Employee Validation Enhancement (Benefitfocus Agencies)
As reviewed during the Annual Enrollment training, Benefitfocus has added the Employee Validation Across Agencies enhancement that will prevent an employee from being enrolled in State Health Plan coverage under different employing units including the Retirement System. If the employee attempts to enroll in the State Health Plan, but is still covered in another employing unit, that person will be prevented from enrolling in the Plan under their new group until the coverage is canceled from the previous group. Employees in that situation will receive a message notifying them that they cannot enroll because they are covered by another group, as shown below:

 

If the employee's coverage has a future cancellation pending, the validation logic will compare the cancellation date of the existing coverage to the effective date of coverage for the new enrollment before determining if the new coverage can be added.

Example: On May 8, 2013, the employee logs into the enrollment system. If coverage is showing canceled under Gaston County on July 30, 2013, and the requested effective date to enroll under the Retirement System is August 1, 2013, the employee will be able to enroll.
 

It is extremely important for Benefitfocus HBRs to process cancellations timely, including processing future cancellations for retirees.

COBRA-Direct Bill Transition
As a reminder, as of May 14, 2013, COBRA and Individual Billing Administration will be transitioned to the State Health Plan's new vendor, COBRAGuard.

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, surviving spouses and direct bill retirees.

Effective July 1, 2013, premium payments should be mailed to COBRAGuard. Beginning with the July premium, members will start receiving invoices from COBRAGuard and will now be able to pay by mail or online.

Impacted members were notified in their Annual Enrollment brochure of the vendor change and COBRAGuard will be sending information directly to members as well.

Members who need to make changes to their enrollment will need to call Benefitfocus Customer Service at 855-859-0966. Members with any COBRA questions should contact COBRAGuard at 877-679-6272.