Welcome to our annual

Transcription

1 Fast Tracking Y Our Annual Welcome to our annual HSA Survey. We asked the top companies in the state essential questions about coverage and services that affect you, the broker. Read on to find out which plans will work best for you and your clients. Look For Part II of Our Annual HSA Survey in the February 2013 Edition. 1. What are the primary services you offer as part of your HSA product? Aetna: Compatible high deductible medical plan, HSA administration, HSA investment services. Anthem Blue Cross: We offer Medical HSA Health Plans and an option to in an integrated Banking system through our contracted partners; NY/Mellon. Blue Shield: Blue Shield offers an integrated eligibility and claims experience for clients that choose an account based health plan (i.e., Health plans wrapped with an HSA, HRA or FSA account) will be a year of choice. Members can choose a HDHP PPO and couple it with a health savings account or choose a regular PPO or HMO plan and wrap a health reimbursement account around the product. In either case the member will be empowered to manage their health and wealth. Cigna: Cigna Choice Fund health savings account (HSA) is an integrated HSA, combining the plan s entire healthcare and fi nancial management features into one easy- to-use healthcare product. It includes several features, such as health coaching, medical and HSA claim capabilities, a diverse range of mutual fund choices, employee education, and medical and pharmacy cost transparency tools, hospital quality comparison tools, and online health risk assessments. HSA Bank: HSA Bank provides HSA administration. Complimentary business support is offered to employers and brokers including implementation planning, enrollment meeting support, remote Webinars, and communication planning. Through free online banking, accountholders can view and download real-time transactions and year-todate account information, transfer HSA funds to an investment account or other accounts, and more. HSA Bank also funds each new HSA with a penny to meet IRS establishment, enabling accountholders to be reimbursed for qualifi ed medical expenses on day one. 20 CALIFORNIA BROKER visit us at JANUARY 2013

2 our HSA Sales Survey By Leila Morris HSA California: The HSA California Exchange is the only small-group, fully integrated HSA program with multiple carriers. Each employee can choose from a menu of HSA- qualifi ed high deductible health plan benefi ts from Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and Western Health Advantage with no minimum participation requirements. HSA banking and savings programs are offered through The Bancorp Bank, with accounts FDIC insured to at least $250,000. Accounts include a free debit card, access to hundreds of investment options, personalized checks, and 24/7 secured online banking access. There is no application or fee to open an HSA with The Bancorp Bank. HSA California also offers dental, vision, hearing, HR support, life, and Section 125 POP plans, as well as prescription discounts of up to 75% through the California Rx Card Program, and amusement park, movie ticket, and other discounts through the Cal Perks Employee Discount Program (offered at no cost to enrolling groups). Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente offers HSA-qualifi ed deductible HMO plans (available to the Individual and Family market, Small, Mid and Large employer groups), PPO plans (available to Small business, and large groups), EPO plans for Individuals and Self-Funded EPO plans. We have selected Wells Fargo as our preferred fi nancial administrator to provide HSAs in connection with our HSA-qualifi ed health plans. Wells Fargo offers to all Kaiser Permanente customers a competitively discounted monthly administrative fee, an FDIC-insured tiered interest rate account, HSA Visa debit cards, investment options, online account management, and dedicated customer service. SeeChange Health: SeeChange Health Insurance offers high-deductible health plans compatible with HSAs that fi nancially reward members for taking actions to manage their health. Sterling HSA: Sterling offers education, implementation and account management services through personal sales and service teams, as well as online for brokers, employers and accountholders. Among our primary services are HSA education, enrollment assistance, a review of the EOB, bill paying, record keeping, scanning and archiving of bills, receipts, and other critical information in case of an IRS audit. We also offer options for self-directing investments and fl agging expenses submitted as qualifi ed and non-qualifi ed for HSA distribution. Our online services include online