Working Together to Ensure a Smooth Renewal

Quality Health Matters

News and Updates for Employer Groups

October 15, 2026

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Early renewal submissions help create a smoother member experience. When renewal information is received close to the effective date, there may be insufficient time to complete all enrollment, eligibility, ID card, and communication processes before the new plan year begins. This can result in temporary eligibility verification issues, delayed ID cards, claim processing delays, member questions regarding benefit changes, and potential pharmacy access challenges. We appreciate your partnership in submitting renewals as early as possible to help ensure a seamless transition for your clients and their employees.

Wellness Program Guidance: Review Tobacco Surcharge Practices
Federal agencies recently issued updated guidance addressing health-contingent wellness programs and tobacco surcharges. Pending further regulations, the agencies indicated they will not take enforcement action against plans that provide wellness incentives prospectively, rather than retroactively to the start of the plan year, when a participant satisfies a reasonable alternative standard.

Employers that sponsor tobacco-cessation or other health-contingent wellness programs should review plan administration and employee communications to confirm that programs remain reasonably designed, nondiscriminatory and include an appropriate reasonable alternative standard when required.

Updated Forms

To make sure you are using current QualChoice forms, please download from the Employer Forms page at QualChoice.com each time you need to use one. View Employer Forms.

Health Tips

Learn how to ease your kids into a school-year sleep routine in our recent article, Ease Kids Into a School-Year Sleep Routine. For more health tips and information, visit QualChoice.com/news.

QCA26-AR-H-226

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