New Diabetes and Maternity Dental Benefits
Two new dental benefits provide enhanced coverage for members who are pregnant and members with diabetes. The new benefits provide 100 percent coverage for extra dental exams, extra cleanings and preventive periodontal services with no deductibles, coinsurance or annual maximums.
“There is growing evidence that poor oral health has an impact on overall health,” said David Gesko, DDS, dental director of HealthPartners Dental Group. Gesko said recent studies suggest that preventive dental care for pregnant women who suffer from serious periodontal disease can reduce preterm births and that expectant mothers who increase the frequency of teeth cleanings to prevent or minimize gum disease are more likely to give birth to healthy full-term babies.
Likewise, Gesko notes that when patients with diabetes have their teeth professionally cleaned they are better able to control blood glucose levels. Better glucose control helps prevent complications of diabetes, including blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, nervous system disorders and amputations.
“Our goal is to make high-quality dental and medical care affordable for members,” said Forrest Flint, vice president of HealthPartners Dental. "These benefits are part of a series of enhancements HealthPartners introduced this year aimed at patients with specific oral health needs." HealthPartners has also enhanced coverage for dental implants to include both the surgical portion of the treatment, along with the prosthetics.
For more information about the enhanced periodontal or implant benefits, please contact your HealthPartners Sales Executive.
HEADLINES
No January Increase for Dental Shelf Plans
We understand that pricing is typically the number one issue that your clients base dental plan decisions on. That’s why new business rates for HealthPartners dental shelf plans won’t be changing in January 2009. Talk to your HealthPartners sales representative about the exciting new benefits we’re offering to add even more value to our dental plans.
Wisconsin Area Change
Effective October 1, 2008, the rate area factor for Area 1 in Wisconsin will be changing from 0.98 to 0.95. This affects the counties of Polk, St. Croix and Pierce along the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. Review Wisconsin Area map.
The ABCs of HSAs
Insurance industry statistics show more than 6 million people are enrolled in plans with health savings accounts -- nearly double the number from two years ago. According to a recent census by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Minnesota had the highest percentage of HSA enrollees, at 9.2 percent, followed by Louisiana at 9 percent and Washington, D.C., at 8.7 percent. To help you prepare for HSA-related questions, attend a free HSA Web cast from Wells Fargo and Business Finance.
A Savvy Buyer's Guide to HSAs
Lessons from the First Four Years of the Health Savings Account
Thursday, September 25, 2008
12:00 p.m. CST
This web cast will provide best practices for ensuring HSA programs help cut healthcare costs while still providing attractive coverage. In addition to a real-world example offered by Lynn Duncan, Director of Compensation & Benefits at Layne Christensen Company, this web cast will also provide you with information on:
- Maximizing HSA enrollment
- Launching a successful employee communication plan
- Selecting an effective HSA administrator
Register now or contact your HealthPartners Sales Executive for more information about our HSA plans.
Medical Director Named National Leader
Dr. Terry Crowson has been named a 2008 Leader in Disease Management by Managed Healthcare Executive magazine. Disease management programs are designed to improve the quality and efficiency of care for members with chronic illness. Last year, HealthPartners programs reduced expenses from medical complications for asthma, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases by $26 million by providing quality care. These results led eValue8 to name HealthPartners as the national benchmark in six of seven categories including chronic disease management.
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
New Agreements for Broker Firms
This month, all HealthPartners brokers will be receiving new Brokerage Firm Agreements for an effective date of November 1, 2008. The new contract reflects changes that enhance, clarify and simplify our partnership. Please keep an eye on your mailbox for these documents. Your prompt attention to signing and returning these documents is appreciated.
New Small Group Forms Now Available
The Minnesota Department of Commerce now requires all employee health plan applications to be filed with the state. As a result, some adjustments have been made to our Minnesota Small Group Employee Application. The new application is being implemented immediately and must be used on all new groups, late applicants and new hires as of November 1, 2008. We’ve also made some changes to our Minnesota Small Group Employer Application. Please be sure to use these new forms with your clients. View online forms now.
Commission Check Delivery – Go Green!
Go green with your monthly commission check! This fall, we’re encouraging all of our brokers to go green with us by signing up for direct deposit of commission checks. If you haven’t signed up for direct deposit, it’s easy to do. Simply fill out the linked direct deposit form and send it back to your HealthPartners sales representative. Once your request is processed, future checks will be deposited instantly – with no wasted paper. It's better for you, because auto deposit is faster and safer, and it's better for us, because it reduces our administration costs and helps keeps premiums affordable. Go green!
Medicare Broker Training – October 2008
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period of November 15 to December 31 is just around the corner!
To sell HealthPartners Medicare products during open enrollment or in 2009, you must complete three training and compliance requirements:
- Complete the AHIP Medicare Marketing Training Online Course and associated test. You must earn a passing grade of 90 percent or higher and submit your score to HealthPartners.
- Complete the online HealthPartners Medicare Product Course and pass the associated test. This training focuses on the information you need to be successful selling HealthPartners Medicare products in 2009.
- An Optional classroom training session available on Monday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the HealthPartners Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington.
- If you do not have easy access to a computer, there will also be a computer lab available from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Monday, October 6 at the HealthPartners Corporate Headquarters. Call Jared Moen at 952-883-7478 to attend.
- Sign the HealthPartners Broker Compliance Statement agreeing to abide by HealthPartners and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’s policies and procedures when selling HealthPartners products. You can fax the completed statement to Medicare Sales at 952-853-8718.
Links to all courses and enrollment for the optional training sessions are available under the Broker Education section of healthpartners.com.
You are expected to complete the above requirements before selling any HealthPartners products for 2009. Upon successful completion, you will be able to order HealthPartners sales materials and receive commissions for your 2009 sales.
All online courses and tests will become available on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.
Additionally, we want to be sure you’re aware of new regulations released last week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding broker and agent activities. For details, please review this information: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthPlansGenInfo/. We are working through what these new regulations mean for our operations and more information will be forthcoming.
If you have any questions, please call Medicare Sales at 952-883-5601 or 1-800-247-7015.
Network Updates
As our client base and membership continues to expand, so does our network. In fact, we’ve recently added a large number of providers. We’re committed to providing access to the providers your clients demand – nationwide. No matter where your clients live, work or travel, we’ve got them covered. Recent additions include:
Medical – Minnesota
Lake View Clinic – Two Harbors
Mill City Clinic – Minneapolis
One Stop Medical Center – Shoreview
Medical – South Dakota
Olson Medical Clinic – Vermillion
Dental – Minnesota
Pike Lake Dental – New Brighton
Try out our new search function to see just how easy it is to find a network provider quickly and simply. Provider Search
Library: Quick Links to Great Resources
Important Contacts
Our Group Medical Plans
Our Group Dental Plans
Our Individual and Medicare Plans
Our Achieve SM Health Improvement Programs
Our CareSpan SM Disease Management Programs
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