Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Announces Variety of Products and Services for 2015 Individual and Small Group Open Enrollment
Plans Provide Options for Better Health, Security and Peace of Mind for Every Budget
TULSA, Okla — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) announced today its wide range of 2015 individual and small group health insurance products as part of its continued commitment to expand health insurance to as many people as possible in Oklahoma. The variety of product options and services will be available on and off the Health Insurance Marketplace beginning November 15, 2014.
BCBSOK will offer 18 cost-effective, high-quality products across all three levels of metallic plans, as well as Catastrophic and Dental, to provide a range of options for access to health care services, security and peace of mind. There are multiple plan designs within each metallic level that consumers can choose from.
“Our commitment to expanding coverage for the more than 632,000 uninsured in Oklahoma has never been stronger and that is evident in our variety of products for 2015,” said Ted Haynes, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. “Similar to last year, we are offering products throughout the entire state of Oklahoma and have introduced new informational tools and educational resources to help individuals find the plan that best suits their needs.”
There is a high-quality plan for every budget across BCBSOK’s three levels of “metallic” health care plans (bronze, silver and gold). All metallic plans include essential health benefits and prescription drug coverage. Plans vary depending on the health coverage options members choose. In many cases, individuals selecting a plan through the Marketplace are eligible for subsidies, so the prices that consumers will pay will depend on their income. Additional information on BCBSOK’s metallic plans, and its Catastrophic and Dental plans, is also available at www.bcbsok.com.
· Bronze level products will have the lowest monthly premium but may also have the highest out-of-pocket costs.
· Silver level products have a slightly higher monthly premium than bronze but are the only plans that offer cost sharing assistance.
· Gold level products have an even higher level of benefits than silver but also a higher monthly premium.
BCBSOK has also unveiled several readily accessible online tools in English and Spanish that help consumers make informed decisions when considering insurance options:
· Online Health Insurance Buyers Guide: Helps consumers understand where and how to enroll in health insurance, how to get financial assistance and navigate their plan options.
· Spanish Assistance Finder: Directs consumers to Spanish language health resources and insurance agents near them who speak Spanish to help understand what is needed to prepare for open enrollment.
· Subsidy Estimator: Get estimated subsidy amounts for qualified Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans on the Marketplace in advance of enrolling in a 2015 ACA plan.
· Provider Finder: Helps consumers understand the importance of using in network providers and identifies doctors and hospitals within BCBSOK plan networks to best meet individual needs.
“Recent research shows that most uninsured consumers are unaware of critical dates and the essential information they must have ready to get the insurance coverage they need for the 2015 open enrollment period,” said Haynes. “Our outreach efforts start by informing individuals about the basic required documents, such as proof of citizenship and state residency, confirmation of income, and payment methods.”
In addition to its product offerings for first-time and renewing health insurance consumers, BCBSOK has also enhanced customer service to help individuals better explore their health care options and get the insurance they need to lead healthier lives.
· Call Center Services: Additional Customer Advocates have been added to anticipate peak call volumes and employees have completed more than 200,000 additional training hours to help consumers in the enrollment process. Call Center hours have also been expanded (24 hours, 7 days a week beginning Dec. 1) and more bilingual employees have been added.
· Telephone Services: BCBSOK has implemented courtesy call back features to minimize customer hold times during heavy call volume periods.
· Online Services: Emails will be sent to new applicants allowing them to actively track where they are in the application process and when their enrollment is active. BCBSOK will also offer expanded payment options to include credit and debit card payments online and over the phone.
BCBSOK is utilizing affiliations with companies like State Farm and select regional and national retailers, grocers, and pharmacies; relationships with our valued agents; and collaboration with community organizations as new ways to reach and educate the uninsured population. Consumers should watch for local announcements for more information about educational events. Consumers can also take advantage of the expanded BCBSOK customer service center hours by calling 800-942-5837 and can find details about how uninsured individuals can prepare for open enrollment at www.bcbsok.com.