enrollment, banking, account transaction information, and the ability to make changes to the HSA account. Our most recent satisfaction survey found that among the Sterling services valued most by our HSA accountholders, online services are at the top of the list with 91% of Sterling accountholders responding favorably. We offer educational materials and services in English and Spanish. Our trans- created Spanish Website includes HSA online enrollment for individuals and employer groups. Our forms and collateral have also been trans-created for clients who prefer Spanish and we have many Spanish bi-lingual customer service representatives to help them. UnitedHealth Group: UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of consumer-driven health plans in the country with nearly 3 million members enrolled in consumer- driven health plans that incorporate a health savings account or health reimbursement. Additionally, UnitedHealth Group uses its own fi nancial corporation, OptumHealthBank, for its HSA program administration. OptumHealth- Bank, an FDIC-insured fi nancial institution focused solely on health care banking, is the nation s largest HSA administrator. Account holders receive market competitive interest rates on their deposits, online bill payment options, and direct debit card access to their accounts. Additionally, once they get a qualifying account balance, they also can invest in a range of highly regarded no-fee, non-proprietary investment options. 2. Do you offer an HSA-qualifying high deductible health insurance plan? Aetna: Yes. Anthem Blue Cross: Yes Blue Shield: Yes, Blue Shield offers predictable qualifi ed High Deductible Health Plans that can be wrapped with a health savings account. Cigna: Yes, Cigna offers a full suite of account-based medical plan designs that meet the defi nition of a qualifi ed high deductible plan. HSA Bank: No, HSA Bank offers direct health savings administration. HSA Bank is an independent bank and can administer HSAs for any qualifi ed high deductible health plan offered by any regional or national carrier. If the employer decides to switch carriers, they can keep their HSA with HSA Bank. There s no need to transfer accounts. HSA California: Yes, HSA California only offers HSA-qualifi ed health plans; our portfolio includes seven different HSA-compatible plan designs. Kaiser Permanente: Yes, Kaiser Permanente offers an array of HSA- Qualifi ed Deductible HMO plans for the Individual, Family and Employer group markets, PPO plans for Small and large business groups, EPO plans for Individuals and Self Funded EPO plans. SeeChange Health: Yes, to the best of our knowledge we offered the nation s fi rst value-based benefi t HSA-compatible plans in the country. Sterling HSA: As an independent HSA administrator, Sterling can work with all HSA compatible plans -- fully insured and self-insured. In mid-2011, we launched Sterling level funding and traditional selfinsurance products that do include HSA-qualifying high deductible health plans as an employer option. 3. Are you providing a health spending arrangement or a savings vehicle? Aetna: Yes. Anthem Blue Cross: We have partnered with BNY/Mellon and their CALIFORNIA BROKER visit us at JANUARY

3 support staff -ASC/Mellon to provide banking and investment options for the fi nancial piece of our HSAs. Our integration allows members to login to and be linked to their BNY/Mellon account. Blue Shield: Blue Shield offers choice. Our clients and members can choose to have an integrated HSA model or a stand-alone HSA bank account. Both options promote pre-tax deposits and after-tax deposits; when the member reaches a certain dollar amount, he/she can choose to invest the savings in mutual funds. Cigna: Cigna has an extensive offering of consumer products that include an HSA, HRA, healthcare fl exible spending account, dependent care fl exible spending account, and incentive health reimbursement accounts (Healthy Awards). HSA Bank: For spenders, the health savings account is an easy and tax-advantaged way to save and pay for healthcare costs before and after the deductible is met. For savers, an HSA is a great way to build savings for retirement. HSA California: HSA California and The Bancorp Bank have partnered to create a seamless, online approach for employers and employees to fund an HSA with a wide array of savings and investment options. Kaiser Permanente: Members who enroll in one of our HSA-Qualifi ed Deductible HMO plans can open a health savings account through our preferred fi nancial administrator, Wells Fargo. However, members are also free to open a health savings account with a fi nancial institution of their choice. Our HSA-Qualifi ed Deductible HMO plans are