News
The Latest Carrier Updates, Legal Alerts, Industry News and more.
RxDC Reporting, Aetna Bonus Program, Anthem Balanced Funding, Blue Shield MLR, CaliforniaChoice Benefit Changes, PBM Reform Act
Thursday, February 19 2026
Carrier Updates
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) added pharmacy reporting requirements under the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA, and the PHSA. To help brokers and groups navigate these requirements, we've created a RxDC guide. RxDC reporting deadlines are different for each carrier. Check out our RxDC Guide that organizes carrier deadlines, links to the employer survey, and additional information about this requirement from our carriers. These requirement deadlines are coming up, review the RxDC guide below. Please note this is guide is for fully insured plans. For more information about Pharmacy Data Collection Under the CAA read our Whitepaper here . Learn more about this from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services here Carrier Who's Reporting Employer Survey Link Survey Due Date Resources Aetna Carrier will report View survey here 3/31/26 Anthem Carrier will report Surveys were sent 2/16/26 View survey here 3/25/26 Anthem CAA Transparency Client FAQ Blue Shield Carrier will report Survey is on Employer Connection Portal or View survey here 4/10/26 California Choice Please refer to enrolled carrier Refer to specific carrier's guideline N/A Covered California Small Business Please refer to enrolled carrier Refer to specific carrier's guideline N/A Health Net Carrier will report No survey required N/A Health Net will meet all regulatory obligations for 2025 reporting due June 1, 2026. The Plan will not require any data from employer groups. Humana Carrier will report Not released yet Kaiser Permanente Carrier will report Survey is on KP employer portal 3/31/26 Kaiser RxDC FAQ MediExcel Carrier will report MediExcel has reached out to groups 5/5/26 Employers and brokers can reach out to rxdc@mediexcel.com for more information. Sharp Health Plan Carrier will report Email will be sent 3/17/26 4/17/26 United Healthcare Carrier will report UHC will send via online RFI tool. Customers will enter contribution data through the customer/broker portal. 3/31/26 United Heathcare RxDC FAQ
Carrier Updates
Aetna is offering you even more ways to earn in 2026. You can earn extra credits for selling new Aetna Small Group insured or Aetna Funding Advantage business plans, with effective dates from January 1, 2026 , through December 31, 2026 . Whether you’re expanding your book or strengthening existing relationships, this opportunity rewards your impact. You can make 2026 your most rewarding year yet. About the program For new insured and Aetna Funding Advantage medical cases, including funding conversion cases, with effective dates from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, You can earn: - $50 for each new enrolled employee when you sell less than 75 total enrolled employees - $100 for each new enrolled employee when you sell 75 or more total enrolled employees Extra credits for new dental or vision subscribers when sold alongside medical More Details Click Here For More Information or Help Quoting Aetna, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Rep.
Carrier Updates
Anthem Balanced Funding is a self-funding or Administrative Services Only (ASO) solution that shares attributes with both fully insured and self-funded arrangements. ABF is the fastest growing product in small group and offer high stability multiyear strategy. Self -funding attributes with the simplicity and predictability of an insured funding solution. Standard components: • Specific Stop Loss • Aggregate Stop Loss • 12/12 Coverage Period • 50% Surplus Refund • Integrated Terminal Liability For More Information or Help Quoting Anthem, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Rep.
Carrier Updates
Blue Shield and other health insurance carriers are required by The Affordable Care Act (ACA) to spend a minimum percentage of plan members' premium on medical expenses, known as the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR). Blue Shield will send out MLR employer surveys (to groups with <150 employees) requesting information to help calculate the MLR for 2025, as required by the ACA. If any rebates are owed, these will be issued by September 30, 2026. 1. The average number of employees for their business in calendar year 2024. 2. Whether their business is wholly owned by one individual and their spouse. 3. Whether they are a non-governmental or non-ERISA plan. Note: Most employers are covered by ERISA As a reminder, when calculating 2025 MLR rebates owed, 2024 information is used for statistical sampling purposes. The deadline to submit information is March 31, 2026. For More Information or Help Quoting Blue Shield, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Rep.
Carrier Updates
CaliforniaChoice was notified of benefit changes for Anthem Blue Cross and sent an email to brokers with impacted new and renewing groups for January through April. Their systems were updated as of February 6, 2026. January through June new business quotes and January through April renewal quotes generated prior to this date will not be reprocessed. For January through April new and renewing groups, CaliforniaChoice advises requesting an updated employee Enrollment Worksheet. A similar email will be sent to new and renewing groups with January through April effective dates. The update was added to the Benefit Summaries, Member Enrollment Guide, and Employer Program Guide. The updated material is available at calchoice.com, Forms & Documents, New for January 2026. Marketing material effective April 1, 2026 will reflect these changes. More Details Click Here For More Information or Help Quoting CaliforniaChoice, Please Contact Your Dickerson Saeles Rep.
Carrier Updates
Federal momentum to address healthcare costs accelerated as Congress passed the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform Act and the Department of Labor proposed new rules to increase transparency in PBM fees. This signaled an important shift toward the kind of openness, fairness and affordability Blue Shield of California has championed for years. As Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Blue Shield’s parent company Ascendiun, said at two congressional hearings around healthcare affordability this January: “We need to make prescription drugs accessible and affordable by eliminating kickbacks in the form of rebates, fees and spread pricing.” Blue Shield’s bold, bipartisan commitment Blue Shield has long pushed for a more transparent and affordable prescription drug system. This is the kind of innovation our nonprofit health plan envisioned — changes that eliminate hidden fees and inflated costs created by traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). In 2020, Blue Shield led the effort to bring together 18 other Blue plans to launch CivicaScript with a bold mission: to make generic medications available at one clear, consistent and affordable price. In this effort, Blue Shield engaged Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office early on, recognizing the need for strong public–private collaboration to drive meaningful change. The vision advanced further in 2023 with Blue Shield’s launch of Pharmacy Care Reimagined, a first-of-its-kind initiative that moves away from the traditional PBM model. By working directly with vendors across the supply chain, Blue Shield has cut out unnecessary middlemen, reduced costs and rebuilt trust between patients and pharmacists through greater transparency and fairness. These efforts paved the way for major statewide reform in 2025 — when California passed Senate Bill 41 (SB 41) with overwhelming bipartisan support. SB 41 became the most comprehensive PBM reform bill in the nation, curbing opaque PBM practices and setting the stage for a more patient-centered prescription drug system. The same week, Gov. Newsom also announced California’s new $11 insulin with CivicaScript — the result of a five-year partnership between the state, Blue Shield of California and CivicaScript to make prescription drugs more affordable for consumers. Together, these milestones laid the groundwork for change at the national level. To Read More Click Here