News
The Latest Carrier Updates, Legal Alerts, Industry News and more.
Allstate Benefits Group Whole Life Complete, Health Net Q1 2026 Rates, Humana Dental Plans, Sharp Health Plan Win Back Bonus & Underwriting Update, Health Exchange Subsidy Changes
Thursday, September 18 2025

Carrier Updates
Allstate Benefits is providing three-way protection, with Group Whole Life (GWL) Complete . It helps employers offer comprehensive life coverage and helps employees get the financial protection they need to make the journey a little easier. The GWL Complete portfolio offers a "complete" experience for employees and their families no matter what path life takes: • Traditional life insurance that provides a death benefit for beneficiaries when a covered person dies, or • Long-term care benefit that sends the insured a monthly death benefit advance to help pay for long-term care services if needed, or • Cash value that a covered person may access if needed for an emergency With GWL Complete from Allstate Benefits, employees can expect broad permanent life protection and employers can expect customizable plan options to suit the needs of their workforce. Best of all, rates are guaranteed for the life of the policy. GWL Complete portfolio of products and optional riders: • Group Whole Life with Accelerated Death Benefit for Long Term Care Rider • Group Whole Life with Accelerated Death Benefit for Long Term Care with Restoration of Benefits Rider • Group Whole Life with Accelerated Death Benefit for Long Term Care with Extension of Benefits Rider • Group Whole Life with Accelerated Death Benefit for Long Term Care with Restoration of Benefits and Extension of Benefits Rider For More Information or Help Quoting Allstate, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Rep.

Carrier Updates
Health Net's SBG Q1 2026 rates are now ready. Below are the approved Q1 2026 small group premium rates and medical/vision benefits for ACA-compliant plan policies, dental and vision. Rates are effective January 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026. Rates summary Medical: Small Business rates will have a 3.6% increase for HMO plans, and 3.2% increase for PPO plans. Dental: No rate or plan changes at this time. Vision: No rate or plan changes at this time. Optional Chiro: All 2026 plans have the chiro rider option. The chiro rider is an additional $3.00 PMPM for all HMO and PPO plans. For More Information or Help Quoting Health Net, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Rep.

Carrier Updates
Humana has shared some key differentiators that make their dental product a leader in the industry, and a great fit for your clients. For instancem Humana's PPO network includes over 135,000 unique providers nationwide and clients with at least 1 employee enrolling can offer a Humana Dental plan. Also, employer contribution is not required for Humana's dental plans. Other key differentiators: • Clients with at least 1 employee enrolling can offer a Humana Dental plan. • Clients have the option to dual choice PPO, Traditional Preferred and/or DHMO Dental plans when there are 10+ employees enrolling in coverage. • Humana's PPO and Traditional Preferred dental plans can include implant coverage when 5+ employees are enrolling. For More Information of Help Quoting Humana, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Rep.

Carrier Updates
Sharp Health Plan has introduced a Small Group Win Back Bonus and shared some underwriting updates. Small Group Win Back Bonus: a win-back bonus to bring groups back to Sharp Health Plan: • $250 for every group you bring back, regardless of size. • Eligible for any group that left us beginning January 1, 2020. • Let’s welcome them back to the #1 member-rated health plan in California. Underwriting Update – Starting October 1, 2025, multiple networks will be allowed for all group sizes. This added flexibility makes it easier than ever to tailor solutions to your clients’ needs. • Groups of 2-5 employees enrolled, 2 plans on 2 networks • Groups of 6+ employees enrolled, 6 plans on each of 2 networks SHARP Health Plan Underwriting Guidelines Competitive Rates & Renewals Sharp Health Plan continues to deliver the most competitive rates across all metal tiers. Renewals remain consistently lower than other carriers, making Sharp Health Plan the most reliable choice for plans, rates, flexibility, and networks. Small Group Broker Bonus Program: Q4 2025 through Q1 2026. The “$250/$250” broker bonus designed to reward your hard work for all Q4/Q1 (total production from 10/1 to 3/1 effectives) and thank you for entrusting Sharp Health Plan with your clients. Why Sharp Health Plan? • #1 member-rated health plan in California • Local, integrated provider network • Competitive rates and renewals year after year • Expanded flexibility with multiple networks for all groups For More Information or Help Quoting Sharp Health Plan, Please Contact Your Sales Rep.

Individual Plans
Important Health Exchange Subsidy Changes for 2026 From the bill: Section 112201 - provisions to passive renewals. Current law allows passive renewals of clients who are receiving subsidies. The new provision requires every client (and agent) to actively verify subsidy eligibility each and every year. Failure to do so results in plan cancellation and/or elimination of subsidies. Bottom line, you (or the client) will now have to re-prove subsidy eligibility. Implications: consumers are used to passive renewals where they are automatically renewed on their existing plan with subsidies based on their good faith reporting when they signed up. Many of these consumers will assume the same for this year. If they ignore the requests to update and prove their income, their subsides will end. If this happens, they will likely come to you asking why you didn’t inform them! To prevent any issues, please copy the verbiage below and send to your clients . Advise prospective clients that if their current agent is not providing this information, they should be working with you! __________________________________________________________________________________________________ To keep your subsidies for 2026, you MUST proactively update and verify your information during the Open Enrollment Period, which begins October 15, 2025 for California and November 1,2025 for all other states. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing these rule changes to strengthen verification processes, reduce improper enrollments, and encourage active consumer participation in selecting the best plan for their needs. It is crucial to report any changes to your income to Covered California promptly to avoid penalties. Failing to report income changes can lead to both financial penalties and legal consequences. For 2026, The Health Exchanges continue to verify income by comparing your application to your IRS tax records. The income reported should be your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which is the figure on your federal tax return. If your reported income is higher than your IRS records, you may be required to repay some of the financial assistance you received. What you need to do: To keep your subsidies for 2026, you must proactively update and verify your information during the Open Enrollment Period, which begins October 15, 2025 for CA and November 1, 2025 in all other states. 1. Log into your Covered California Member Portal OR Health Exchange Member Porta l - https://apply.coveredca.com/static/lw-web/login . Do not assume you will be automatically re-enrolled with the correct subsidy. 2. Update your application with your projected income and household size for 2026. 3. Submit proof of income if there is a discrepancy with federal data. Acceptable documents include: Pay stubs W-2s Tax returns A document detailing new wages or contract work 4. Shop and compare plans . After updating your information, compare your current plan with other available options to find the best coverage and subsidy for your needs. More information can be found here - https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-takes-aim-reduce-improper-enrollments-and-promote-more-affordable-health-insurance-marketplaces#:~:text=Strengthening%20verifications%20by%20requiring%20all,ending%20it%20on%20December%2015.