designed to work with HSA administration from any fi nancial institution. In terms of other spending arrangements, Kaiser Permanente also offers different deductible HMO plans paired with health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). SeeChange Health: No. Members have the fl exibility to use the HSA administrator, which delivers the most value. Sterling HSA: Yes, in addition to HSAs, Sterling also provides administration services for HRAs, FSAs, POPs and COBRA. UnitedHealth Group: Yes, UnitedHealthcare offers several HSA-qualifi ed HDHPs. In addition to administering the medical plan, United- Healthcare offers a wide variety of health care services, tools, and tips for its HSA customers. 4. What size employee group is the HSA available for? Aetna: All sizes of groups. Anthem Blue Cross: All employee groups are eligible. Blue Shield: We offer qualifi ed HDHP to be used with an HSA for all markets, including individual and family, small groups (from 2 to 50 employees), midsize groups (51 to 299 employees), and large groups (300+ employees). Cigna: Our HSA product is available for employers with 50or more eligible employees. HSA Bank: An HSA at HSA Bank is available to employee groups of all sizes with no minimum or maximum number of participants. Our HSA is also available to individuals not connected to an employer group. HSA California: HSA California is available for employers with 2-50 employees. Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente offers HSA-qualifi ed deductible HMO plans to any group size. PPO plans are available to any group size, and Self Funded EPO plans are available to groups with 500 subscribers. SeeChange Health: Our fully insured plans are available to groups of 2-to-200 or more employees. Our sister company, SeeChange Health Solutions offers value-based benefi t ASO services that support HSAs. Sterling HSA: We work with groups of all sizes, including large, medium and small companies. We also work with individuals, many of whom sign up for our HSA online. UnitedHealth Group: Yes, UnitedHealthcare has partnered with OptumHealthBank for HSA administration, savings and investment opportunities. 5. Is your management team experienced in health insurance, financial services, or both? Aetna: Health insurance. Anthem Blue Cross: Anthem has subject matter experts in health insurance and the fi nancial services for our HSAs plans. These associates can work with the client and agent/broker to explain all processes. Blue Shield: Blue Shield s management team is experienced in healthcare services, but works closely with our preferred vendors- Health Equity, which provides the integrated model; and Wells Fargo, for stand-alone accounts. HSA Bank: HSA Bank s leadership and national sales force is highly experienced and trained in both health insurance and fi nancial services. David Drzymkowski, the Regional Vice President - California & Hawaii, has held his insurance license since HSA California: Both. Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente s management team is experienced in health insurance and HMO plans. Our preferred HSA administrator, Wells Fargo, brings the appropriate fi nancial services expertise. SeeChange Health: Our leadership has extensive experience in health insurance and fi nancial services as well as with value-based benefi t plan designs. Sterling HSA: Sterling HSA s executive team has extensive experience in healthcare, insurance, and consumer directed account management. We have complemented those skills with staff and advisory board members who have experience in fi nancial services to optimize support of our clients during enrollment and to manage their accounts with us long-term. UnitedHealth Group: Both. 6. Do you provide training for brokers about HSAs? Anthem Blue Cross: We provide ongoing broker communications, newsletters, and product demonstrations as new products are introduced. Blue Shield: Yes, Blue Shield provides a continuing education seminar on HSAs to our IFP brokers periodically. Brokers also have access to educational programs and tutorials through Health Equity and Wells Fargo Websites: ts/hsa/brokersales-support Cigna: Cigna provides consumerism education on products including the HSA to brokers via forums and through highly skilled sales managers. HSA Bank: Yes, Our Business Relations department serves as a valu- 22 CALIFORNIA BROKER visit us at JANUARY 2013

