Page 13 - LRCC June 2021 Focus

VOICE OF SMALL BUSINESS

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Supports Michigan’s

Businesses and Members During COVID-19

he COVID-19 • Returned more than $115 million to members for medical, dental, and
pandemic forced vision plan premiums.
everyone to change • Delivered additional premium credits for small group customers,
T the way they lived representing a 30% premium credit for one month.
and worked. There was • Extended premium payment grace periods and offered premium
a massive deployment of deferral payment plans to help group customers make their premium
resources in the health payments and retain coverage for employees.
care community to • Established a small group helpline in support of small business
test and treat those at risk or afflicted. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan customers and their employees.
and Blue Care Network stepped up to help Michigan’s businesses, families, • Relaxed underwriting guidelines for furloughed employees, so coverage
and communities just as it has done for the past 81 years. This included was not dropped.
advising customers on the impact to health care services and advocating for • Waived waiting periods for open enrollment, new hire, and reinstatement
community-based interventions to help people cope with disruption to their policies to ensure immediate access to health care.
lives and livelihoods. Blue Cross got to work, directing COVID-19 response • Waived member copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance for
and actions to support members, customers, provider partners, and employees. COVID-19 testing and treatment.

Some steps Blue Cross took during the pandemic included:
Blue Cross remains committed to helping its customers, members, and
• Participated in Michigan’s Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities providers navigate through uncertain times. For more information on Blue
to help address inequities related to COVID-19 outcomes. Cross’s response to the pandemic and other initiatives related to COVID-19,
• Put nearly $1.3 billion behind our total COVID-19 response. go to bcbsm.com/coronavirus. n

^
remote

International Conference Virtual Production
The conference included live and pre-recorded video,
networking, Q&A, and more, on both desktop computers
and mobile devices. Together, conference attendees
streamed over 4000 viewer-hours of content, including
3 days of live sessions, 35 pre-recorded keynote
speakers from 20 different countries, related
presentations, 8 live sessions from around the world,
and a virtual awards show.

Access for All is a nonprofit working to improve people’s access to information and services
with plain language. At the conference, there were over 300 participants from around the
world, 50% of whom were first-time attendees to a plain language conference, with about
75% of them saying the virtual offering was a major factor in their decision to attend.

Stay safe. Stay connected.
messagemakers.com

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