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Published: September 2025 |
| In this bulletin, we’ll share reminders about broker training with some highlights of 2026 Large Group benefits, introduce our Large Group team, and share information about the addition of NorDx in Lewiston to our specified lab sites of service, details about our updated contract with Northern Light Health, links to Small Group attestation and verification forms, and some tips to get the best results from our provider directory. | |
Expanding benefits for Large Groups in 2026
During Community Health Options’ Large Group training this week, you’ll hear details about four new Large Group plans for 2026, among changes to benefits. Some highlights:
New advanced imaging sites of service copays of $250 at specific locations for all non-HSA group plans. HSA plans will have a copay after the deductible.
Lower emergency department out-of-pocket costs, with copays lowered to $250 from $350 on low-deductible Large Group plans (Cornerstone PPOs $1000, $1500 and $2000).
New $0 cost virtual urgent care visits via Amwell for HSA plans with no deductible, expanding the benefit to all Large Group plans.
The Large Group Training Session is scheduled for 10 a.m. this Thursday, Sept. 18. If you haven’t registered, you can register here. Remember that any staff interested can attend and that the training is a requirement of your appointment.
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Individual and Small Group Training Sessions
If you haven’t registered for Individual and Small Group Training, you still have time. The sessions are as follows:
Bangor: 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Oct. 7, including a light lunch, at the Hollywood Casino Conference Center, 500 Main Street.
Portland: 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Oct. 8, including a light lunch at MPX, 2301 Congress Street.
Virtual via Zoom: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14.
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Meet the Large Group account team
This is the first in a series of introductions to the teams who serve our clients and Members. We’ll introduce our Small Group team in the next bulletin.
Kaleb Mayhew, Large Group benefits consultant, joined Community Health Options in 2022 with more than a decade of group and individual insurance experience across markets and a keen understanding of the unique needs of Maine’s businesses. He’s a native New Englander who grew up in Vermont and graduated from Cape Breton University in Canada, where he played lacrosse. He enjoys Maine’s beauty from season to season and all the outdoor opportunities that come along with it, from snowboarding and skiing, to motorcycling, to playing disc golf in the summer. He also loves exploring Maine with his two dogs—from the beaches to the mountains—and enjoying Maine’s food.
Heather Levesque, Large Group and self-funded account manager, has been with Community Health Options for almost 11 years. She’s been an account manager with the Business Development team for the last four years, initially supporting Small Group business before moving into the Large Group role. Before joining Community Health Options, Heather worked for Anthem for 10 years, where she was responsible for everything from claims adjustments to service to project management, quality auditing, and account management for all lines of business. She’s an avid sports fan—and you’ll often find her at a UMaine Black Bears hockey game. She also loves to travel to regional tournaments and the Frozen Four.
Please send Large Group requests for a quote or proposal to Kaleb and Heather.
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NorDx in Lewiston added to site of service labs
NorDx Lab in Lewiston has been added to Community Health Options’ site of service lab locations, filling an important care gap in Central Maine. Members on non-HSA plans will pay $25 for labs performed at NorDx, or any of the specified sites of services. Labs performed elsewhere are subject to the deductible and coinsurance. HSA plan Members have a $25 copay after they’ve reached their deductible.
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In case you missed it: Community Health Options teams up with Northern Light
Community Health Options and Northern Light Health have reached a new agreement aimed at lowering costs and improving access to health care for Community Health Options Members who use Northern Light Health's hospitals and facilities - especially for those living in northern and rural Maine.
Joanne Lauterbach, chief financial officer at Community Health Options, said, "This new agreement will help us do even more to improve access to high-quality care at a lower total cost, ultimately improving the health and well-being of our Members."
Read our full news release here
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Process update: Small Group forms for new business and renewals
New Small Group Eligibility Attestation Forms: You can find eligibility attestation forms for new Small Group business on our website when you’re looking to write new business for a business with two or more eligible employees. Groups with 30 or more employees also need to complete a group verification form. Contact TJ Mcleod with questions about signing up a new group. Click here for the form.
Group Verification Forms, for renewals and new small groups with more than 30 employees: This form verified that your clients are still eligible for Small Group plans and should be submitted two to three months in advance of renewal. Contact Kim Pelletier, small group account manager, with questions about renewals. Click here for the form.
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Finding providers: Here are a few tips and tricks to help clients
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If you need to help a client or Member find a provider who’s in the Community Health Options network, there are few things to know that will make it easier.
Choose the right plan: The best way to search is from a Member’s portal but it works just as well to use the specific plan. If you search from the homepage of the provider directory, it defaults to a search for all plans, and you may get results that don’t fit.
Confirm the location: The directory defaults to the location of your IP address in a general search. For example, those with Starlink as an internet provider have an IP address in New York City. Be sure they use the right town to get the best results.
Use advanced search: Under advanced search, you can adjust the size of the search area from 25 to 150 miles. You can also choose options for the Member’s age, whether providers offer telehealth, specialists and provider types, among other choices.
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Community Health Options Resources
You can explore information tailored to your needs on Community Health Options’ website. As always, you can find more detailed information on you broker resource pages once you login to the site, including marketing materials, a company profile or broker booklet, one-pagers with information on urgent care, dental services, our networks, chronic illness support and more.
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If you have any questions, please send us an email. |
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