4 Top Reasons to Choose Sterling There are plenty of reasons why brokers and clients choose Sterling Health Services Administration. 1. Complete Product Portfolio: Sterling offers a full suite of products managed through a single sales representative or account manager, integrated online account management tools, and a team of benefits experts and customer service representatives. Sterling offers administration services for HSAs, HRAs, FSAs, POPs, COBRA, and self-insurance. 2. Compliance Expertise: Sterling administration ensures industry and IRS compliance for clients in a number of ways - IRS and regulatory education, medical bill paying services, debit card IIAS compliance, and nondiscrimination testing, Form 5500 filing, and ERISA wrap services. 3. Carrier Integration powered by HealthExpense makes it easy for members to connect EOBs with HSA, HRA and FSA accounts. 6. Personal customer service from Sterling sales, account management, benefits and multi-lingual customer service teams. 7. Se Habla Español? Sterling offers a culturally relevant Spanish website, marketing materials, and bi-lingual customer service representatives. 8. Marketing support through educational websites, collateral, forms, campaigns, and social media outlets. 9. People across the company who understand the health benefits industry because we ve been in the business for over 100 years (combined, that is). Sterling has been in business since 2004 and is successful in part because of a culture that puts people first employees, clients and partners. It s truly a family affair that our clients are pleased to join. 4. Sophisticated, integrated online enrollment, account management, and reporting tools. For more information, visit sterlinghsa.com and sterlingsia.com. Contact us at or customer.service@sterlinghsa.com. 5. Mobile web for HSA, HRA, and FSA members. Please Circle #23 on the Free Information on Page 46

5 able resource for HSA-related questions by phone and . Our team is also pleased to schedule training Webinars for brokers. Plus, your regional vice president David Drzymkowski is happy to visit your office and host a Lunch and Learn on a variety of HSA topics. HSA California: Yes, HSA California has dedicated HSA experts ready to provide personalized training and HSA education to brokers. We can be reached between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday-Friday at sales@hsacalifornia.com or toll-free at (866) HSA California also provides ongoing seminars to provide brokers with the necessary information and tools to explain High Deductible Health Plans and HSAs to clients. Kaiser Permanente: Yes, we provide training to our brokers. In addition, our preferred financial administrator for HSAs, Wells Fargo, has a dedicated support line to assist our brokers with questions. Wells Fargo also has an online flash educational presentation for our customers about HSAs online at: wellsfargo.com/investing/hsa/demo SeeChange Health. Yes. We provide extensive training on our products, including HSA-compatible plans. We also work with the state s major general agencies to help educate brokers. Sterling HSA: Yes, Sterling offers a variety of training options, including CE courses, Webinars, lunch and learn meetings for large regional brokerage groups, and individual sessions pairing Sterling account representatives with brokers and consultants. 7. What commissions are paid to brokers and when? Aetna: Standard commission levels, monthly. Anthem Blue Cross: Brokers are paid the standard medical commission for the HSA compatible medical plan. Blue Shield: Blue Shield does not pay commissions for HSAs because we administer the HDHP. Blue Shield: Enrolling online eliminates the need to complete and mail in paper enrollment forms, provides an efficient enrollment process that is accurate and secure, and delivers immediate enrollment confirmation to employees. During the Blue Shield group installation for our integrated program, the client will be seamlessly set up with HealthEquity. Blue Shield will pass employee eligibility information to HealthEquity, which will automatically set up bank accounts. The client will be able to fund its employees HSA through payroll deduction. Employees enrolling in a Wells Fargo health savings account (HSA) through their employer are able to conveniently enroll online directly with Wells Fargo. Cigna: Cigna pays its standard commissions for HSA sales. HSA Bank: We recognize the important role you play in our success. To show our appreciation, we created a producer recognition program that rewards brokers on three levels. For more info, visit hsabank. com/hsabank/agentsbrokers. HSA California: HSA California pays standard commissions monthly. Kaiser Permanente: Brokers are paid the standard medical commissions on all of our HSA-qualified health plans. SeeChange Health: We pay 7% level commissions for groups of 2-to- 50 employees and 5% level for groups of 51 or more employees. Sterling HSA: Commissions for our HSA business are 10% of the fees for all new and renewing groups and are paid quarterly. We also pay commissions on HRA, TSA, FSA, POP, and self-insurance business. 