Product Change Communications

IM Proposal Software 3.3 and updated sales materials are now available. Online quoting systems are updated. Log on to www.assuranthealthsales.com, or order sales materials through your usual supply channel.

Dial up users: Order a Software CD from your usual supply channel to save installation time.

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HSA Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2010

The IRS publishes Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) changes issued by the Department of Labor. We make required changes to deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and annual contributions of Health Savings Account (HSA) plans, based on the CPI.

The following table shows the changes for HSA plans effective January 1, 2010. HSA Adoption Agreement forms have been revised to include these changes. The 2010 changes have been updated in the HSA Basics presentation in the Agent Library, available at www.assuranthealthsales.com.

Federal Changes	2009	2010
Maximum contribution amounts	$3,000 individual / $5,950 family	$3,050 individual / $6,150 family
Additional contributions for individuals age 55 and older	$1,000	No change
Maximum out-of-pocket (includes deductible amount)	$5,800 individual / $11,600 family	$5,950 individual / $11,900 family

Assurant Health plan changes	2009	2010
Individual deductibles OneDeductible	$1,200, 1,600, 2,100, 2,850, 3,750, 5,000	No changes
Family deductibles OneDeductible	$2,400, 3,200, 4,200, 5,700, 7,500, 10,000	No changes
Individual deductibles SaveRight^SM and RightStart® HSA	$2,300, 3,000, 5,100	*$2,500,** 3,000, 5,100 *KS & NV: $2,400 individual
Family deductibles SaveRight^SM and RightStart® HSA	$4,600, 6,000, 10,200	$5,000, 6,000, 10,200 KS & NV: $4,800 family

Quoting systems have been updated, as well as the generic Individual Medical comprehensive and HSA brochures. Other brochures will include an insert with the SaveRight deductible changes.

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Access to HSA Tools enrollment forms

Since October 1, your clients have had access to simpler, faster online enrollment for HSA Tools. Due to the change to online enrollment, access to the paper form has been removed from the quoting systems. The enrollment form is still available on Find a Form and through Customer Service.

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Updated Preferred Rating Questionnaires

The Preferred Rating Questionnaires have been updated for all states. The Questionnaires, which are only required when applying for preferred rates with paper enrollment forms, are no longer on Software but are available on Find a Form and in supply.

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Health Access enhancements

Agent Linking Tools
Sell Health Access Plans B and C using My Web Page and My Sales Link. By creating a link to the Health Access quoting page directly from your Web Page or Sales Link, it’s easy for your clients to get pricing on Health Access plans, and you get credit for the sales! Be sure to log in to www.assuranthealthsales.com and add Health Access plans to your online selling tools.

Note: Available in all states where Health Access Plans B and C are sold, except WV. We are not making Health Access Plan A available through My Web Page and My Sales Link at this time.

Online and Phone Attestation
Convenient and quick, your clients can attest to the Health Access medical questions online. They can now also complete any necessary authorizations (Plans A, B, C) and complete their medical questions (Plans B, C) by phone.

Note: Health Access Plans A, B, and C are available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, DE, FL, IA, IL, IN, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NE, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, WI, WV and WY. Plans B/C only are available in CA, CO, GA, KS, NC and TX.

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Health Access Plan A changes

You’ll see the following changes for Health Access Plan A with effective dates of January 1, 2010, and later:

Drug coverage changes

Prescription Drug Calendar Year Maximum Benefit: $200 per calendar year (was $750)
Generic Drug Copay: $20 (was $10)
Brand Name Drug Copay: $75 (was $50)

Note: These changes apply to drug coverage in all states where Health Access Plan A is available except Arizona and Tennessee.

New rates
There are new rates for Plan A with effective dates of January 1, 2010, and later in all states except Delaware, Indiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota and West Virginia. The application packet rate sheets and the online quoting and submission system have been updated. Be sure to get updated application packets for your state.

Dental-Vision Discount Plan is now automatically included with Plan A. The premium for the Dental-Vision Discount Plan is included in the plan rates, except in states where the Discount Plan is not an option: Alaska, Florida, South Dakota and Wyoming.

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Revised STM applications, contracts and more

Revised applications with simplified medical questions are available in DE, ID, IN, ME, MO, OK, SD, TN, TX and WV for both Short Term Medical (STM) and HealthSaver® plans. With these changes, even more customers can qualify for temporary health insurance coverage.
Short Term Medical and HealthSaver applications have also been updated in KS, NM and WI.
Contracts and benefit summaries were updated with required state-specific information in DE, ID, IN, ME, MO, OK, SD, TN, TX and WV.
Outlines of coverage were updated in ID, ME, MO, SD, TX and WV.
In addition, updated contracts and benefit summaries are available in NM and PA. Immunization language has been updated in the PA contract, and autism and cancer clinical trials benefits have been added to the NM contract. NM also has an updated outline of coverage.

