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Issue: # 58August 5, 2010 

Special Notice Announcement
Blue Cross Reaches Agreement with Mass. Division of Isurance
 

Dear

Blue Cross has reached an agreement for their 1-50 marketplace for groups with an effective date between April 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.   Check out the link to Boston Herald story.   The new guaranteed rates will be reflected in the September bills.  Groups that renewed or started coverage April, May, June or July will NOT get a retro-active bill for the difference. 
 


bcba maAs always, if you have any questions email Bill or Vanessa.  We hope you find these newsletters helpful, please forward to anyone who may find this of interest, by using the forward link at the bottom of this e-mail.   To learn more about Worcester based Advantage Benefits, click here. 

Sincerely,


Bill Randell CLU,CHFC,        Vanessa Costa CLU,CHFC,
Advantage Benefits Group,
Carrier Summary
Approved rates
We track the major HMO's that our clients utilize. 
 
  • Blue Cross  (settled) 
  • Fallon  (not settled)
  • Harvard-Pilgrim   (settled)
  • Tufts    (settled)
  • Neighborhood Health Plans  (settled)
 
 
Blue Cross  (September 1st)
 
Settled from April 1st through the end of the year.   This will go into effect September 1st.  Anyone who began coverage or renewed during the months of April, May, June, July or August  will see the new higher approved rates in September without retro-active billing
 
Tufts (September 1st)
 
Settled from April 1st through the end of the year.   This will go into effect September 1st.  Anyone who began coverage or renewed during the months of April, May, June, July or August  will see the new higher approved rates in September without retro-active billing
 
Harvard-Pilgrim (August 1st)
Settled from April 1st through the end of the year.   This will go into effect August 1st.  Anyone who began coverage or renewed during the months of April, May, June or July would have seen the new higher approved rates in their August bills without retro-active billing.
 
Neighborhood Health Plans (June 1st)

Settled from April 1st through the end of the year.   This will go into effect June 1st.  Anyone who began coverage or renewed during the months of April or May would have seen the new higher approved rates in their June bills without retro-active billing.
Virginia Attorney General 
Contesting National Health Reform
 
Since Obama signed healthcare reform into law, 22 states have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of reform; at least 36 states have introduced initiatives repealing all or parts of healthcare reform.

On Monday, a federal judge ruled that Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has legal authority to sue the federal government over the sweeping health care reform law.  Stay tuned.  For more information, read this Bloomberg story.