PIPA Open Enrollment During October

The Physicians Insurance Plan of Alabama through Blue Cross Blue Shield is available for qualified* members of the Medical Association providing you, your family and staff with strong benefits at affordable premiums as compared to other options. The PIPA health coverage rates for 2019 will have a decrease of 4.5 percent and dental coverage has decreased by 5.3 percent.

Qualified members may sign up for insurance when full Regular Member dues are paid. Your membership dues alone could save you thousands in insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. The PIPA plan does not require all participants in your office be on the same plan.

Let our dedicated staff provide you with one-on-one personal assistance with all your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama policy needs.

Open enrollment for PIPA is Oct. 1- Oct. 31 for a Jan. 1, 2019, effective date. If you are currently enrolled in PIPA, you do not have to reapply. However, if you or your employees wish to make changes to your current plan, please do so no later than Oct. 31, 2018. You will be billed for the first quarter of 2019 at the beginning of December.

New for 2019

HSA Plan Now Offered

PIPA has added a third health insurance option, which is a High Deductible Plan that can be used in conjunction with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Rates for the high-deductible plan and further information regarding how to set up an HSA account can be found at www.alamedical.org/insurance.

Practices that elect to offer the HSA option will need to “opt in” to the plan by signing the HSA notice agreement on the website and returning it to Brenda Green. Practices will be responsible for the administration of the HSA for their employees as this will be a separate function from the services provided by the Medical Association. The Association will enroll individuals in the Blue Cross high-deductible plan as is currently done with the other plans, and the practice will be responsible for setting up the HSA administration.

If you are currently enrolled in PIPA and wish to continue with no changes, you are not required to take any further action (Premium invoices will be mailed the first week in December). If you or your employees wish to make changes to your current plan, please do so no later than Oct. 31, 2018 (the last day of open enrollment).

If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Green at (334) 954 2514 or toll free at (800) 239-6272. You may also e-mail her at bgreen@alamedical.org.

How to apply

• Complete the Application for Insurance
• Complete an Employer Participation Agreement (one per entity)
• Complete the Cover Page indicating the type of coverage for each application (High, Basic or Dental)
• Submit the premium amount plus a $10 application fee (per application)
• Applications will be processed when all information is received, 2019 dues requirements are met by all physicians applying, and all monies have been paid.

Learn more on our website

Visit www.alamedical.org/insurance for full details of the plan and for links to applications and materials. For more information call Brenda Green at (800) 239-6272, e-mail her at bgreen@alamedical.org, or visit www.alamedical.org/insurance to learn more about health insurance with the Medical Association.

*See the Eligibility Decision Tree on our website for guidance. Visit www.alamedical.org/insurance.