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New Rates

You’ll see new rates in AR, DE, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MN, MS, NC, ND, NH, OR, SD, UT, WA and WV on the Short Term Medical and HealthSaver plans. New rates apply for plans with effective dates of January 1, 2010, and later. The online quoting systems and product brochures have been updated.

Note: Rate changes planned for CO have been postponed. We will update you when rates are changed in CO.

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Coinsurance out-of-pocket maximum changes

You’ll see changes to the coinsurance out-of-pocket (OOP) maximum amounts on the 12-month plans in AR, DE, ID, KS, MD, ME, MS, NC, UT and WV.

These are the new coinsurance out-of-pocket maximum amounts on individual (one person) plans:

12-month individual Short Term Medical plans: The coinsurance OOP maximum will go from $5,000 to $12,500 for 50% coinsurance plans and from $2,000 to $5,000 for 80% coinsurance plans
12-month individual HealthSaver plans: The coinsurance OOP maximum will go from $10,000 to $15,000 for 50% coinsurance plans and from $4,000 to $6,000 for 80% coinsurance plans

The product materials and the quoting systems have been updated with the changes.

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STM software and field-issue changes

Note: This information applies only to Time Insurance General Agents.

The number of agents who quote and issue Short Term Medical (STM) business online continues to grow. Because of this trend to online sales, we are removing the field-issue functionality from the STM proposal software. Software will continue to be available for download from the Assurant Health Sales Web site to run STM quotes.

This change does not affect the paper STM mailer applications/brochures. You may still submit business using STM paper mailer applications/brochures. And you may field issue online, or quote and issue STM business online at www.assuranthealthsales.com.

There are many good reasons to quote and submit STM business online, including:

Always having the most current rates and enrollment information.
Eliminating the need for agents to keep and monitor supplies of paper policies/contracts.
Giving clients a choice of paper or electronic policy delivery. In most cases, clients who choose electronic delivery receive their policies minutes after submission via e-mail.

Note: This information applies to Time Insurance General Agents. Because of the changes, STM field-issued contracts/policies are not available for order to new agents.

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Online options eliminated

The deductible options for the states and plans listed were rarely selected. They have been removed from the online sales sites.

*6-Month Plans*
$0 deductible with 50% coinsurance	$750 deductible with 50% and 80% coinsurance	$1,750 deductible with 50% and 80% coinsurance
AK, AL, AZ, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, MS, MT, NE, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WI, WY	AZ, FL, MD, SC	AZ, LA, MI, PA, SC
*12-Month Plans*
$0 deductible with 50% coinsurance
AK, AL, AR, AZ, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, MD, ME, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, WI, WV, WY

Note: These changes do not affect the STM brochures.

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HIPAA rule changes impact agents

Recently, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and security regulations were amended with the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). HITECH has expanded the obligations of business associates, such as our agents. You have always been contractually obligated to comply with HIPAA. As of February 17, 2010, this new law legally requires you to be compliant with HIPAA.

In October, we sent an e-mail to producing agents to further explain the requirements under the new law. Please read the information carefully and keep these two points in mind:

If there is a breach of insured information let us know as soon as possible by contacting Judy Titera, Assurant Health Privacy Officer, at judy.titera@assurant.com or at 414-299-1140.
Your accountability has increased under HITECH. As of February 17, 2010, you will be legally required to be compliant with HIPAA.

The Privacy presentation in the Agent Library is a good resource for understanding your obligations under HIPAA. Go to www.assuranthealthsales.com > Agent Library > Privacy.

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MyBook^SM enhancements coming December 7

MyBook is a popular, time-saving tool to manage your business. But we’ve been working to make it even faster and easier to use.

Agents offered suggestions in our follow-up survey, and many of the best ideas are being implemented including:

New e-mail messages that let you know you have new Alerts in MyBook
A new MyBook Home Page speeds up access with links to the most current Alerts and a new Quick Search capability
System time-out extended to 55 minutes so you can keep working in MyBook following short interruptions
New Log Out button for a quick exit

Changes are being introduced December 7, 2009. Watch for more information in early December.

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IM, AAHA and STM news for your state

Orange States — There are changes for this implementation cycle. Click on the state or abbreviation to view.
Blue States — There are no IM or Health Access changes for this cycle.
Grey States — No new business.

Note: Also see the STM news section for state-specific changes.

Note: Quarterly trend has been factored in for the rates listed.

Arizona

IM Changes:

Great-West Healthcare Network (GWH) has changed its name to GWH-CIGNA PPO. Insureds with the GWH network will receive new ID cards.