Agent News
Recent Articles
New Medicare enrollment platform (Ascend) training
Agents will have two opportunities to learn about our new Medicare enrollment platform – Ascend. Beginning October 1, 2020, all Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and Medi-Pak® Medicare supplement enrollments will be submitted through Ascend. - Read More
Individual product training dates -- updated with Zoom links
Join us online in September for our live individual product trainings via Zoom. We will take a deep dive into our 2021 product offerings. - Read More
All individual agent training for plan year 2021 now available
It’s training time again! PinPoint again will be the system used to track both under-65 (U-65) and over-65 (O-65) annual training requirements. The Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) training for individual products is now accessible. The training was released on August 19, 2020. After completing the required FFM training, agents can access PinPoint to track FFM completion and complete required product training. - Read More
Pandemic-associated premium relief payments for fully insured groups
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage are voluntarily extending our efforts to provide relief to fully insured group health plans in response to the economic pressures and healthcare utilization changes that have resulted from the COVID-19 public health crisis. - Read More
Individual agent training for plan year 2021
It’s training time again! PinPoint again will be the system used to track both under-65 (U-65) and over-65 (O-65) annual training requirements. - Read More
MoneyGram payment option ending
We want to let you know of an upcoming change that may affect how your clients and prospects pay their premiums. Arkansas Blue Cross is discontinuing MoneyGram as a payment option on September 1, 2020, but there are still plenty of ways to pay premiums - Read More
Are all COVID-19 tests covered?
Over the past few weeks, we have been receiving an increasing number of questions about the various types of COVID-19 tests that are currently available and how they will be covered going forward, particularly as organizations formalize return-to-work plans. We hope the following information clarify this issue for you and serve as a handy reference if you should receive questions from your clients and prospects. - Read More
COVID-19 benefits extended to Oct. 23, 2020
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 federally mandated COVID-19 coverage provisions. - Read More
Coronavirus coverage extended to at least Aug. 17
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 were set to expire on July 25, 2020 to align with the federally mandated COVID-19 coverage provision in the FFCRA and the CARES Act. Because the federal deadline has not yet been extended, Arkansas Blue Cross and Health Advantage are extending temporary COVID-19 benefits until at least August 17 (the deadline put into place by the State of Arkansas). If the federal emergency is extended past July 25, benefits will be extended to the federal emergency period. - Read More
Annual agent training coming soon
Training season for Plan Year 2021 is just around the corner. The required step-by-step requirements will be sent in the middle of August, and the same training schedule and tracking system (Pinpoint) will be used as last year. The tentative schedule is listed below, and an email blast will be sent when each item is available. - Read More
Want to know more about Dental Xtra? Our new webpage makes it easy
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Dental Xtra program is designed to help members stay healthy. And now we have some new and convenient resources to help you get up to speed on the many benefits this valuable program has to offer your clients and prospects. - Read More
My Blueprint now allows bill payments via text
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield customers who are enrolled in My Blueprint now have the option to enroll in text notifications as well, including the ability to pay a bill by text. - Read More
Enroll Medi-Pak® Advantage and Medi-Pak® Rx PDP members telephonically starting June 1
Agents and brokers can enroll Medi-Pak® Advantage and Medi-Pak® Rx PDP members telephonically as of June 1. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is launching a telephonic enrollment program for Medi-Pak® Advantage and Medi-Pak® Rx PDP (prescription drug plan) enrollments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. - Read More
Health Sherpa replaces Blue Solutions tool
Good news! Now you have a new and better tool that lets you directly enroll your Exchange clients through Blueprint for Agents. Health Sherpa now has been added to the site for all agents appointed to sell Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s under-65 products. - Read More
Online bill pay for small groups: a convenient and safe option
As you speak with small-group clients/prospects, you might want to remind them that Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage small-group customers can pay online through Blueprint for Employers, our online portal for employers. - Read More
Health Sherpa to replace Blue Solutions tool
Good news! Soon you’ll have a new and better tool that lets you directly enroll your Exchange clients through Blueprint for Agents. - Read More
COVID-19 causing delays on printed invoices
In light of process changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, printed monthly invoices from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage will be delayed by a few days for both groups and individuals. - Read More
Dental rates “frozen” for some July/August 2020 renewals
In response to the financial impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on businesses throughout our state and nation, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is freezing rates for dental groups that have 51-500 members and whose plans are scheduled to renew during July and August of 2020. - Read More
A few more COVID-19 coverage expansions
This morning, we will be sending an email to group administrators, making them aware of two temporary changes we are making for our fully insured groups. We wanted to make you aware of this first, in case you received any calls. - Read More