There has been a recent update regarding the number of browsers that can be used when applying online with the KPAOL platform. As of Monday, August 24th, the Kaiser Permanente Apply Online System increased the number of acceptable browsers for MAC users. Before this date, many customers who tried to apply using Safari had difficulties completing their online application.

Currently the following browsers are supported by KP Apply Online:

Windows XP or later
-Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
-Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or later
-Safari 3.0 or later
MAC
-Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or later
-Safari 3.0 or later

This is good news for customers, brokers and for Kaiser Permanente. The Apple/Macintosh computers and the Safari web browser have maintained some popularity throughout the United States. This may be due in part to several factors. Apple computers continue to be popular due to the fact that they have less problems with viruses and they are easier to network. Also, those in the graphic design industry tend to favor Macintosh. The iPhone currently only comes with the Safari browser. Firefox has gained popularity amongst MAC users, but Safari is still widely used.

Kaiser Permanente is aware that having more acceptable browsers will allow more customers to apply online without hitting difficulties. When customers apply online, this makes the underwriting process for these individual health insurance applications go more quickly and smoothly.

Posted: August 31st, 2009 under Kaiser Permanente.
Comments: none

When applying for individual health insurance, underwriters will often look at your Medical Information Bureau (MIB) report. The MIB is like a credit report for your medical history. As your credit report records your financial history so your Medical Information Bureau report records your medical history. Underwriters may use information from the MIB report to approve, deny, uprate or add exclusions to an application for health insurance coverage.

You can get a free copy of your Medical Information Bureau report each year by calling 1-866-692-6901. This phone number takes you to an automated system you can use to request your MIB report. This process takes about five minutes. The automated system will ask you a series of questions including:
o Social Security Number
o Last Name
o First Name
o Middle Name
o Date of Birth
o Birth Place (country and state/province)
o Occupation
o Current Address
o Pass Address(es) – if you have not been at your current address for more than 2 years

Make sure you have all the information above before making the call. If you fail to have one piece of information, the call will be terminated and you will have to start over.

We recommend getting the free copy of your Medical Information Bureau report each year. Check your MIB report for accuracy and to make sure you are staying aware of what is being recorded about you by the Medical Information Bureau. The MIB keeps records for up to seven years.

Posted: August 6th, 2009 under Kaiser Permanente.
Comments: none

We recently had a question about a customer applying for herself and her college age daughter. She wanted to get herself and her daughter on a Kaiser Permanente Georgia Family Plan. See below for an explanation of how to apply if you want to include a college student on your family medical insurance plan.

In order to enroll yourself and your college student, start by getting family health insurance quotes. With the first radio button selected (“Individual & Family Plans - Ages 19-64”), enter your Zip Code and click “Get Quotes.” Next, enter your date of birth under self and your son/daughter’s under child. Also, be sure to click the check box for “Full time college student?” to the right of your child’s date of birth. Once your quotes appear, click “Apply” next to the plan of your choice. Then proceed through the application. To make sure that your college student child is put on your family plan and not on a separate individual plan, we recommend that you make a note in the section for additional information that you want to be combined on a family plan.

Also, you will need to get a Student Certification from the college your child is attending and fax it to the Kaiser Medical Review Team at 404-365-4146.

Posted: August 3rd, 2009 under Georgia Individual.
Comments: none