| Coventry WellBeing
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We would like to take this time to remind you of the wellness tools and services available to all Coventry Health Care members when they log into My Online Services:
HRA: The online Health Risk Assessment analyzes responses to questions about health history and lifestyle, and then provides suggestions for reducing or eliminating risks.
Health Information Library: This library is searchable by health topics or keywords, and also includes valuable links to various health related articles and information.
Online Wellness Tool: The online wellness tool offers 24-hour access to information about nutrition, fitness, and healthy lifestyle choices. In addition, the tool provides customized nutrition and fitness plans for members based on a goal they identify and their responses to a series of questions. Members accumulate points with each interaction in the tool that can be exchanged for prizes.
KidsHealth: Access a library of parenting and health information written for three distinct audiences: parents, kids, and teens.
Discounted LASIK Services: The QualSight network features Board Certified Ophthalmologists offering LASIK surgery at preferred pricing. |
| Decision Support Tools
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As more employers respond to the current economic environment by offering Consumer Driven Health Plans, Qualified High Deductible Health Plans, and traditional plans with higher deductibles and coinsurance, we want to remind you of the decision support tools available through My Online Services.
Employee Budgeting Tool - This tool allows members to compare benefit plan options to determine which plan best fits their needs. Members input basic information about their family, expected usage and the average costs of services. Based on this information, the tool will present the total medical/pharmacy expense, without benefits applied, based on national averages. The tool is also loaded with values for the plan design options available to members. Members can enter their own benefit plan information to get an even more accurate estimate of expenses for the benefit plan year. They can then compare the costs associated with each type of coverage to determine the benefit plan that will work best.
My Cost of Care - The information in this tool is provided to help members understand the typical costs associated with different health conditions or procedures. This tool includes information on some of the most common procedures and the average cost of those procedures in five categories (Inpatient Stays, Surgical Procedures, Physician Visits, Diagnostic Procedures, Diseases and Conditions). This will help members plan for and manage health care costs and identify savings opportunities. |
| Broker of Record Policy
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There are times when an Employer Group will decide to make a change as to who the Broker of Record will be on Groups where a commission is to be paid. The Code of Virginia, section 38.2-1812 and your broker contract, set forth what information (and how) the employer group and new agent must submit to change the Agent of Record. The provisions can also be found in your Broker Agreement under section 3.5. Effective immediately, the following information must be submitted to the Account Manager on the Employer Group's letterhead:
- Name and address of policyholder
- Name and address of plan:
Coventry Health Care
Southern Health Services, Inc.
9881 Mayland Drive
Richmond, VA 23233
- Policy number(s)
- Name and address of new broker
- Date of request
- Signature of policyholder
- Signature of new broker
Commission payments will begin to accrue and be made to the new broker effective the first calendar day of the month following receipt of notification from the employer.
The existing broker will be notified of the request and has 15 business days from the date of the notice to retain the group and submit a rescinding letter to the plan.
A sample Agent of Record Letter will be posted on our website. Please note that the letter must have signatures from both the client and the new broker. Thank you for your cooperation. |
| Online Account Management
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On October 2, Coventry Health Care introduced improved functionality within Online Account Management. Among the enhancements were the following areas that are of interest to employers:
- User Defined Login ID
- Auto-Formatted Fields (i.e., telephone numbers)
- Medicare HICN Field Format
- Recurring Payment Pop-Up Message
- Reason Codes Updated & Sorted
- New Help Section (Updated User Guides)
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| Health Savings Account Administration
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As your January renewals begin, please keep in mind that John Vellines of Health Savings Administrators is offering preferred pricing to current and new Southern Health clients. The $20 account set-up fee will be waived for all Southern Health clients, including those existing clients who wish to open an HSA with Health Savings Administrators. For clients that currently utilize C3 HSA administration, your Account Manager can provide the Closure and Disbursement Form pre-populated with Health Savings Administrator information.
Health Savings Administrators is an independent administrator of personal health accounts with an excellent reputation in the market. We encourage you to consider Health Savings Administrators for your clients. For more information, you may either contact your Coventry Health Care representative, call Health Savings Administrators directly at 888-354-0697 or visit them on the web at hsaadministrators.com. |
| BE v 2 Training Webinars
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As discussed in a previous newsletter, the functionality of benefitexpress v2 is not significantly different from version 1. However, if you have not received BenefitExpress training or have someone new in your office that would benefit from training, we encourage you to participate. Training sessions lasting one hour will be offered for BenefitExpress version 2 online on the following dates:
October 20 at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
October 22 at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
There will be 25 seats available for each session. If you would like to participate, please email Anna Tran at amtran@cvty.com. Anna will forward you the invitation that will enable you to participate in the webinar. |
| A.M. Best Ratings
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In the October 2009 edition of Insurance & Financial Advisor, it was reported that A.M. Best has withdrawn ratings for over 125 health insurers, including several operating in Virginia. A.M. Best is quoted as saying, "The recession, the potential for health care reform and possible changes to reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage products present an operating landscape the industry has not faced for many years." Coventry Health Care is pleased to report that our A.M. Best ratings have been unaffected by these withdrawals. Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company, the entity that underwrites all PPO products, has maintained an A- rating from A.M. Best in spite of the recession.
Source: "Health plans' public ratings withdrawn." Insurance & Financial Advisor. October 2009: 19 |
Never Miss an Issue!
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Remember seeing something in a past newsletter, but didn't keep the email? Not a problem anymore!
Past issues of the Broker News Flash beginning with January 2008 are now archived for easy access. Click on the link below and be directed to our past issues.
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| Coventry Health Care and Southern Health are registered trade names of Southern Health Services, Inc., a Virginia HMO. PPO products are underwritten by Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company and administered by Southern Health Services, Inc. in Virginia. | |
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Charlottesville Office:
434.951.2500
Richmond Office:
804.747.3700
Roanoke Office:
540.265.6720
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