Let MRA eliminate group insurance headaches

Most small businesses don’t have the luxury of having a human resources department or even a staff person dedicated full-time to benefits. Owners or managers must weigh benefit issues, decide coverage levels and answer employees’ benefits questions.

That’s where members who use Michigan Retailers Association’s group insurance benefit plans have an advantage over others. They have, in essence, an HR expert to help them with benefit decisions and a team of customer service representatives to assist with the “red tape.”

“Offering benefits is important, but it’s a complex area, and it can be stressful to figure out what your employees need and what you can afford,” said Linda Cook, MRA’s insurance sales representative. “It’s one area of your life we can simplify.”

Once members sign up for one of MRA’s group plans, they have the added advantage of MRA’s customer service department to help them with the paperwork that comes with any insurance benefit.

These two areas—Customer Service and Insurance Sales—handle issues related to group insurance. (Workers’ comp insurance, however, is a separate area, handled by Judy Schafer.) Knowing who does what will make it easier to get help when calling MRA.

Linda Cook handles the purchase or adjustment of insurance benefits at the group level. Cook can also help members decipher those “at-a-glance” plan overviews, explain riders or help members look for more suitable or affordable options.

After Cook discusses options with a member and writes up a proposal to send to the member, she tells the member not to waste time studying the proposal alone.

“I say, call me and we’ll go over it together, so I can answer questions and explain anything that’s unclear. It’s much faster and simpler for the member, and then I feel comfortable that he or she understands it and can make a good decision.”

Cook believes some members might not be aware of all of the things that might affect their insurance benefit decisions. For example, did you know:

• Members can offer health insurance without offering to contribute to it. They can choose to contribute the full cost, nothing, or any level in between. Or they can cover some portion of the employee’s cost but not the cost for family coverage.

• Members can offer health insurance without prescription drug coverage, or can tailor the prescription drug coverage in many ways. In fact, riders are available to modify coverage in various ways, to suit a member’s needs or budget.

• MRA can make changes in a group policy right in our office, because it is networked with the computer system at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

• MRA can handle COBRA administration for members who use one of our health plans and have 20 or more employees. Since COBRA is a complex issue with many regulations, having a specialist administer it for you can save headaches and reduce the risk of fines for noncompliance.

The Customer Service department handles questions related to a covered employee’s life, health or dental benefits—requests for I.D. cards, questions about claims or billing.

For members who participate in MRA’s health insurance, MRA will review members’ Rate Renewal Certification form to catch problems before it enters Blue Cross’s lengthy review process.

“If the form is incomplete or appears to have an error, we can help members get it completed correctly, which can mean substantial savings by avoiding the rate surcharge,” said Ally Nemetz, manager of MRA’s Customer Data department.

“In contrast, if Blue Cross spots a problem, you may be told to redo the whole form, without a hint about what was wrong,” explained Nemetz. “It’s the difference between working with a smaller organization like MRA compared to a huge one like BCBSM.”

Reminders from Customer Service

• This year’s open enrollment period is from now until the end of June. During open enrollment, MRA health and dental insurance participants can add employees and dependents, to become effective on July 1.

• At other times of the year, if there is a change in a covered employee’s family status (birth, marriage, divorce or death), notify Customer Service within 30 days.

• Members who participate in health insurance are strongly encouraged to return the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Rate Renewal Certification form by June 1. Those who don’t submit the form to BCBSM—or who submit an incomplete form—face a steep rate surcharge beginning July 1. If you have questions about the form, call MRA’s Customer Service department.