Select Page

Important Announcement for all Pastors and Lay Staff covered by Conference Health Insurance

Many of you have inquired as to the impact of the ending of negotiation between Lexington Medical Center and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina.

The Conference is currently insured for Health Benefits with the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church. In the South Carolina Conference the third party administrator for that medical coverage is Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. BC/BS of Illinois using the local BC/BS networks to provide physician and hospital network coverage for our preferred provider coverage. If the negotiations do not bring Lexington Medical Center in the BC/BS SC network. You as a participant have the two following impacts:

•             All HealthFlex (Conference) plans have out of network benefits at a reduced rate (plan pays 60% instead of 80%, on average).  Individuals who wish to continue to seek care through Lexington Health System can do so, but out of network benefits will apply, beginning March 1.

•             To continue to receive the maximum plan benefit, participants may want to consider looking for a new in-network provider.  It looks like Providence Hospital and Palmetto Health System are two options to consider.  As always, participants can call BCBSIL directly or log into the BCBSIL website through WebMD to use the provider search functions. I expect the network change will be updated by next week.

Links to the Benefits Summaries are below.  They detail in and out of network benefits for various services:

B1000-P2: http://www.gbophb.org/assets/1/7/50183.pdf

CDHP-P2: http://www.gbophb.org/assets/1/7/50202.pdf

 This notice does not apply to retirees who are insured by our Retiree Medicare Primary AmWins Plans.

Share This