Deadline Extended For Submitting Renewal Date Change Request Form

The Blues explained how small groups would have the opportunity to shift their 2014 renewal date to November or December. Based on feedback from the agent community, they’re extending the deadline for submission of the Renewal Date Change Request form to August 30.

The form remains available through the 2014 Small Group Transition Tool and must be submitted to your managing agent by no later than close of business on Aug. 30, 2013.

Please note the following:

• Forms submitted by an agent prior to July 15 were afforded either a November or December renewal date. Given the extended timeline, forms submitted after this date are solely eligible for a December renewal.

Note: Renewals will be processed in the order in which they’re received. They encourage you to submit your completed forms as soon as possible. Please do not hold all forms and submit them in a large batch on August 30, as this may result in delayed renewals.

• They’ll soon begin mapping groups with January renewals to reform-compliant products. If you have a group with a January renewal that is considering moving their renewal date, please notify your managing agent at HCRSupport@actionbenefits.com or HCRSupport@grotenhuis.com by August 1 to let them know you’re contemplating a change. Renewal shifts for January groups will not be allowed unless we receive the notification of consideration by August 1.

Note: Your email is not a firm commitment, but will allow them to better identify the volume of January renewals for which they can delay mapping until a final decision is reached.

• They’ve also decided to allow plan changes for groups requesting a change in their renewal date. This is a two-step process, and plan changes must be submitted via a request for group-wide change after you receive the renewal date change confirmation. For example, if you request a December renewal date, once you receive the 2013 renewal confirmation you can then submit a group-wide change to alter or add benefits.

Note: You’ll only be able to select from the current 2013 standard menu of products; no off-menu plan changes will be allowed. The 45-day lead time for group-wide change will be enforced.

If you have questions, you can contact the Health Care Reform Agent Support Center at 1-866-582-5052 or email HCRSupport@actionbenefits.com or HCRSupport@grotenhuis.com