Chamber Health Plan

Chamber Health Plan Update – A Message from Mary Beth Sewald, President and CEO

Because health insurance coverage is a high priority for many members, we want to provide status updates.

On March 28, a Federal court ruled against the major parts of a federal regulation allowing health benefits coverage through AHPs. At that time, we made our members aware that we would be monitoring the situation closely and continue to provide benefits to members currently enrolled in the Chamber’s AHP through the rest of the plan year unless the Nevada Division of Insurance (DOI) or United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued specific guidance to the contrary.

Since then, the DOL has issued guidance and enforcement relief that employers participating in insured AHPs can generally maintain that coverage through the end of the plan year. However, on May 13, the DOL advised that this enforcement relief did not extend to new employer members who signed up after the court’s decision. Earlier this week, the DOI reiterated the DOL’s guidance.

As a result, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, our AHP provider, is suspending the marketing and sale of AHPs (including the Vegas Chamber Health plan) effective immediately until there is further direction from the DOI or DOL.

We currently do not anticipate this decision to impact Chamber members currently enrolled in the plan. Should the DOI or the DOL order a change in the coverage of any Chamber member employer prior to the end of the plan year, we will work with Anthem to communicate with you in advance.

It is important to remember that those employers who are enrolled in the Chamber’s AHP can continue to enroll new employees upon special enrollment events (for example, upon marriage, birth, adoption, placement for adoption, or loss of eligibility for other coverage) and consistent with the plan’s terms for eligibility (for example, enrolling new hires) while the enforcement relief remains in effect.

Providing members the opportunity to access affordable, quality health insurance is one of the Chamber’s top priorities. As such, we will continue to work with Anthem, DOI, DOL, and other decision-makers to advocate for AHPs.

Thank you for your membership and support of the Vegas Chamber.  Please contact your broker with any questions regarding your insurance plan.

Program is subject to change.

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