America's Benefit Specialist March 2023

PRODUCT NEWS

due to an unexpected and unforeseen covered reason. These standard products typically provide cancellation coverage for a list of covered reasons, such as serious illness or injury to the insured, a close family member or traveling companion; natural disasters that make the insured’s home or destination uninhabitable; and 24-hour delayed arrival at the traveler’s destination due to severe weather among the most utilized covered reasons. Products with the Cancel Anytime upgrade expand cancellation coverage to include most unforeseeable circumstances, including a simple change of plans. If travelers cancel their trip for a reason that is not specif ically covered under the base plan, products with a Cancel Anytime upgrade can provide reimbursement when stan dard trip cancellation benefits don’t apply. Allianz’s Cancel Anytime upgrade typically provides for reimbursement up to 80% of lost non-refundable trip costs if a traveler cancels their trip for almost any unforeseeable reason that their select ed plan does not already cover, up to a maximum insured amount of $16,000. Customers who cancel their trip for a covered reason may still receive 100% of their lost non-refund able expenses, up to their maximum coverage limit. Custom ers can cancel as late as the day of departure, as long as they haven’t already left on their trip. “Simply put, life happens, whether your pet sitter falls through at the last minute, stormy weather is predicted in your sunny destination, or you change your mind about traveling,” says Daniel Durazo, director of external communi cations at Allianz Partners USA. “Our Cancel Anytime upgrade provides an extra blanket of security for travelers who want to protect their financial investments as much as possible, from the moment they book their trip to the day of their departure.” To file a claim for reimbursement, customers will need to submit their proof of payment for the trip costs, as well as documentation of any refunds received, and other documen tation required.

be effective March 1. The new network is designed to help members access potentially life-changing gene-based ther apies from healthcare providers that have demonstrated an ability to exceed quality, safety and value benchmarks in ad ministering gene-based therapies. These treatments provide fresh hope for patients with inherited rare genetic conditions, including a form of blindness and severe neurological and blood diseases. “We’re proud to launch this new network as part of our comprehensive strategy to manage specialty drugs,” said Rodrigo Cerdá, M.D, senior vice president of Health Services and chief medical officer at Independence. “Gene-based therapies, although expensive, are often one-dose treat ments and have so much potential to improve a person’s quality of life. That’s why we’re committed to making sure our members have continued access to these important treatment options.” The providers in Independence’s Advanced Network for Gene-Based Therapeutics include Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Both have played pivotal roles in the development and clinical trials of first-in the-nation gene-based therapies, which have paved the way for their approvals by the Food and Drug Administration. As pioneers of these approaches, they also have staff who are experts in the protocols established by manufacturers to ensure optimal safety and the best possible outcomes when administering the therapies to patients. Requests for gene-based therapies like Luxturna and Zynteglo, which are eligible for coverage under the Indepen dence medical benefit, will continue to require precertifica tion approval to ensure that members meet the coverage criteria in Independence’s medical policies. Independence has Registered Nurse Health Coaches avail able to provide extra support to members who are approved to receive these therapies. Health Coaches, in partnership with care teams at Penn Medicine and CHOP, can assist with every step of the process, from diagnosis to post-treatment. The dedicated team is trained to answer member questions, empower member decision-making, and facilitate connec tions between members and the specialists on the Advanced Network care team. For more information on coverage details and require ments, visit ibx.com.

INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS LAUNCHES ADVANCED NETWORK FOR GENE-BASED THERAPEUTICS

Independence Blue Cross has announced the launch of its Advanced Network for Gene-Based Therapeutics, which will

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