Blue Shield Takes Charge of California’s
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Vaccine to be available to all California adults by summer.

Starting this week, Blue Shield is now the state of California’s Third Party Administrator (TPA) in charge of COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Blue Shield’s goal is to increase doses from 1 million per week in January to 4 million per week by the end of March and fully vaccinating 25 million Californians by this summer. Blue Shield is building a statewide vaccine network to ensure the equitable delivery of current and anticipated supply.

The state’s existing My Turn online system will continue to serve as the central site for all Californians to register for updates and schedule vaccination appointments.

In conjunction with its TPA role, Blue Shield this week is also launching “Get it,” a new TV and radio advertising campaign to encourage all Californians to get vaccinated.

Claremont has partnered with Blue Shield of California for over 20 years. During that time, Blue Shield has consistently put the interests of all consumers of healthcare first and foremost whether it is through community grants, keeping premiums stable, or bringing affordable healthcare to underserved populations. We applaud Blue Shield’s commitment to ensuring that every adult Californian who wants a vaccine, can get one, and in a matter of months. It is a daunting challenge and we strongly support their effort.

Blue Shield is sharing the news with brokers, employers, and members this week. Look out for an email directly from Blue Shield or get more information here.

Claremont Promotes Kim Dantono

Please join us in congratulating Kim Dantono on her recent promotion to the most senior level Broker Service Representative at Claremont. Kim joined us five years ago with a focus on quoting. We are sure that many of you have worked with Kim to design proposals for your clients and prospects that have helped win new business for us all. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of small group products and the quoting services that support them.

Kim quickly began assisting in other areas of the service department, building knowledge and skills in sales support, application processing, enrollment support, broker support and she is our resident EASE guru too! We all know Kim as someone who will take on any challenge and find a way to deliver; always with a smile and wonderful attitude. Congratulations Kim!

Disability Insurance Essentials

When employees are unable to work due to an injury or illness, they may face unexpected financial strains – disability insurance can help replace lost income and cover essential living expenses. For various reasons, young people especially don’t expect health problems will prevent them from working. Yet, regardless of age, disability insurance can prevent an accident or ailment from becoming a financial catastrophe.

Why Disability Insurance is Essential

• 1 in 4 of today’s 20 year-olds may become disabled before reaching age 67.
• 35.5% of the population with disabilities is between the ages of 18 and 64.
• The majority of long-term absences are due to cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.
• A good rule of thumb is to protect 60-80% of after-tax income.

In addition to offering a safety net if an accident or illness keeps employees from working, disability insurance can also help attract and retain valuable employees while simultaneously reducing turnover and improving your client’s bottom line.

To provide guidance and answers to common disability insurance questions, get MetLife's 10 Simple Tips: The Essentials of Disability Insurance.

Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health Resources for Employees and Their Families

Carriers recognize the strain that COVID-19 is placing on employees and their families. Many are expanding access to emotional, behavioral and mental health services — and in some cases waiving costs.

Download our Carrier Resource Guide to stay up-to-date and advise your employer groups on the latest carrier services and benefits available to employees, such as:

• Emotional Support Hotlines
• Behavioral Health Services and Benefits
• Mental Health and Wellness Phone Apps
• EAP Support
• And More

Get our time-saving Carrier Resource Guide to easily advise your clients.

Get The Latest News with Text Messaging!

Your success is important to us, and we’re actively working on new solutions to support you throughout the year. To get the latest news via text messaging in the future, simply provide your cell phone number here.

As always, we'll keep you informed about healthcare issues and news affecting you and your clients. Our knowledgeable team is here to help you succeed.

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.