Anthem Blue Cross Open Enrollment California 2015 – What To Do

By now, you’ve received your letters from Anthem Blue Cross telling you what your 2015 rates are going to be. Depending on your experience this year, and the rate change you got, you may be asking yourself, “is there a better plan for me?” We’ll show you what steps to take to make sure you get through the California open enrollment period with the least amount of hassle.

As a starting point, some of the information in the letters was incorrect. The subsidy income qualification levels should have been, “modified adjusted gross income of $16,105 to $46,680 or $32,913 to $95,400 for a family of four.” The second discrepancy is that Covered California plans only provide for Therapeutic Abortion (a federal limitation). You will receive updated letters to correct the misinformation.

For 2015, Anthem is changing their rates by -3% to 19% depending upon where you live and which health plan you have. For EPO plans the range of rate changes is 4% to 16%. For PPO plans the range of rate changes is -3% to 9%, and for HMO plans the range is 0% to 19%.

In many areas, Anthem Blue Cross had the lowest cost plans in 2014. For 2015 Anthem’s plans will priced more in line with the other health insurance companies, so it might make sense to check your renewal rate against the other options. If you do decide to shop around, make sure you determine which networks your physicians are in (or stated another way, which insurance company plans your doctors accept).

Anthem Blue Cross Open Enrollment Process

The renewal process for the Anthem Blue Cross open enrollment will be pretty simple. The instructions on what to do are shown below depending upon how you obtained your coverage.

1. Anthem Blue Cross On Covered California

   If you want to keep the plan you currently have, then follow the steps outlined in the Covered California Open Enrollment post. When you get to the “Select Health Plan” part, you will select the plan you currently have, and then check out and sign the renewed application. This renewed application will then be transmitted to Anthem Blue Cross along with any information you updated.

   If you are changing plans, then you will need to follow this 4 step process (or contact us and we’ll help you make this change):

   1. Determine which insurance companies your doctor accepts.
   2. Run an On Exchange Health Insurance Quote to compare prices and benefits and select the plan that is the best fit for your needs.
   3. Go to the “Select Health Plan” section of your Covered California application and choose that plan. Then view your cart, check-out, and sign your completed CoveredCA.com application.
   4. Make your “binder payment” to Anthem by 12/26 so your health plan can begin on January 1st, 2015. Covered CA will now allow you to make this payment through the CoveredCA.com website, at the end of your application. This functionality is scheduled to be available on 11/15, and will be the fastest way to pay for your first month’s premium.

2. Directly With Anthem Blue Cross

   If you want to keep the plan you currently have, then you won’t need to do anything. Just pay your January 2015 premium and you will stay in the same plan. In late December you will receive new insurance cards showing the new standardized name for your health plan, along with a benefits description.

   If you want to change your plan then you will need follow a simple 3 step process.

   1. Determine which insurance companies your doctor accepts.
   2. Get an Off Exchange Health Insurance Quote to check the price and benefits of the plans from those companies, and select the plan that best fits your needs.
   3. Complete a new application for the new health insurance plan.

If you need any help with this, please contact us and one of our advisors with assist you.