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Recent Articles
Medicare Advantage membership has privileges
When you’re visiting with your Arkansas Blue Medicare clients and prospects, don’t forget to mention the many value-added extras that are available to them as a member of a Medicare Advantage health plan. - Read More
Livongo® – a new tool to manage diabetes
Your Arkansas Blue Medicare clients and prospects now have a powerful new tool to help them manage diabetes – and it’s totally free to them. Livongo® provides eligible members a simple, advanced blood glucose meter and all the test strips and lancets they need, all for free. - Read More
2020 Form 1095-B will not be mailed
Before January 2020, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its family of affiliates annually prepared and mailed 1095-B forms for policyholders who had group coverage (large and small) and individuals covered under off-Exchange health plans. Under the new law, Americans no longer need to verify proof of insurance coverage when they file their calendar year 2020 federal income tax returns. Due to this change, Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates will not be mailing 1095-B forms in 2021. However, policyholders may receive a copy of their 1095-B upon request. - Read More
Special enrollment period coming up
The Federally Facilitated Marketplace special enrollment period ordered by President Joe Biden is coming soon: February 15 – May 15, 2021. The special enrollment period was ordered in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. - Read More
Teledentistry now a permanent benefit
While the promise of nationwide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines marks a significant turning point in our ability to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, the need to maintain our members’ safety this year and beyond remains. To meet that need, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has made teledentistry a permanent benefit to allow our dental plan members to contact participating providers in the event of an emergency, without having to schedule an in-office visit immediately. - Read More
Tell your clients about their free Blue 365® discounts
As you’re visiting with clients and prospects, don’t forget to tell them about the valuable health-and-wellness discounts and deals they get – just for being a member of an Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated health plan – through the free Blue365® program. - Read More
FREE Webinar: COVID-19 -- What Can Your Company Expect?
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is hosting a free webinar at 1 p.m., Tuesday, February 9, 2021, to discuss COVID-19 hot topics, such as the vaccine and vaccination financing, long-term health trends that may affect your employees, return-to-work best practices and more! - Read More
Many employers can soon protect employees from COVID-19
Arkansas is finishing up vaccinations in its Phase 1-A coronavirus vaccination plan and is moving into the two categories of Phase 1-B. Here’s some information to help you prepare to execute a COVID-19 vaccination plan for your organization. - Read More
Rewards for healthy habits
We’re offering your Arkansas Blue Medicare clients a powerful tool … at their fingertips! They can now earn rewards in 2021 for practicing healthy behaviors through the Healthy Blue Rewards program. - Read More
Blue & You Fitness Challenge reboot
The Blue & You Fitness Challenge has had a makeover for 2021, and we wanted to let you know, so you can participate or share the information with your clients and prospects. - Read More
New options on value-based enrollments
There are now two ways to initiate value-based enrollments (VBE) for your Medicare Advantage clients. - Read More
COVID-19 benefits extended to April 21, 2021
The voluntary, expanded COVID-19-related benefits announced for certain Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage fully insured health plans and individual policies will be extended to align with the federally mandated COVID-19 coverage provisions as specified in the FFCRA (Families First Coronavirus Response Act) and CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act. The federal mandate currently runs through April 21, 2021. - Read More
Medicare Advantage and Medi-Pak® PDP ID cards are in the mail
Medicare Advantage and Medi-Pak® PDP (prescription drug plan) ID cards have been mailed (as of December 22, 2020). Some members already have received their ID cards. Others have not. But rest assured, members who have not received their physical cards still can get the care and medicine they need. - Read More
Blueprint for Agents meets Salesforce
In the coming months, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield will migrate its Blueprint for Agents online agent/broker self-service portal to a new platform (powered by Salesforce). - Read More
Storm gives Medicare clients more time
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare beneficiaries who lived in Arkansas in August 2020, as Hurricane Laura passed through, are eligible for a special election period until December 31, 2020. - Read More
A COVID-19 vaccine is on the way
The race to develop a safe vaccine against COVID-19 has led to the development of more than 50 clinical trials of vaccines in people around the world, with many offering real hope for long-term protection in the near future. While it may take time for a vaccine to be available to everyone, our chief medical officer offers a few points to keep in mind. - Read More
Blueprint for Employers – new and improved!
Blueprint for Employers is new and improved! Blueprint for Employers is a secure, self-service website that gives employers the tools and resources they need to oversee their health plans. All at no cost. - Read More
Workplace ventilation during COVID-19
In case you missed it: A webinar series on the role of proper ventilation in protecting employees, customers and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic is now available online on the COVID-19 ventilation webinar page on the UAMS website. - Read More
2021 standard plan grids: more options, flexibility
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage have new standard plan grids for large and small groups for 2021. Each year, we assess our plan options with a renewed commitment to offer your clients flexible plan options that match their needs … and budgets. - Read More
Webinar series: COVID-19 and business/workplace ventilation
A three-webinar series (“COVID-19 and the Built Environment”) on the role of proper ventilation in protecting employees, customers and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic will be presented November 9, 10 and 12, 2020, by the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). - Read More