8. Are electronic enrollment forms accessible through your Website? Aetna: Yes. Anthem Blue Cross: Yes. Blue Shield: Enrolling online eliminates the need to complete and mail in paper enrollment forms, provides an efficient enrollment process that is accurate and secure, and delivers immediate enrollment confirmation to employees. During the Blue Shield group installation for our integrated program, the client will be seamlessly set up with HealthEquity. Blue Shield will pass employee eligibility information to HealthEquity, which will automatically set up bank accounts. The client will be able to fund its employees HSA through payroll deduction on the HealthEquity Employer Portal. Training Webinars occur every Wednesday; to sign up, clients go to: and click the link under LAUNCH AND BEYOND titled HSA Employer Portal Webinars. Cigna: Cigna provides an online and paper version of the HSA bank enrollment application. Employers can provide online or paper enrollment options for their employees. HSA Bank: Yes. HSA Bank offers a variety of online enrollment options for the employer. With our Auto Enrollment File process, employers can easily enroll all HSA-qualified employees in an HSA by uploading a Microsoft Excel file. With HSA Bank s Group Online Enrollment system, the employer can easily facilitate the HSA-enrollment process by providing their employees with a custom enrollment link to an online application. HSA California: PDF enrollment forms are available on our Website at Employers and employees can open and fund an HSA on our Website through a simple process driven by our partner, The Bancorp Bank. Employers can even maintain employees membership information online. Kaiser Permanente: Individuals and Families can apply for Kaiser Permanente health plans online by logging on to: kaiser.healthinsurance-asp.com. HSA Employer and Individual applications can be downloaded at wellsfargo.com/hsa. Kaiser Permanente health plan enrollees from companies whose employer is not sponsoring an HSA, and individuals enrolled in Kaiser Permanente s individual and families health plans, can open and fund an HSA account online at: wellsfargo.com/investing/hsa/enroll. SeeChange Health: We expect to add this functionality in Sterling HSA: Yes. We provide online enrollment for individuals who are part of employer groups, individuals seeking a HSA administrator on their own, and for employer groups to manage the HSA enrollment of employees. Sterling account enrollment and management forms are also available on our Website at in a fill-able PDF format to download, complete, and , mail or fax to Sterling. Our online enrollment and paper forms are available in English and Spanish. 9. How do you assist account holders with paying medical bills? Aetna: We provide cost estimator and quality assessment tools. Anthem Blue Cross: High Deductible Health Plans engage the members to be knowledgeable about their healthcare treatment and management of funds. Members manage their own bank accounts, pay for their medical and Rx needs with their HSA account. Members can view online their banking balances and their claim activity. Account status and explanation of benefits documents are available 24 CALIFORNIA BROKER visit us at JANUARY 2013

6 through our Website. Members can use their debit card or Mellon checks to pay for their out of pocket responsibility. The customer service advocates are available to help members understand their fi nancial responsibility. Blue Shield: With our new account based platform with Health Equity, there are just fi ve simple steps from visit to reimbursement: 1. Member visit to healthcare provider 2. Claims sent to HealthEquity by Blue Shield 3. Automatic notifi cation of responsibility 4. Claim and account information on the same screen 5. Provider paid directly or reimbursement from CDH account When employees are notifi ed of a claim with member responsibility, they just access the Website to process payment and reimbursement. After viewing the claim detail, members can choose the action to be taken: pay provider, reimburse themselves, or close expense. The medical expense payment process is easy and fl exible. Members can directly pay a provider from their HSA pre-tax account or add an additional external bank account; both pre- and post-tax distributions are tracked and housed on the member portal for tax reporting purposes. Cigna: Cigna helps account holders manage their healthcare expenses with information decision support tools and ready access to HSA funds. Cigna provides cost and quality information according to