The employer portal is scheduled to go live in late spring of 2013. As a reminder, the first bills presented via the portal will be the July 2013 bills.

The portal will be the only avenue through which agencies will receive their bill, as paper bills will no longer be mailed. Letters went out early March to agency finance and billing contacts regarding portal access and training opportunities. This letter does require action in order for agencies to receive access to the portal. If your agency has not responded to the letter, please do so immediately. Click here for a copy of the letter.

Mandatory training will be available May 28 through June 7, 2013. More information regarding the training will be coming soon.

Annual Enrollment Reminder
Annual Enrollment will be held May 20-31, 2013. Members do not need to do anything during Annual Enrollment if they are satisfied with the plan in which they are currently enrolled. There will not be a premium increase for the benefit year that begins on July 1, 2013. If they take no action, they will remain on their current plan, along with any covered dependents.

Everyone covered by the Plan will receive a new ID card with a July 1, 2013, effective date, no matter what action they took during Annual Enrollment.

As a reminder, employees will be able to select a primary care physician for subscribers and any covered dependents during the enrollment process. The selection will appear on member ID cards.

Mapping Schedule/Lock Out Period for Benefit Focus Agencies
Benefitfocus in conjunction with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has developed a schedule to map employer groups to the new benefit packages. In order to map groups, groups need to be locked out of the Benefitfocus platform. Click here to view a schedule of the lock out periods listed by group.

1.1.14 Benefit Changes HBR Training
On Feb. 4, 2013, the North Carolina State Health Plan's Board of Trustees approved a proposal to offer new health plan options for teachers and state employees. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, State Health Plan members will have new choices for their health care benefits. In addition to providing more options, these new plans focus on helping members understand and improve their health.

The Plan recognizes the importance of HBRs and understands they are the main avenue through which members (active and retired) receive benefit information. The Plan will be conducting training sessions for HBRs in July and August across the state to ensure that HBRs are educated on all of the changes prior to members receiving enrollment materials.

Rates for the 1.1.14 benefit year will be available soon.

Transition of Services
Effective April 29, 2013, certain services will transition away from BCBSNC. Benefitfocus will be responsible for enrollment and eligibility for non-BEACON agencies. In addition, COBRAGuard will be handling all COBRA and Individual Billing Administration which includes COBRA eligibility and enrollment, notices, kits and billing. COBRAGuard will also handle all the direct billing services for Reduction-In-Force (RIF) members (including the initial 12 months when a premium is due), former legislators, and surviving spouses.