What is My Blueprint? - Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

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10CHIP administration reminderAs a reminder, the administration of theArkansas Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool(CHIP) now is handled by BlueAdvantageAdministrators of Arkansas (formerly USAbleAdministrators), not Arkansas Blue Cross andBlue Shield.BlueAdvantage signed a three-year contract toadminister the program. There are different telephonenumbers and addresses to use with the newadministration and new applications to be utilizedfor new business.For CHIP customer service assistance, membersshould call, toll-free: 1-800-285-6477. This is thesame number to call for eligibility/application issuesand information, and to order supplies.To submit CHIP claims, members should mailthem to: CHIP, c/o BlueAdvantage, P.O. Box 1460,Little Rock, AR 72203-1460. Electronic claimssubmitted by providers will be submitted as usualthrough AHIN.Last year, all CHIP insureds were notified by letterof the change and received new ID cards, policyforms, benefits summaries, and rate increaseinformation.CHIP was created by legislation passed by theArkansas General Assembly in 1995 as a healthinsurance plan for individuals who have been turneddown for insurance or who can’t afford healthinsurance. CHIP was created to pay claims for highriskhealth insurance consumers. Funded 60 percent bypremiums collected from policyholders and 40 percentfrom assessments to insurance carriers, the plan will notdeny any applicant simply because of their health status.The state began issuing policies from this pool inJuly 1996. Arkansas Blue Cross served as administratorof the CHIP fund until the middle of 2002.CHIP is an individual, comprehensive majormedical policy with deductibles of $1,000, $5,000 and$10,000, which may be elected. Correspondingcalendar year coinsurance maximums are $5,000,$25,000 and $50,000. After the deductible is met,claims are paid at 80 percent of the allowed amountin-network or 60 percent of allowed amount out-ofnetwork(hospital, physician, drug). Once the calendaryear coinsurance maximum has been met, claims thenare paid at 100 percent the of allowed amount. Thereare no copayments on CHIP. Claims are filed by theprovider, with the exception of pharmacy claims,which are not networked. Individuals must filepharmacy claims.If you’re looking for an alternative health insurancebenefits program for a client who’s hard to cover, don’tforget the CHIP.If you have questions, contact BlueAdvantage at1-800-285-6477 or visit the Web site atBlueAdvantageArkansas.com.(Hawkins, continued from Page 5)representative, Hawkins has been alobbyist since 1995. Currently, hehas the Central Arkansas HealthUnderwriters Association (CAHUA)as one of his clients.“The CAHUA goal is to helpagents by making it easier to dobusiness in our state,” he said.“Many issues facing an agent intoday’s marketplace can be addressedin a number of ways, if not on acompany level, then usually on alegislative level. I would highlyencourage every agent in the state toget to know his or her representativeand senator. It is important becausewhat they do in the GeneralAssembly affects all our lives.”Hawkins said the CAHUAfavors repealing the “grandfatherclause” in the continuing educationlaw for agents that passed in the 90s.“They believe, as many organizationsdo, that everyone involved ininsurance should continually striveto educate themselves regardless ofage or number of years in theinsurance business.”You may contact Hawkinsregarding lobbyist matters atdbhawkins@cox-internet.com.They said they enjoy workingside by side. “It’s funny sometimes,because we are a true ‘mom and pop’organization. We have beenfortunate to have a business that welove where we can truly help others,”said Phyllis. “It’s what insurance is allabout.”Lifelong residents of Morrilton,they have one son, Clayton, 15, whoPhyllis calls “the joy of our lives.”
Meet new status rep Stephen Phaup11If you call Arkansas Blue Crossand Blue Shield with questions aboutunderwriting or applications, you mayhave the opportunity to work withStephen Phaup, our newest statusrepresentative.Phaup, who joined the companyin 2002, said he also works withapplicants and agents to explain thestatus of applications during theunderwriting process.“We are able to let them knowwhether their application has beenapproved or not,” he said. “Also, we can explain whywe might need additional information before we canreach a decision for them.”(Link, continued from Page 2)Action ItemsThis section gives you information about thoseissues on which Arkansas Blue Cross would encourageyou to take action.BlueLink TeamLet us help you become active in the legislativeprocess. Arkansas Blue Cross invites you to join ourBlueLink Team. As a member of the team, youwill receive updates on Congress and the ArkansasLegislature. You also will receive information onkey issues so that you can be better informed incommunications with legislators. Membershipapplications are available on-line.Arkansas General AssemblyFrom here we’ll link you to the state Legislature’sWeb site for complete bill information and otherlegislative events.(Agenda, continued from Page 2)state-mandated benefits.• House Bill 2192 by, Rep. Roger Smith of HotSprings, amending the insurance trade practice lawsand the Insurance Sales Consumer Protection Act.• House Bill 2390, by Rep. Kevin Penix of FortSmith, allowing insurers to adopt an approved courseof study for prelicensing of agents and to allowBrad Welshans, manager ofIndividual Marketing, said that to alarge degree the status representativehandles “problem cases.” He said agentswill find Phaup does his best to resolveproblems in as timely and positive amanner as possible. “And, our agentswho are golfers will be impressed tolearn that Stephen played golf for theUniversityof Arkansas, and he can still get in theoccasional subpar round.”Phaup and his wife, Courtney, residein North Little Rock and have two dogs. Away fromthe office he enjoys picking on the guitar, taking thedogs to the park and, of course, golfing.Contact Your LegislatorsClick this link for helpful tips on how tocommunicate with your legislators. Since the stateLegislature meets for only three months every other year,you may want to reach members while they are out ofsession and back at home.Arkansas Insurance DepartmentVisit the Arkansas Insurance Department’s Web sitefor consumer help and information.Blue Cross Blue Shield Health IssuesVisit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’sextensive health issues Web site for a comprehensive lookat current health care issues. This site also links you toyour state and federal senators and representatives. Allyou have to do is type in your ZIP code to obtaininformation, including e-mail addresses and telephonenumbers, about your legislators. From that page, youalso can access information about Arkansas’congressional delegation.insurers to conduct prelicensing training for agents.• House Bill 2769, by Rep. Paul Bookout ofJonesboro, imposing continuing educationrequirements on insurance producers.
Page 1: March 2003Annual meeting spotlights
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What is My Blueprint? - Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

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