the individual s plan for more than 200 procedures performed by specialists, in hospitals and in outpatient facilities. The pharmacy price quote tool compares actual real time out-of-pocket costs for brand name, generic and over the counter medications at 57,000 pharmacies nationwide. HSA California: Our carrier partners - Kaiser Permanente, Health Net, and Western Health Advantage - have created special units within their organizations to help members enroll in HSA California. Kaiser Permanente: Money in the HSA can be used to pay for a variety of qualifi ed medical expenses ranging from routine physicals to prescription drugs. To pay for expenses, the member can simply present their HSA debit card to the provider, and money will be deducted directly from their HSA. However, if the member wants to pay for services out of pocket and submit an HSA reimbursement claim manually, they can. Kaiser Permanente s Member Service Unit can support our members with any medical bill question or concern. A member can also write their HSA debit card number on their Kaiser Permanente bill and remit for payment. SeeChange Health: We help our members understand their share of medical treatment and how they can offset those costs by completing health actions designed to help them manage their health. Expenditures from their HSA are handled directly between the member and their account administrator. Sterling HSA: Sterling reviews the EOB and medical bills for health plan discounts to insure that our accountholders do not spend more for a healthcare service or product than the insurance company would pay. We also alert accountholders when we spot disbursements that do not appear to comply with IRS rules. A number of our clients come to us for help with payment plans in the event there are insuffi cient funds to pay a medical bill. This service is especially valuable in this diffi cult economy. We also partner with Medical Cost Advocate to help our accountholders negotiate medical costs before and after they are incurred. CALIFORNIA BROKER visit us at JANUARY

7 Clients will also be able to run reports for easy reconciliation How does the administrator Sports help the And Vision: Cigna: Yes, the HSA fully integrated with the high deductible health accountholder with insurance-related questions? plan. Aetna: Customer service representatives are available by phone and Finding Your HSA California: HSA California is completely integrated with The Bancorp Bank. Eligibility is automatically transferred to The Bancorp Bank, through our Website. Cigna: Cigna offers integrated customer service via our mycigna.com so that account set-up is simplified; employers can set up employee Website and 24/ 7/365 toll-free telephone service to respond to questions about the member s health insurance and the HSA. Anthem Blue bilities - all online. HSAs, fund employee HSAs, and complete other administrative capa- Competitive Edge Cross: Anthem provides online resources as well as a customer service support line for all members. Support numbers are listed on the services and Wells Fargo, our preferred financial administrator for Kaiser Permanente: No, Kaiser Permanente provides the health plan member s health insurance card. HSAs, provides the financial account. Blue Shield: All HDHP-related questions Providing are referred back to Added Blue SeeChange Value Health: No as members to Active are free to select any HSA administrator they choose. Shield. HSA California: Both HSA California Employees and The Bancorp Bank have Through Sterling HSA: We are Their an independent Vision administrator available Plan to work customer support teams with expert knowledge available by phone or with all health plans across the nation. We have the ability to pull EOB from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. (866) 271- information from the carrier for payment on behalf of our accountholders or HSAInvestments@TheBancorp.com. Kaiser Permanente: Our preferred financial administrator for HSAs, UnitedHealth Group: Yes, in 2002, UnitedHealth Group chartered OptumHealthBank to help advance the growing convergence of health- Wells Fargo, refers insurance-related calls back to Kaiser Permanente (KP). KP member service representatives are trained to answer any care and financial services and to give consumers a more integrated insurance related questions our members may have. At kp.org, we experience. also have a Website for deductible plan members to educate themselves about what to expect pre/during/post visits with our providers, 12. Are investment choices limited by the administrator? including decision support tools (e.g., preventive services list, sample fee list, interactive treatment fee tool) that