|
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING DIRECT/RETIREE
BILLING
1. Who is EBS/Atlanta?
EBS/Atlanta has been contracted by your former employer to administer
the collection of your retiree premiums in accordance with guidelines
established through your previous employer. We are responsible for
processing your enrollment in the Retiree Billing Service, collecting
premium payments, reporting your eligibility to insurance carriers
and the client, and notifying you of any changes in your insurance
benefits. Accordingly, we are responsible for notifying you when
your eligibility expires or when your coverage terminates for nonpayment.
2. How do I enroll in the Retiree Billing
Service?
Generally, within 15 days from your date of termination/retirement
you will receive a Retiree Notification Package from EBS/Atlanta
mailed to the last home address on file with your former employer.
The Retiree Notification Package will contain a Notification Letter
describing you rights, Certificate of Coverage, and your Retiree
Election Form. You must return your Retiree Election Form no later
than 60 days from the date printed on your Notification Letter.
If your Retiree Election Form is not postmarked within the 60-day
election period, your insurance coverage will remain terminated
and may not be reinstated.
3. How do I pay my Retiree premiums?
When you elect Retiree coverage, payment coupons will be sent to
you. Your coupons will show the amount due, the due date, and the
date your Retiree coverage began. We will send coupons to you to
use through the end of the current year. You will automatically
be sent new coupons at the beginning of each plan year. You should
mail your premiums to:
EBS/Atlanta
Retiree Billing Service
2500 Northwinds Parkway
Suite 400
Alpharetta, Georgia 30004
You may also elect to use our DirectPay Premium Payment option.
Under DirectPay, EBS/Atlanta will automatically debit your checking
or savings account monthly for the premium due.
Upon receipt, we will post your premium payments to your Retiree
account, update your
eligibility for coverage, and notify your insurance company.
4. When are my premiums due?
Premiums are due, in full, by the first day of each month, but no
later than the end of the 30-day grace period. EBS/Atlanta provides
payment coupons as a convenience to you. Ultimately, it is your
responsibility to remit the full monthly premium, even if you have
not received payment coupons or have lost your payment coupons.
The postmark date will determine whether your payment was mailed
within the grace period. If your payment is not postmarked within
the 30-day grace period, coverage will be terminated and may not
be reinstated.
5. Can my insurance coverage or premiums
ever change?
Yes. Your Retiree coverage is identical to the coverage your employer
offers to its active employees. As such, your employer reserves
the right to make changes to, or terminate, any of its insurance
plans. Premiums are determined by your employer and/or the insurance
company and not by EBS/Atlanta. Should your employer make any changes
to its insurance plans or should there be a change in the premium
amount, your employer will notify EBS/Atlanta and we will notify
you. We will also mail new payment coupons to you showing the revised
premium amount.
6. If I miss a premium payment, can I make
it up on the following month?
No. Premiums are due in full on the first of each month. If you
fail to remit a premium payment, your Retiree coverage will terminate
and may not be reinstated.
7. If my Retiree coverage is terminated,
can it be reinstated at a later date?
Retiree coverage cannot be reinstated due to nonpayment.
8. If I have a question concerning a claim,
ID cards, provider listing, etc., who should I call?
It is important to remember that EBS/Atlanta is the Retiree Billing
Service and not your insurance company. You must call your insurance
carrier with any questions concerning
your insurance coverage, claims, ID cards, providers, or covered
services.
9. How do I contact EBS/Atlanta if I have questions concerning Retiree
Billing Services?
You may contact a member of the Retiree Billing Service Team by
calling, toll-free, 1-800-647-3709 (if calling from within metropolitan
Atlanta, please call 770-569-0080) between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm,
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. You may also contact us by
e-mail at questions@ebsatlanta.com.
10. Can I have someone else make my payments
for me?
Yes, EBS/Atlanta can accept payments from a third party, such as
a new employer, or through a check writing service. However, it
is still your responsibility to make sure the checks are received
within the applicable grace period.
11. Before I elected Retiree coverage, I
had some medical expenses that my insurance carrier denied. Do I
send them to EBS/Atlanta?
No, re-submit the expenses to your insurance carrier or have your
medical provider re-file
for reimbursement from your insurance carrier. When you elect Retiree
coverage, your
coverage is reinstated back to the date you lost coverage.
12. Can I change my mind and drop some coverage
after I elect Retiree coverage?
During your 60-day election period you are offered the same plans
you had as an active employee. You can always elect less but never
more. For example, if you had family coverage as an active employee,
you can, under Retiree coverage, only elect single coverage. However,
once you elect single coverage, you cannot increase coverage at
a later time.
|
