Dickerson Update March 26 – See Our New COVID-19 Resource Center and More!

Check out Dickerson’s New COVID-19 Resource Center
Every day, we’re seeing new updates on COVID-19. It’s hard to keep up. This is why we’ve built this centralized resource hub with information from each of our carriers on how they’re responding to COVID-19, in addition to employer resources, work from home tips, and more.

We’ll be updating information with regularity, so make sure you bookmark this page to stay up-to-date with COVID-19 developments. Click here to see this new addition to our website.

Agent Alert – Enroll by March 31 to Avoid the Penalty!

Covered California has announced that consumers who enroll in health insurance coverage by March 31, 2020 will have an April 1 start date and WILL NOT be subject to the state tax penalty.

Although consumers can now enroll through June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they may be subject to months’ worth of penalty if they enroll on or after April 1. Consumers who want to avoid the penalty must enroll by March 31.

Regardless of when consumers plan select, they must effectuate their plan by paying their binder payment timely, per their selected carrier’s rules. Paying online is the fastest and easiest way to effectuate coverage, and all health carriers offer this option.

Encourage your clients to “Pay Now” using the “Pay For Health Plan” link at checkout, or call their carrier directly to Pay by Phone.

Special Note: COVID-19 cannot be used as a QLE to switch plans unless there’s another Report a Change to be made (such as a change in income due to being laid off as a result of COVID-19).

Anthem offers members support during this challenging time

We’re collectively dealing with unprecedented changes and stressors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this can be overwhelming. Anthem wants to remind members concerned with dependent care, personal finances, and general preparedness that their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) exists to offer support during this challenging time.

EAP grants no-cost, confidential access to:

• Telephonic support
• Counseling visits
• Child and Eldercare resources
• Financial consultations
• Legal consultations

To access Anthem’s EAP, visit anthemeap.com and enter My EAP CA.

Anthem also wants to remind brokers that due to the challenges presented by the current work-from-home and/or shelter-in-place scenarios, they will be extending the cutoff date for new business submissions for March and April 2020 effective dates as follows:

• March 1, 2020 or March 15, 2020 effective dates will have until 2:00 pm on March 30th to submit
• April 1, 2020 or April 15, 2020 effective dates will have until 2:00 pm April 29th to submit

Underwriting Guidelines:

• Please note that the effective date cannot be changed after approval.
• Please keep in mind rates are different for March and April. Requests to move from March to April will not be approved.

For faster processing, please submit all necessary documents to your Dickerson team before the stated deadlines above and allow time for review.

Please click here for our large file upload tool for fast processing.

For more information, please contact your Dickerson Account Executive.