may facilitate better understanding of their insurance coverage and optimize the wide range of Aetna: The administrator provides a diverse fund selection by asset health related services offered by KP. Visit kp.org/deductibleplans to classes supporting a range of investment objectives. find out more. Anthem Blue Cross: There are over 20 investment opportunities SeeChange Health: Questions related to plan coverage are handled Through BNY/Mellon s subsidiary Dreyfus. by SeeChange Health. Blue Shield: Under the Health Equity program, employees can invest Sterling HSA: Our customer service representatives are available their HSA dollars directly from the Website after reaching the $2,000 Monday - Friday from 7 am to 6 pm Pacific. Clients and brokers can minimum balance; investments are on the same, single platform. reach us toll-free at and via at customer.service@sterlinghsa.comferent mutual funds and each fund prospectus. Tax statements are There are no fees to invest and members can access up to 12 dif- also available on the Website. Wells Fargo has 13 mutual fund options UnitedHealth Group: UnitedHealthcare s Customer Care Professionals are available by phone to respond to all insurance and account- available for investment options. related questions; a number of resources, including calculators and Cigna: Cigna offers a customized slate of diversified HSA investment FAQs are also available online at options through JP Morgan Chase as part of our Cigna Choice Fund HSA. 11. Is the administrator integrated with the health plan? Aetna: Yes Anthem Blue Cross: Yes, BNY/ Mellon provides consumers with: Online Checking Activation Services through Anthem.com/ca Interest-bearing checking account Anthem-branded MasterCard debit card Checkbook (Consumer receives the HSA debit card, checkbook, etc. after completing the activation process.) Online Monthly HSA Statements (bank statement) Annual Tax forms: 1099s (January), 5498s (May) Online Investment opportunities through its subsidiary Dreyfus Online Bill Pay for the member s medical fees Blue Shield: Blue Shield offers a fully integrated experience through our partnership with Health Equity. Our new Account Based platform offers a completely integrated healthcare experience for both members and clients. All accounts are on one platform with integrated enrollment and claims information, and flexible contribution models. We will also provide clients with an Employer Portal with access in real time to eligibility information, contributions, fee payments, and more. HSA Bank: Accountholders can select from two self-directed investment platforms based on their unique approach to investing. The Mutual Fund selection offers a professionally, pre-selected group of noload mutual funds covering a range of fund families and asset classes. The Direct Brokerage option offers stocks, bonds and thousands of mutual funds. There s no minimum HSA balance to begin investing. And, there s no default or proprietary investment based on account balance. HSA California: The Bancorp Bank offers an extensive investment portfolio, from FDIC-insured savings accounts to more than 7,000 investment options. Kaiser Permanente: The Wells Fargo HSA offers both an FDIC-insured interest bearing deposit account plus the option to direct funds into pre-selected investments and mutual funds. For more information on Wells Fargo Advantage Funds(r), visit wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds or call (800) SeeChange Health: That will vary based on the HSA administrator chosen by the member. Sterling HSA: Not at all. Our accountholders can choose any IRS qual- 26 CALIFORNIA BROKER visit us at JANUARY 2013

8 ifi ed investment for their HSA funds, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and CDs. We made arrangements with Partnervest Securities LLC to offer investment services at a discounted fee for Sterling accountholders. Partnervest also provides Sterling with monthly account balance information to ensure the outside investment information contained in Sterling HSA account records is current. Partnervest contact information is available on our Website at com/products/hsa/ investmentservices/ 13. What forms are needed to submit an HSA case? Aetna: Aetna s standard enrollment processes are used. There are separate medical and HSA elections. Eligibility/enrollment options are electronic batch enrollment, paper enrollment, and Web enrollment. Anthem Blue Cross: An HSA Addendum and Agreement need to be completed. The HSA Addendum captures how the Employer wants to fund their employees accounts. The HSA Addendum is stating you will or will not use our integrated banking option. HSA Agreement must be signed if the Employer chooses