How is Blue Shield handling groups with a January 1, 2005, renewal or effective date?
AB 2208 was not signed into law until late this September. We did not have time to include this change as a product modification in renewal materials. Many groups without existing domestic partners coverage renewed without narrow or board coverage. Because AB 2208 is not effective until January 2, 2005, Blue Shield of California will allow small, midsize and large groups to postpone adding domestic partner coverage until their January 1, 2006, renewal. Note that this postponement is only allowed for January 1 renewals or January 1 new groups. Because all January 1, 2005, portfolio plan EOCs/COIs will have state registered domestic partners coverage (i.e., narrow coverage), Blue Shield will provide groups that elect to postpone an insert or supplement to the EOC/COI that deletes all references to domestic partners and children of domestic partners. If a group wants to postpone implementation, please contact your Blue Shield representative.
Related Questions
- Will Blue Shield allow groups renewing on January 1, 2005, to elect AB 2208 domestic partner coverage (i.e., the narrow coverage) even though the law is not effective until January 2?
- What are Blue Shields internal procedures for handling members who request continuity of care?
- How is Blue Shield handling groups with a January 1, 2005, renewal or effective date?
