Questions? Contact your Regence sales representative. Get more news in Producer News library.

Q4 planning guide for small group producers


June 27, 2023

With Q4 approaching, it’s not too early to start open enrollment (OE) planning for your small (1-50; 2-50 in Idaho) groups. Here’s an overview of the most important actions you can start now and things to know to help ensure a smooth OE this year.

Annual certifications: We require Oregon and Washington groups to submit annual certifications before we release their renewals, so completing certifications early is a big help. Please ensure your groups submit their annual certification by Aug. 15. Annual certifications aren’t required prior to releasing renewals in Idaho and Utah, but it’s still a good idea to complete them early.

We encourage groups to complete their certification online in Employer Center. Groups can request Employer Center access or reset their password at www.employercenter.regence.com.

Attend a Producer Forum: Producer Forums will be held in August and September. Dates and locations will be announced soon.

Avoid delays with January renewals: January renewals are usually released to Producer Center the first two weeks of October. If you don't see an Oregon or Washington group’s renewal released, please check to see whether they’ve submitted their annual certification. Avoid delays by submitting renewals and completed enrollment forms in early December. You can log in to Producer Center and complete the renewal GMA; remember to have the group sign via DocuSign if there are any plan or other changes.

Catch and correct the most common enrollment form mistakes, such as:

  • Missing signatures
  • Incorrect effective dates—you can refer to the Employee Effective Date Calculator
  • No plan selection listed—if the group offers multiple plans within the same metallic class, please indicate the deductible
  • Subgroup and classes not identified
  • Incorrect plan year enrollment forms—be sure your groups are using 2024 plan year enrollment forms.

Order packets early: We primarily use e-packets, but you can still order physical packets for Oregon groups. If you need physical packets for an Oregon group, a three-week lead time is needed (four weeks for Spanish). Be sure to specify packet quantities needed for both English and Spanish versions, as well as the shipping address. Please note, our capacity is limited to printing generic packets only; no SBCs and benefits summaries are included.

We’ll provide additional insights and resources to help you and your small groups have a smooth OE in our next edition.

Questions? Contact your account representative.