Attention Virginia Anthem Health Insurance Policyholders
If you have a non-grandfathered* individual Anthem policy with a December 1, 2014 renewal date, we have some important news.
We just received word from Anthem of a change regarding the options you will have when your policy renews this December 1.
Until now, we had been told that Anthem would no longer offer your current plan, and you would need to switch to a new plan effective December 1, 2014. This would entail enrolling in a new plan Dec 1, and then needing to turn right around and enroll in another new plan on January 1, 2015 since all individual policies have a year-end date of December 31.
According to a July 14 announcement, Anthem will allow you to extend your current plan through the end of 2014, if you choose to do so. This would avoid the inconvenience of changing plans twice in a short amount of time.
Sometime in the months leading up to December, you will receive from Anthem a letter outlining two options should you wish to remain an Anthem policyholder:
1. Stay on your current plan through the end of December (vs. your plan ending Nov 30) by continuing to pay your premium on time. Then move to a new 2015 plan effective January 1, 2015. Anthem will recommend a 2015 plan which they believe best matches your current plan. You can elect to move to that 2015 plan, or any of Anthem’s other 2015 plans available at the time. Your new policy will be effective January 1, 2015.
Or…
2. You may enroll in a new 2014 plan effective for the month of December (from Dec 1, 2014 through Dec 31 2014). You may choose from any of Anthem’s 2014 plans. You will then need to choose a new plan for 2015, effective January 1, 2015.
Of course, you do not have to stay with Anthem. In fact, there are numerous carriers to choose from, so we encourage you to really do your homework in searching for the best plan for you. And we can help.
How to Choose the Best Health Insurance Policy
The best option for you will be based on your specific situation — your health needs, the doctors you wish to see, where you live, your income, your budget, etc.
For over 20 years, we have been helping people select the right coverage to meet their needs. Because we work with all the major health insurance carriers, we can provide you with a one-stop-shop to compare all available options. The best news is it costs you nothing! All health insurance premiums include the services of a broker, so you might as well get your money’s worth!
Give our office a call at 1-800-867-0800 or send us an email to jkatz@vamedicalplans.com.
*A non-grandfathered health insurance policy is one that was purchased on or after March 23, 2010, or one that was purchased earlier, but whose provisions were changed after March 23, 2010, causing it to lose its grandfathered status.
