10/12/2007   Start quoting InnovaSM and EngageSM today!

We are happy to announce that you can begin quoting and selling Innova and Engage starting today, Oct. 15, for Nov. 1, 2007, effective dates! This is an exciting day for us and for the small-group clients (2 to 99 employees) who we think will welcome the arrival of these self-managed plans.

A host of hard-copy materials designed to help you sell these plans successfully are available from your Regence Sales contact. These materials include:

• Product brochures
• Benefit summaries (full-color print versions)
• Product flyers
• Pocket reference
• Online enrollment/billing flyer

Also, more information about Innova and Engage can be found on the Broker Web site under Products & Plans, including:

• Unique Features
• At a Glance
• Benefit Summaries
• Pharmacy Benefits
• Wellness Programs
• Optional Benefits
• Exclusions and Limitations to Coverage
• Dual Option Matrix

And, we've developed tools and resources that can be found on Agent Center to support you as well:

• Product Comparison Tool, designed to allow you to configure other plan designs, compare against plans, and provide rate relativities
• Training podcasts

New information system supports new products
Today also marks the deployment of an integrated information system designed to support our new products and streamline the processes, with the goal of affecting real efficiencies and change. Below are a few highlights you'll want to make note of when quoting Innova and Engage.

• Agent Center —
  • Innova and Engage plan designs allow for many combinations of product features, so much that there are more than 800 possible combinations. To keep the number of options to a manageable level for you, we have developed a set of options we're calling "Most Popular." This selection gives you a full range of product options—from high to low—and includes products that are similar to our most popular products today.
  • November and December 2007 renewals were previously issued without new product options. If you'd like to receive a quote for your Community-rated (2 to 50) groups, you can generate an Alternative Quote for Innova and Engage through Agent Center. For groups of 51 to 99 employees, please talk with your  Regence Sales contact for assistance with Innova and Engage plans.
  • The  Product Comparison Tool allows you to approximate plans that meet your clients' needs prior to running a quote.
  • And, if you haven't yet activated your Agent Center registration, do it today.
• Dual Option will not be available for groups of 2 to 50 employees for Innova and Engage. In most cases renewals will show suggested sell-over products for each product. These are just to provide guidance on each individual product and are not necessarily valid combinations on the Dual Option Matrix.
• New Forms— including the Group Master Application, Application for Enrollment/Change, and Waiver form—are required when enrolling a new group on an Innova or Engage plan
• Timely Group Master Application submission will create the best experience for your clients when the GMA is submitted at least 15 days prior to the effective date.
• New Agent Numbers: Later this week you'll receive a letter with your new agent number to use when selling a new group or renewing an existing group with an Innova or Engage plan. The new agent number consists of a seven-digit prefix and a four-digit suffix.
• Customer Service Unit: We have a dedicated customer service unit specifically trained on Innova and Engage plans. They are ready to assist you and your clients and can be reached at 1 (888) 367-2112.
• The Jump Start Sales Program will recognize you for every qualifying new or renewing group that elects an Innova or Engage plan.
• Regence Life and Health is offering a 10% discount on their Life product when a group purchases an Innova or Engage plan.  Plus, when you sell STD or LTD with a Life package for an Innova or Engage group, Regence Life and Health will offer an additional discount on their disability products.

"How do you feel?" ads unveiled
With the October launch of our new self-managed plans–Innova and Engage–we are highlighting our new product features, which address specific market issues like wellness, network restrictions and access to tools and resources to help navigate the health care system.

Hopefully you've seen the new "How do you feel?" ads for Innova and Engage advertised in a variety of print publications in your area. These include the Puget Sound Business Journal, Washington CEO, Seattle Business, Business Week, Forbes, and many more. The ads are scheduled to run through the end of the year and the reader is instructed to contact their broker or to call our Customer Marketing department directly.

Direct-mail campaign designed to introduce self-managed plans
Later this month, we'll launch a direct-mail campaign that will target approximately 100,000 non-member groups and organizations from a variety of business segments in our Washington service area. In the letter and accompanying materials, we encourage interested prospects to contact their broker or Regence. As a result, you may experience an increase in the number of inquiries you receive for information and quote requests for these products. If you have any questions about the direct mail campaign, please talk with your Regence Sales contact.

Questions or need to contact us?

• Regence Sales contact
  • General Sales Line – (206) 464-3833 or 1 (800) 653-1125

• Agent Center
  • Technical Support – 1 (877) 664-2450
  • Registration – (206) 389-6692

• Customer Service
  • Dedicated Unit –  1 (888) 367-2112

• Agent Numbers
  • Broker Relations – (206) 389-6692
  • Agent Desk  – (503) 220-4783

• Commission
  • Agent Desk/Finance – (503) 220-4737

Coming soon!
The improvements don't end here. Watch for detailed information on upcoming enhancements designed to support your sale of Innova and Engage:

• New Employer Center features: Online enrollment and online billing will be available for Innova and Engage!

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm as we introduce Innova and Engage to the Regence community. We believe that these products meet the need that small groups have been telling us about, and we're excited about the opportunity that they offer you and your clients.

Sincerely,

Scott Kreiling
Vice President of Sales

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