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Blue Shield of California Resources During a Crisis

Aug 7, 2023, 3 Minute Read

With the serious fires affecting Canada and the potentially heavy fire season in California, Blue Shield of CA wants to remind you of the resources and support available to impacted members during times of crisis. Their priority is to ensure that you and your clients have the necessary assistance and care during these challenging situations.

In the event of state emergencies and evacuations, Blue Shield of CA will be communicating vital information with employers and members residing in the affected areas.

To help ensure members in affected areas continue to have uninterrupted access to care, Blue Shield is offering:

• Prescription Refills. Members in mandatory evacuation zones can have their prescriptions refilled immediately, even if they are not yet due for a refill. This ensures continued access to essential medications.
• Continuity of Care. The Blue Shield Medical Care Solutions team will reach out to members enrolled in care and disease management programs who are in mandatory evacuation zones, ensuring that their healthcare needs are taken care of during the crisis.
• Virtual Care Options. Blue Shield of CA offers various virtual care options, such as Teladoc and NurseHelp 24/7^SM, which may vary depending on the plan. For detailed plan options, please visit blueshieldca.com.
• Mental Health Support. To address the mental health aspect of such situations, Blue Shield’s mental health service administrator provides free access to resources, materials, and counseling services through a dedicated hotline at (800) 327-7451.
• Vision Plan Assistance. Members who have lost or broken their eyewear may be eligible for a replacement pair. For assistance, members can call Vision Customer Service at (877) 601-9083.
• Displaced Members. If a member has been displaced, they may see an appropriate out-of-network provider at in-network benefit levels. Additionally, they can replace any medical equipment and supplies if needed.
• ID Card Access. If a member identification card is lost, members can easily view and print a new card from the Blue Shield website by logging into their online account at blueshieldca.com/login. Alternatively, the Blue Shield of California mobile app provides access to ID cards on a mobile device.

Additional Information

• If a member needs assistance, please have them call Commercial Customer Service (800) 393-6130 (TTY: 711), or Medicare Customer Service (800) 776-4466 (TTY:711).
• For updates on plan services, visit Blue Shield of CA.
• For fire status updates and locations, please check CalFire.
• To stay informed about the air quality in your area, visit https://www.airnow.gov and encouraging your employers to do the same.

California Emergency Alerts

• Californians are reminded to dial 211 or 311 to get help or ask questions. For a critical emergency, call 911.
• To stay informed, sign up for emergency alerts including warnings and evacuation notices at CalAlerts.org.

In times like these, it is crucial that we work together and support one another. Blue Shield of California is here to assist you and your clients during these challenging times, and they remain dedicated to providing the care and resources needed.

Contact us today for a Blue Shield quote.

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Small Business Incentive Program

• Reminder: Incentive Program now includes an Autopay incentive – earn 25 points for setting up a group on autopay during the initial enrollment. Claremont will assist you in putting this in place.
• The current bonus program is in effect from February 1, 2023 through January 31, 2024.

Renewal Rewards Program
Blue Shield increased the points earned for every new membership in Tandem PPO and Virtual Blue PPO plans. You can earn:

• 100 points per new enrolled member in a Tandem PPO plan. February 2023 – January 2024 effective dates.
• 100 points per new enrolled member in a Virtual Blue plan. March 2023 – January 2024 effective dates.
• Specialty plans. February 2023 – January 2024 effective dates.
  – 10 points per new enrolled dental member.
  – 5 points per new enrolled vision member.
  – 5 points per new enrolled life member.

Bundled Saving Program
The 10% specialty discount is a perpetual program that is applied when a dental and/or vision plan is added to a new or existing small business medical group.

Relaxed Participation Promotion
The Relaxed Participation Promotion was extended through December 31, 2023.

More information and plan summaries can be found in Blue Shield’s Q4-2023 Medical Sales Guide and Specialty Sales Guide.

Contact us today for a Blue Shield quote.

Get a Quote

Resources

• Q4-2023 Medical Sales Guide
• Q4-2023 Specialty Sales Guide
• 2023 Broker Renewal Guide
• 2023 Medical Plans At-a-Glance
• Medical Plans Cheat Sheet
• Blue Shield News Center
• Product Cycle Updates
• Employer Connection Plus (EC+)
• Employer Enrollment Platform Resources
• Broker Communications
• Broker Connection
• Broker Open Enrollment Tool for Small Business [Video]
• Plan Comparison Tool and Network Comparison Tool
• Small Business Plan Documents
• Relaxed Participation Program
• Teledoc
• Wellvolution Mental Health
• Mandates
• Renewal Center
• Broker Bonus Calculator
• Forms and Applications
• Blue Shield Small Business Library
• Small Business Service Support

COVID-19 Resources

• COVID-19 Resources for brokers and employers.
• COVID-19 Resources Broker Connection
• COVID-19 Member Resource Page
• California Coronavirus Response Website
• California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) FAQs
• DMHC COVID-19 Response and Guidelines
• CDC COVID-19 Testing Overview

Questions?
Contact The Answer Team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

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