Kaiser Permanente Individual and Family Open Enrollment Reminders
Open enrollment is November 1 through December 15. Here are a few helpful reminders.
Online enrollment is the way to go
Online enrollment is the best way to get members enrolled quickly and with the fewest errors. To set up an account to quote and enroll online, go to kp.org/wa/producer-kpif and click on the Submission tab, or call our Sales and Service Consultants at 1-800-474-1079.
Must-haves for paper applications
If you’re using a paper application for enrollment, make sure your clients complete the Medicare question under “Step 1” on page 2, and answer the tobacco-use question for everyone who is 18 or older listed on the application. (Previously, this question was for 21 and older.)
New account change forms
For 2019, we’ll be providing an account change form that members can use. Active Kaiser Permanente Individual and Family members who want to make a change to their plan can complete an editable PDF and send it to us by mail or fax (not available as an online enrollment option). You can find the account change form at kp.org/wa/producer-kpif.
Dental coverage
For renewing members, current dental coverage that’s not purchased on the health insurance marketplace will automatically roll over into 2019. If members want to drop or change their coverage, they can contact Member Services or complete the account change form.
Binder payments for exchange members
Members who purchase their plan through Washington Healthplanfinder (health insurance marketplace) must make their binder payment before the end of December to ensure their coverage is set up for January 1. Waiting until the last minute will delay the onboarding of enrollment by 7 to 10 days, and coverage will not be active in our system until this payment has been made. During open enrollment, the member can use the “Pay Now” function on wahealthplanfinder.org to pay their binder payment immediately after applying – there’s no need to wait for an invoice from Kaiser Permanente.
Producers of record
Producer of record (POR) status will roll over from 2018 to 2019. For Kaiser Permanente Individual and Family members moving directly to a Medicare plan, POR must be indicated on the election form or a POR letter must be provided. For direct members moving to the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, POR partnership must be done through the Washington Healthplanfinder, which will forward it to us.
Rating area changes and new group numbers
Because the rating area for Washington state changed from 5 areas to 9, we’ve had to add additional group numbers. More than 54,000 members will be moved to a new group number for 2019. These members will not receive new ID cards.
There is an important update to what was communicated at September’s producer forums: Members who currently have autopay set up for Kaiser Permanente plan premiums will not have to re-register for autopay in 2019. We are working with Bank of America to have this update made on the back end, so there is no impact or action needed by members who use autopay.
Have questions about Kaiser Permanente Individual and Family plans? Contact the Kaiser Permanente Individual and Family sales team.