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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Portability information

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BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA  (please see carrier site for updated info here)
PORTABILITY INFORMATION FOR ARIZONA HEALTH INSURANCE
 
Individual Portability Coverage
and Conversion Coverage

 
Applicants losing group or COBRA health coverage
(from any health insurer):

You may be eligible for individual portability coverage. This coverage does not require medical underwriting, and there is no waiting period for preexisting conditions on
BluePreferred, BluePreferred Saver and BluePreferred Basic, or for normal maternity services on BlueSelect. However, the premium rates for portability coverage are substantially higher than premium rates for medically underwritten individual coverage. You must meet specific criteria to qualify for individual portability coverage.

 
Eligibility requirements for individual portability coverage
(all requirements must be met)
  1. You must apply for portability coverage within 63 days after the date your group or COBRA coverage ends.
2. Your most recent health insurance coverage was a group health plan provided through an employer with at least two or more employees. This includes continuation coverage, such as COBRA, under the group plan.
  3. You have at least 18 months of prior health insurance coverage, including any combination of group health coverage provided by your employer (insured or self-insured), individual health coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, a federal or state public health plan (including but not limited to AHCCCS) and public health plans provided by a foreign government, TRICARE, a health benefits risk pool, the Peace Corps, Bonafide Association, Indian Health Services Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
  4. In the past 18 months, you did not have a break in coverage that lasted more than 63 days. Insurance waiting periods required by your employer and application processing times are not counted toward the 63-day break in coverage.
  5. You are not eligible for other group health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or AHCCCS.
  6. You are not covered under any other health insurance.
  7. If your employer offered continuation coverage under the group plan (COBRA) or your state offered continuation coverage (mini-COBRA), you must have accepted this coverage and exhausted it. If you are a federal employee, you must have accepted TCC (temporary continuation coverage) and exhausted it.
  8. You are a resident of Arizona.

To remain eligible for individual portability coverage, your individual portability coverage application must be received by BCBSAZ within 63 days after your group or COBRA coverage termination date. Should you fail to meet this deadline, you will be ineligible for portability coverage from any insurance company. In addition, your last coverage before enrolling in the portability product must be group or COBRA coverage. Your eligibility will end if you purchase any other type of health coverage, such as short-term individual coverage or individual conversion coverage, to fill the gap between the termination date of group coverage and the effective date of portability coverage.

If you are eligible for portability coverage but choose to apply for underwritten coverage (with lower premium rates), we recommend that you purchase individual portability coverage while your application is being processed for underwritten individual coverage because the underwriting process may take more than 63 days. Once you are approved for underwritten coverage, your adjusted rate would be effective either the 1st or 15th day of the month following the date of underwriting approval. If BCBSAZ approves your application for medically underwritten coverage and later determines you misstated or omitted medical information on your application, your underwritten coverage may be voided and you may no longer be eligible for individual portability coverage.

Remember, to remain eligible for Individual Portability Coverage, your Individual Portability Coverage application must be received by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona within 63 days after your group or COBRA coverage termination date. To ensure continuous coverage, your application must be received before your group or COBRA coverage termination date.

 
Download the Individual Portability Coverage Brochure
 
Download the Individual Portability Coverage Application

 
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Applicants losing BCBSAZ group coverage or who are transferring from a
Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plan in another state:

You may be eligible for Conversion Coverage . This coverage does not require medical underwriting, but it has higher premium rates and different benefits from your previous coverage. To remain eligible for Conversion Coverage, your Conversion Coverage application must be received by BCBSAZ within 31 days of notice of termination from your BCBSAZ group or other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield coverage.


If you think you may qualify for portability or conversion coverage, you may
request additional information online , or call to request the brochure and applications for these coverages.


 
Phoenix: (602) 864-4899
Statewide toll-free: 1-877-864-4899
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

 

 

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