our integrated partner BNY/Mellon. Blue Shield: There are no extra forms needed; all questions are included in your Blue Shield group installation paperwork. Cigna: Cigna s standard processes and forms are used for all Cigna products including the HSA. HSA Bank: To make enrolling in an HSA convenient for employers and their employees, HSA Bank offers several enrollment options including electronic fi le format, online enrollment and paper application. Each enrollment option provides unique capabilities and is designed to work best for different types of groups. HSA California: Standard application forms are needed to submit an HSA California case. These forms are available at com. Kaiser Permanente: We require our standard application and enrollment process plus necessary forms to set up the Wells Fargo HSA. Wells Fargo: A broker must complete the HSA Broker Supplement - Application for Services form and an HSA Employer Application. You can fi nd copies of the applications at wellsfargo.com/hsa SeeChange Health: No special forms are required when applying for an HSA-compatible plan. Sterling HSA: It s very simple. Just a completed employer group application (for groups) and an individual accountholder application for each accountholder, along with a list bill and employer preferred form of contribution. Online enrollment and forms are available at www. sterlinghsa.com. UnitedHealth Group: Employers contributing to the HSA account are required to complete an employer discovery document. Individuals establishing an HSA account. 14. Do you plan to offer an HSA-eligible plan to your own employees? Aetna: Aetna Inc. offers several HSA-eligible plans to our employees. Anthem Blue Cross: All Anthem Blue Cross and WellPoint eligible employees have the option to choose a Lumenos HSA plan. Blue Shield: Blue Shield employees have been offered a High Deductible Health Plan and HSA since January 1, Cigna: Yes, Cigna has offered employees HRA and HSA plan options since January HSA Bank: Absolutely. HSA California: CHOICE Administrators, the company behind HSA California, CaliforniaChoice, CaliforniaChoice 51+, Kaiser Permanente Choice Solution, Contractor s Choice, and Choice Builder, currently offers its employees access to HSA- compatible plans. Kaiser Permanente: We consider our entire portfolio of health plans for our own employees. SeeChange Health: Members are free to choose their own HSA administrators and, consequently, their own trustees. Sterling HSA: We have offered our employees an HSA plan since Sterling was founded in UnitedHealth Group: All UnitedHealth Group employees have the option of enrolling in all an HSA or HRA. 15. Are you using a trustee? If so, how long have you been with the trustee? Aetna: Yes, since May 2004 Anthem Blue Cross: Anthem has partnered with BNY/Mellon FDIC to offer all of your banking needs for your HSA account. Blue Shield: Blue Shield has vendor relationships in place today with Wells Fargo (since 2004) and, for our integrated model, Health Equity (new for 2011). Both vendors are qualifi ed trustee and custodians that administer health savings accounts. Cigna: JP Morgan Chase has been the trustee for our Cigna Choice Fund HSA product since January 1, HSA Bank: Webster Bank, N.A. provides trust services and serves in a capacity as the custodian. HSA bank has been a division of Webster Bank, N.A. since HSA California: Yes, the Bancorp Bank handles HSAs directly; HSA California s relationship with Bancorp dates back to the start of HSA California, but the bank has been offering services to customers since The HDHP insurance plans are fully insured products from Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and Western Health Advantage. Kaiser Permanente: We fi rst began selling HSA-Qualifi ed Deductible HMO plans with an optional HSA through Wells Fargo in our Colorado, Georgia and Northwest regions in 2005, Mid-Atlantic States in 2006, and California and Ohio in SeeChange Health: We strive to provide excellent service on all of our health plans. Sterling HSA: Sterling does not use a trustee. BNY Mellon Corporation is the custodian of assets of accountholders of health savings accounts administered by Sterling Health Services Inc. and is investment manager of assets in accordance with the Sterling Health Services Inc. Administrative Services Agreement. UnitedHealth Group: Yes, UnitedHealthcare partners with Optum HealthBank for trustee services. UnitedHealthcare s parent company, UnitedHealth Group chartered OptumHealthBank in 2002 to help advance the growing convergence of health care and fi nancial services. Look in the February Issue for Part II of the Annual HSA Survey 28 CALIFORNIA BROKER visit us at JANUARY 2013