Jun 02, 2023
Benefit enhancements for GeoBlue Xplorer® and GeoBlue Navigator® plans go into effect July 1.
Why the rush to enroll customers now?
There will be a rate increase that accompanies the new plan enhancements. But if customers buy now, they lock in the 2022 rates. You can help them take advantage of the plan enhancements at the current rates, and they won’t see a rate increase until their next renewal.
What are the benefit enhancements?
XPLORER PLAN CHANGES
Increased Rx benefit
- Care available at the touch of a button at no additional cost. Talk to a doctor 24/7/365 from anywhere in the world.
- ID cards will now have the Universal Rx™ logo, so members will no longer need to pay and claim for prescription benefits in the U.S.
- Select and Essential members will now have access to mail order prescriptions through Expatriate Prescription Service (EPS), the mail order service of Universal Rx.
Increased annual physical benefit
- The annual physical examination/health screening limit will increase from $750 to $1,000.
- This increase will better meet the cost of a standard physical exam, which can vary greatly across countries.
XPLORER AND NAVIGATOR PLAN CHANGES
Removal of paper applications
- Our decision to retire paper applications for our Xplorer and Navigator products was made after analyzing the needs of our customers and brokers, and the data that showed low utilization of the paper application.
- By offering only electronic applications, we’ll be better able to serve the needs of your customers through faster underwriting, a more convenient submission and less opportunity for manual mistakes.
- Don't worry! You can still check the application status for your customers through Agent Hub and even request a copy.
New customer service phone number
- A new phone number exclusively for long-term plan customers will provide faster access to the Global Service Center that supports expats.
- Updated ID cards featuring the new phone number will be sent to customers.
Addition of prescription prior authorization
- A prescription drug formulary update will require prior authorization for monthly prescriptions that are $1,500 or more, as well as for specific brands of medicines.
Lower minimum age for subscribers
- The minimum age for Xplorer plan subscribers will decrease from 18 years of age to 14 years of age—which will be consistent with the minimum age for our Navigator Student & Faculty plans.
- This change will provide flexibility for customers who may have a group plan but wish to cover a person under 18 years of age.
Where's your opportunity?
- 64% of consumers are making plans to travel internationally in the next 5 years.
- 77% know medical care abroad is just as important as a nice place to stay and a good flight.
- 46% believe a medical event would be covered by their domestic health insurance.
- 76% likely don’t have adequate health insurance coverage for international trips.
If customers say they don’t need travel medical insurance, help them understand the importance with this simple message: If you need a passport, you need an international medical plan.
Encourage them to check out the GeoBlue site to learn more and download the app.
