West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner 2009 Annual ...

Major Activities in 2009
The Plan’s focus in 2009 was on expanding access to the high risk pool with broadened legislative
authority. Plan activities included:
Legislation passed permitting the development of a premium subsidy program for low-income
individuals
Legislation passed expanding the classes of individuals eligible to enter without a pre-existing
condition exclusion period
Premiums and product design for Plan Year 2010 (beginning 7-1-2009)
Annual residency survey
Open enrollment period for members
Updating the Plan's Operational Protocols
Outreach activities to promote AccessWV to the target population
Financial audit of State Fiscal Year 2009 statements
The introduction of a new Director, Nancy Maleček
Program Outreach and Related Activities
During 2009, AccessWV continued to rely on its strategy of working through stakeholders to reach the
target population. Stakeholders include insurance agents, carriers, providers, disease organizations and
other service entities that have contact with potential members. Public appearances by the Executive
Director, the Insurance Commissioner and staff from the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner also
contributed to the outreach effort.
AccessWV was represented and provided information at the Mountain State Arts & Crafts Festival,
Friends of Coal Auto Fair, WV State Fair, Forest Festival, Pumpkin Festival, National Associations of
Health Underwriters, and Growing Healthy Children Conference. The Consumer Services Division of
the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner offered information on AccessWV at numerous fairs
throughout the state. AccessWV continued to provide promotional materials to numerous stakeholders
for distribution and/or display at their locations.
While many agents inform their clients about Access WV on a goodwill basis, in 2009, 24 agents
received a $50 rebate check through the one-time referral fee incentive made possible by the Board’s
decision to enact the Referral Fee Program in 2008. The Program serves as an incentive and
opportunity for agent involvement in AccessWV.
Access WV maintains a toll-free number (1-866-445-8491) as well as a local number (304-558-8264) to
receive calls from prospective applicants. During 2009 AccessWV fulfilled 492 requests for
application packets. Approximately 125 additional callers declined information, most of them because
they considered the premiums unaffordable. In such situations, AccessWV staff attempts to refer the
caller to "safety net" providers or other organizations that might be of assistance.
Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield continued to be the most prominent source of referrals to the
phone line accounting for 40 percent of all callers who are sent application packets. The internet served
as the second most important source of referrals, accounting for 13 percent of callers. Six percent of
those receiving kits reported they learned about AccessWV through the agents. The remaining 41
percent learned of the program through targeted mailings, flyers in stakeholder offices, various state
governmental agencies including Workforce West Virginia, and miscellaneous sources. The majority
of applicants download the materials directly from the program website, www.accesswv.org.
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