New health plans offer more choice

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is expanding its health care coverage options, enabling Michigan Retailers Association to offer additional plans to meet the special circumstances and specific needs of more MRA members. These include Medicare prescription plans and plans that cover individuals.

Even more options will become available in January, as Blue Cross announces its yearly updates and plan modifications.

“If you or your employees have health insurance needs for which MRA has not had a solution in the past, one of these new plans may suit your needs,” said Linda Pollock, MRA’s insurance sales representative. She encourages members to call her to discuss their needs for health care benefits.

The expanded offerings by Blue Cross are a response to the ever-changing needs of consumers and employers concerned about affordability and adequate coverage for a wider variety of circumstances, according to Pollock.

While MRA’s health plan program has traditionally provided group health plans to member businesses, often circumstances arise where member employees or their family members are no longer eligible for group coverage. Now, many of those people can be covered by MRA’s new health plans.

Situations or events that lead to loss of group health coverage for employees or their family members may include:

• An employee who loses coverage because of a reduction in scheduled work hours or termination (voluntary or involuntary).

• A spouse and/or children who lose coverage because of divorce or legal separation.

• A surviving spouse and/or children who lose coverage because of a covered employee’s death.

• A spouse and/or children who lose coverage because an employee becomes entitled to Medicare.

• An employee’s child who loses coverage because he or she no longer meets the definition of being a dependent.

At larger companies (those with more than 20 employees), the federal COBRA law allows workers with these “qualifying events” to extend their health coverage if the worker pays the whole premium. But the law doesn’t apply to employees at smaller businesses.

As a result, health coverage has often been unavailable or not affordable for employees of smaller businesses in COBRA-type situations. Now, these individuals who leave the group plan have other health plan options available through MRA.

In addition, some member businesses may simply not need group health coverage. These members, too, should consider other options available through MRA.

Pollock is prepared to discuss all of MRA’s various health plan options, including Medicare, for which she recently received certification to enroll eligible individuals. “I’m excited about the positive changes in the industry, and I look forward to working with members to find the best coverage for their needs,” she said.