Blue Cross Pemier is Alternative to Tonik in Connecticut
January 01, 2012 John Safeworth
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut has announced a new series of plans called Premier Health Insurance since the popular Tonik plans are no longer available. The Premier Plans offer unlimited office visits, low copays, generic and brand name drug coverage and a variety of deductibles.
“If you like Tonik you should like these plans as well,” said Medicoverage Agent Kelly De La Cruz. “They are priced fairly and have unlimited office visits. The trick is to select the Premier plans with no co-insurance.”
The new Premier plans with deductibles $2500 and higher have no coinsurance just like the Tonik plans. Anthem stopped offering the popular Tonik plan to new members in 2011. Premier plans are new Blue Cross Blue Shield plans available to everyone in 2012. To learn more visit Blue Cross Premier Plans
Tonik to Close to New Members in NH and CT
September 26, 2011 Ray Worthing
Oct 14th is the last day for new members to apply for Tonik in New Hampshire and Connecticut. If you currently have a plan, you do not need to do anything and can keep your coverage. But if you don’t have Tonik and wait until after the deadline you will be out of luck.
In a response to Health Care reform and other issues, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is also closing other plans in addition to Tonik to new members. The are: Century Preferred Direct, Lumenos® HSA, and BlueCare® Direct.
We will continue to accept online applications for all plans until October 14. You can apply up to that date at healthapplication.com . The Tonik online application will be taken down on October 14 so no new members will be able to join after that date.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-930-7956.
New Tonik plans roll out to all states but California and Colorado
October 04, 2010 Mike Rose
On September 23, 2010, every health plan had to be updated to offer new health care reforms and older plans couldn’t be sold. Anthem now has the new plans available in all states but CT and CA. No word on when you can buy Tonik in California or Connecticut.
What Tonik plans are now available for Purchase?
As of October 1, 2010 you can purchase the following plans:
Georgia: Tonik 5000, Tonik 3000, Tonik 1500
New Hampshire: Tonik 5000, Tonik 3000, Tonik 1500
Colorado: Tonik 5000(no other tonik plan will be offered)
Nevada: Tonik 5000 (no other tonik plan will be offered)
Connecticut: TBA
California: TBA
Why the Hold Up in CA and CT
Any changes to any health insurance plans must first be approved by the state insurance commissioner. Until the new Tonik plans are approved, they cannot be offered for sell. If you live in CA and CT and want to be alerted to the plans availability, please contact us.
When can we purchase Tonik in California or Connecticut
No one knows for sure but as of Oct. 1, 2010 no Tonik plans were available for purchase in CA or CT. We do know that only the Tonik 5000 will be available in CA once the new plan is approved. We will keep you posted.
Tonik Connecticut: When do they raise rates?
June 14, 2010 By: Mike Solis
Tonik health insurance in Connecticut is underwritten by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut. The company has historically changed rates on the first day of the new year, although it was reported that in 2009 they tried to raise rates for October but were declined. Here is the process as we understand it:
Tonik Rate Action Process for Connecticut
1) Anthem calculates the amount of claims received for each plan type and compares them to the premium that the charge. Basically they look at how much money came in from members in the form of their monthly bill vs how much had to go out to pay for members medical expenses.
2) Anthem Connecticut makes adjustments to future premium based on the amount of claims by plan (like Tonik) and by age/gender demographic.
3) The company submits their request increases (or decreases which we have seen occasionally in the past) to the Connecticut Department of Insurance.
4) The CT Department of Insurance can either reject or approve insurance price changes.
5) We, Medicoverage, alert you by email as soon as we hear that Tonik prices may be going up. We discuss options, and if necessary, alternative plans.
We have not seen that prices are “locked-in” for a period of time. So if you purchase a plan in December and the price goes up in January, then your plan would go up as well. One trick to see if the Tonik plan you are about to purchase is going to increase in the near future is to request a Tonik quote with a future start date and see if it matches your current price quote.
