ConsumerOfHlthIns
New Member
- 8
Hello, i recently discovered this forum, as an interested consumer of private hlth. ins. I think this might be an interesting topic to bring up again (at least for SOME people!). I came across the following post, written last year--here it is (below, by "super genius"...are you still around?...i hope so). Following that, I'll post my own (long) comment. After reading all of that, please comment on how "comfortable" you would feel moving out of your bcbs plans area, given the info. i've written (or, if your an agent,
put yourself in a consumers place)....and any other comments welcome. By the way, I'm "thinking" of moving, but health ins. is one of the main determinants on whether i actually do (because i probably would not be able to get another policy if i lost my current one). I don't really want to name the state or bcbs plan at this point, other than to say it's on the east coast, and not SC.
09-05-2007, 10:20 AM #39 schealthagent
Super Genius
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Carolina
Posts:85
Re: Portability of individual BC/BS plans Go to Top
With BCBS of South Carolina, you are able to move to any other state and maintain your coverage - the only thing that changes is the doctors that you see (as long as they are in the BC and or BS network.) I have been told this by everyone from member services, marketing reps & the president of on of the largest GA's in the state. Several of my clients have moved, filed change of address and had no problems. It might be due to the higher rates that members seem to pay here versus other states.
NOW, FOR MY COMMENTS: There seem to be at least two BCBS individual PPO plans that will allow you to move anywhere in the US (permanently) without having to cancel the original policy (and get a "conversion")...the SC plan mentioned above, and the (different) one i'm in. But I would like to get your comments on this, and whether you actually believe what the plan is saying. (I'm still slightly skeptical, because it seems too good to be true). Here's what I learned from my own BCBS plan on the east coast of USA, and i did ALOT of research on this (and I will tell you which plan it is, later on).. Here is a list of points of evidence, some of which I consider strong, and some weak....but they all point to the "good news".
(1) strong evidence: The contract states, in an amendment dated 10/02:
"Contract is amended to add the following: A members coverage will not be terminated based solely on the fact that the member no longer meets any residence requirements stated in the evidence of coverage. This amendment is issued to be attached to the evidence of coverage". (signed by the president of the bcbs plan/co.). (My comments: the earlier EOC says you must maintain a legal residence for at least 6 months in the service area".
(2) The website (available to the public), in the FAQ section of the plan says: "What to do if you move away from the service area: You can continue to use the blue card program anywhere.......".
(3) When you call customer service (after being a member): they say you can move anywhere and keep the plan.
(4) when you call "sales", about 70% say you can move anywhere, and about 30% says you have to cancel. (But the people who sound the "most on the ball" at the sales number are the ones who say you don't have to cancel".
(5) I called the BCBS national association, who typically will NEVER answer questions from the public. It was hard to reach anyone there who would talk, but I did reach someone in an adequately high-level position who said she talked the "legal dept." and was told there are "a few" bcbs plans that will let you move anywhere. Apparently the national association tells the plans they have to cancel you if you move, but it's superceded by fed/state laws.
(6) And now for the AMBIGUITY: Is this "contract" (in #1) valid? I called the STATE (health ins. examiners). They really were not totally sure, but said they did NOT think you could move out of the service area and keep the plan (but to tell you the truth, i didn't tell them exactly which BCBS plan/co. i was referring to, because at that time, i didn't want to "get the plan in trouble" or have them investigated (or make them change the rules, which may be silly on my part). The mentioned a state law (number) which i looked up, and it basically just said plans CAN cancel you if you move, but not that they HAVE TO. Anyway, the 2 people at the state where very sceptical about whether the contract is valid and one said "maybe it's unapproved". (??).
put yourself in a consumers place)....and any other comments welcome. By the way, I'm "thinking" of moving, but health ins. is one of the main determinants on whether i actually do (because i probably would not be able to get another policy if i lost my current one). I don't really want to name the state or bcbs plan at this point, other than to say it's on the east coast, and not SC.
09-05-2007, 10:20 AM #39 schealthagent
Super Genius
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Carolina
Posts:85
Re: Portability of individual BC/BS plans Go to Top
With BCBS of South Carolina, you are able to move to any other state and maintain your coverage - the only thing that changes is the doctors that you see (as long as they are in the BC and or BS network.) I have been told this by everyone from member services, marketing reps & the president of on of the largest GA's in the state. Several of my clients have moved, filed change of address and had no problems. It might be due to the higher rates that members seem to pay here versus other states.
NOW, FOR MY COMMENTS: There seem to be at least two BCBS individual PPO plans that will allow you to move anywhere in the US (permanently) without having to cancel the original policy (and get a "conversion")...the SC plan mentioned above, and the (different) one i'm in. But I would like to get your comments on this, and whether you actually believe what the plan is saying. (I'm still slightly skeptical, because it seems too good to be true). Here's what I learned from my own BCBS plan on the east coast of USA, and i did ALOT of research on this (and I will tell you which plan it is, later on).. Here is a list of points of evidence, some of which I consider strong, and some weak....but they all point to the "good news".
(1) strong evidence: The contract states, in an amendment dated 10/02:
"Contract is amended to add the following: A members coverage will not be terminated based solely on the fact that the member no longer meets any residence requirements stated in the evidence of coverage. This amendment is issued to be attached to the evidence of coverage". (signed by the president of the bcbs plan/co.). (My comments: the earlier EOC says you must maintain a legal residence for at least 6 months in the service area".
(2) The website (available to the public), in the FAQ section of the plan says: "What to do if you move away from the service area: You can continue to use the blue card program anywhere.......".
(3) When you call customer service (after being a member): they say you can move anywhere and keep the plan.
(4) when you call "sales", about 70% say you can move anywhere, and about 30% says you have to cancel. (But the people who sound the "most on the ball" at the sales number are the ones who say you don't have to cancel".
(5) I called the BCBS national association, who typically will NEVER answer questions from the public. It was hard to reach anyone there who would talk, but I did reach someone in an adequately high-level position who said she talked the "legal dept." and was told there are "a few" bcbs plans that will let you move anywhere. Apparently the national association tells the plans they have to cancel you if you move, but it's superceded by fed/state laws.
(6) And now for the AMBIGUITY: Is this "contract" (in #1) valid? I called the STATE (health ins. examiners). They really were not totally sure, but said they did NOT think you could move out of the service area and keep the plan (but to tell you the truth, i didn't tell them exactly which BCBS plan/co. i was referring to, because at that time, i didn't want to "get the plan in trouble" or have them investigated (or make them change the rules, which may be silly on my part). The mentioned a state law (number) which i looked up, and it basically just said plans CAN cancel you if you move, but not that they HAVE TO. Anyway, the 2 people at the state where very sceptical about whether the contract is valid and one said "maybe it's unapproved". (??).
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