Blue Shield of California

Posts related to Blue Shield of California, primarily individual and family plans, billing issues, enrollment, health plans, small groups, Medicare.

Blue Shield exposes Social Security numbers on public web page

February 23, 2014 By Kevin Knauss 2 Comments

Blue Shield of California sent notices to their appointed insurance agents that the agent’s Social Security number had been displayed during the course of member’s online payment. The letter from Blue Shield, dated February 18, notifying agents of the breach to their private personal information does not mention how many agents had their Social Security number’s compromised. While I was not shocked to receive the letter informing me that my personal information was displayed, I was angry that Blue Shield let this happen.

Blue Shield set to acquire GEMCare of Bakersfield

January 7, 2014 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Blue Shield has introduced a very competitive Medicare Advantage plan in ten select counties through out California. With the acquisition of GEMCare, Blue Shield will be able to more easily offer a version of their Blue Shield 65 Plus HMO plan in the GEMCare service area. While some Medicare Advantage plans seem to be reducing plan benefits and dropping counties, Blue Shield has been selectively increasing their MA-PD footprint in California.

VSP and Blue Shield new individual vision insurance plans

November 25, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 1 Comment

One of the secondary benefits of the Affordable Care Act is the new plan offerings in the individual market. Both VSP and Blue Shield of California have introduced individual and family vision insurance plans (IFP) with benefits rivaling group plans. Just as we have seen the medical benefits for IFP become equivalent to small group plans, the insurers are reworking their dental and vision insurance products to be more comprehensive as well.

Blue Shield delays cancellation of California health insurance

November 5, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 3 Comments

Blue Shield of California has agreed to allow upwards of 115,000 individual and family plan members to keep their existing policies through March 31, 2014. The press release from the office of Insurance Commissioner Jones indicated the agreement to allow the policy holders to keep their plans past the original December 31, 2013 cancellation date was the result of a late filing or notification requirement for plan closures on the part of Blue Shield.

Blue Shield Reduces Health Plan Premiums

September 5, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 2 Comments

In a market that most people won’t ever see, Blue Shield of California announced they were lowering their health insurance premiums for California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) HMO plans. This bucks the trend of the other carriers raising rates by as much as 9%.