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Delta Dental of California's Small Business Program has announced the following updates:
2019 Rate Pass No increase for all Delta Dental PPO™ and DeltaCare® USA plans and the two-year rate guarantee will continue for new and renewing groups in 2019.
New Maximum Option Effective January 1, 2019, a $2,500 calendar year maximum option will be available to all employer paid plans (groups with 5+ enrolled employees).
Out-of-State Employees Restrictions on the number of eligible employees allowed to reside out-of-state have been removed from Delta Dental's PPO plans.
Small group PPO rates will remain unchanged through December 31, 2018. HMO plans will increase an average of 1.5% for October through December effective dates.
Updates — Effective November 1, 2018
No benefit changes to the existing plans.
Two new HMO plans will be available on all four HMO networks. Both will offer a hospital copay.
New "Choice Simplified III" package will be added, giving employers four plan packages to choose from.
Marin County zip code 94924 has been added to the Signature (full HMO) network and all PPO networks.
Underwriting Changes — Effective July 1, 2018
Minimum 60% participation is required for contributory groups, excluding COBRA participants.
Groups offering the UnitedHealthcare Choice Simplified Package and a staff-model must have at least 60% participation between the participating carriers with 5 California employees enrolling with UnitedHealthcare, excluding COBRA participants. Coverage may be written alongside two other staff-model carriers.
Groups offering the UnitedHealthcare Multi-Choice® State Package and a staff-model must have at least 60% participation with UnitedHealthcare, excluding COBRA participants.
Additional participation guidelines for all groups:
When employers contribute 100% of the employee premium, 100% of eligible employees must enroll.
COBRA participants and employees in the waiting period are not eligible and are not included when determining the participation requirement.
With our convenient FAQs, quickly find answers about the ACA, Covered California for Small Business, the San Francisco Ordinance and, in the General section, managing your agency during times of change.
IN THIS ISSUE Delta Dental 2019 Rate Pass and New Maximum -------------------------------- UnitedHealthcare Q4 Small Group Rates and Updates -------------------------------- Question of The Week
IMPORTANT DATES August 29 • SVAHU 'After Dark' -------------------------------- August 31 • Application Deadline: - Reliance Standard -------------------------------- September 5 & 6 • Blue Shield of CA Small Business Broker Online Roadshow -------------------------------- September 6 • Application Deadline: - Delta Dental -------------------------------- September 7 • Application Deadline: - Blue Shield of CA - Choice Builder - MetLife -------------------------------- September 10 • Application Deadline: - Beam Dental - Humana - Principal - UnitedHealthcare -------------------------------- September 13 • VHP Healthcare Leaders Recognition -------------------------------- September 14 • CAHU Masquerade -------------------------------- September 20 • LAAHU & VCAHU 4th Annual Medicare Summit -------------------------------- September 24 • Application Deadline: - Chinese Community Health Plan - Covered California for Small Business -------------------------------- September 28 • Application Deadline: - Reliance Standard -------------------------------- October 3 • Application Deadline: - Delta Dental
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