Dear member,
The Winfield Area Chamber of
Commerce is participating in a new program that will help businesses like yours
potentially lower their health insurance costs. Chamber Blue of Kansas takes
the buying power of over 38 Chambers throughout the State of Kansas to create
one large health insurance group. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS)
estimates the group size could be between 3,000 and 6,000 policies making it
one of the larger insurance groups in the state.
Chamber Blue of Kansas will help
small, medium, and even larger businesses have the buying power of larger
groups. This, in turn, will keep premium costs down, and better yet, BCBSKS is
predicting lower year-to-year premium increases.
There will be several plans
offered so employers can give their employees options when it comes to their
health insurance. All price structures will be composite rated. A composite
rate is an insurance premium based on the average risk profile of a group
rather than the risk profile of an individual policyholder. This means that all
members of the group pay the same insurance premium and that rate is not based
on age or health history.
The first year is the best year
to participate in this plan. In year one, premiums will be based on a “simple
demographic,” meaning employers only have to submit their employee's name, date
of birth, gender, and zip code. No health histories will be collected. In year
two and beyond, employers will be rated on their health histories and can be
denied entry into the group. This keeps the group “healthier” and stable.
We will be holding two in-person
informational meetings with BCBS of Kansas representatives, the first on
Tuesday, June 7 at noon and the second on Wednesday July 6 at 5:30 pm. There will also be a few online informational
meetings available, dates TBA.
Here are a few dates to keep in
mind:
- June 7 at noon and July 6 at 5:30: Informational meetings at the
Winfield Chamber.
- August 2022: An interest survey will be conducted. The survey is
mandatory and must be completed to guarantee your business’s participation in
the Association Health Plan.
- September 2022: Rates will be announced
- October 2022: Enrollment begins with the support of Blue Cross
- January 2023: Coverage begins
You do not have to be a current
Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce member to take the survey and view the rates,
but you would have to join the Chamber in order to enroll in the plan.
If you are interested in learning
more, please plan to attend one of the informational meetings scheduled this
summer. You can learn additional
information about the Chamber Blue plan here:
https://www.bcbsks.com/documents/mc446-ahp-employer-brochure-2022-01-24
Sincerely,
Sarah Werner
CEO, Winfield Area Chamber of
Commerce
