem has teams of individuals reviewing and analyzing the impact of the legislation and any near-term requirements to ensure we are prepared to implement all required changes in accordance with the law.
- The legislation has far-reaching implications which will be phased in over several years. We will continue to communicate with you about these changes throughout the implementation period.
