MMO Broker Update: 10/13/2026

Medical Mutual and Paramount to Mail Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act Letters

Topic: Broker Relations | Companies: Medical Mutual, Paramount | Segment: Individual, Small Group (1-50), 51-99, 100+, MEWA

Under federal law, the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) requires group health plans and health insurers to notify members regarding coverage. Medical Mutual and Paramount will send its annual letters to group officials and individual members in late October.

The WHCRA letters advise both group officials and Individual/non-group members that Medical Mutual and Paramount cover reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy, as well as prostheses and treatment of physical complications at all stages of a mastectomy.

The mailing to group officials will also include a sample notice that groups may distribute to their employees.

No action is required on your part. Please contact your ExpressLink representative with any
questions.

Annual Creditable Coverage Letters Being Mailed in October

Topic: Broker Relations | Companies: Medical Mutual, Paramount, Mutual Health Services | Segment: Individual, Small Group (1-50), 51-99, 100+, MEWA

Annual Notifications for Creditable Coverage

In October, Medical Mutual and Paramount sent the required annual notifications to members who are currently eligible for Medicare — or will become eligible for Medicare during 2027 — regarding their prescription drug coverage’s credibility status. Creditable coverage qualifies as benefits that are as rich or better than standard Medicare Part D coverage.

The following segments received letters:

• Medical Mutual Small Groups (1-50)
• MEWA Groups (1-50)
• Paramount individual and group members

In addition, Mutual Health Services will send Creditable Coverage status letters to officials in its groups.

In addition, we will send letters to the Medical Mutual group officials who have impacted employees, dependents or retirees. The letter reminds group officials of their requirement to provide notices to eligible employees and dependents at all other times of the year.

Please note the following exceptions:

• Paramount group officials will not receive a reminder for impacted members
• It remains the responsibility of mid-size (51-99) and large (100+) groups to determine their own creditable or non-creditable status and to notify its members accordingly at all times.

Creditable status for members is determined based on benefit designs as of Aug. 15, 2026, for Medical Mutual members and Sept. 1, 2026, for Paramount members. If a member’s plan has a benefit design change between those dates and the date the letter is received, the prescription drug plan’s creditable status may change. New letters will not be systematically sent to those members; it is the group’s responsibility to do so.

Disclosure to CMS

All employers, regardless of funding type or group size, are required to log into the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website and notify the government of their health
plan’s creditable status by completing the disclosure process. Additional information is
available in the Creditable Coverage section of CMS’ website.

Please contact your ExpressLink representative with any questions.

Updates to Mutual Perks: A Group Sales Bonus Program

Topic: Broker Relations | Companies: Medical Mutual, Paramount, Mutual Health Services | Segment: Small Group (1-50), 51-99, 100+, MEWA

Last month, we introduced Mutual Perks, a bonus program where independent brokers/agencies can earn points by selling new medical group contracts with Oct. 1, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027, effective dates. You can use your accrued points to redeem prizes from our Mutual Perks website. While points won’t be distributed until after the first quarter of 2027, we are now offering a sneak peek at potential prizes through our preview site.

To view prize options, follow this link and use the login information below.

• Follow the link to the preview site
• Select “Browse Only”
• Copy and paste this password: usa27665dsxvfgty
• Enter the site by selecting “Browse Only”

Points cannot be redeemed on the preview account, and login information will change when points are distributed. An updated flyer is available here, and additional program details are also available in this Broker Update.

Update to Rules

Please note that Ohio Chamber Health Benefit Program business will not qualify for the bonus program.

As a reminder, Royal Advantage agencies and their retail agencies are not eligible for the bonus program.

Please contact your ExpressLink representative with any questions.

Important Updates Regarding NWOBA MEWA Transition to Medical Mutual Effective May 1, 2027

Topic: Product News | Companies: Medical Mutual, Paramount | Segment: MEWA

The NWOBA MEWA will transition from Paramount to Medical Mutual’s administrative platform effective May 1, 2027. This change is part of an ongoing effort to streamline operations and enhance the overall experience for our customers, brokers and employer groups.

Additional details regarding the transition process, implementation timelines and what groups can expect will be shared in the coming months. Paramount and Medical Mutual are currently working through operational considerations to ensure a smooth conversion experience for all affected groups. In an effort to minimize rating impact, we are pleased to share the following rate extensions:

All renewal months will receive a 12-month rate offering to be effective May 1, 2027.

Our goal is to minimize disruption and evaluate opportunities that could help reduce rate impacts and upport groups. More information on these items will be communicated as details are finalized. The small group sales teams will continue to keep you informed as additional information becomes available.

As this transition gets underway, we want to reinforce that employer groups and plan participants can expect the same great service, local support, sales resources and commitment from Medical Mutual that they receive today.

Please contact your ExpressLink representative with any questions.