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| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
Compliance With New York State Insurance Law and Small Group EligibilityAs part of our ongoing commitment to maintain compliance with New York State Insurance Law 4317(a)(1), we will continue to verify that our small groups are receiving community rates. As has been our practice, this process will include our request for confirmation... | September 26, 2019 |
Get Your Employees Ready For Open EnrollmentWe have received great feedback about our member portal and the personalized information members can access when they register for an online account. This is a great way to educate your employees about their health insurance and to prepare them for this year’s open... | September 26, 2019 |
Small Group Rates And Plans For 2020 Now Available!Small Group plans and rates for 2020 and stand alone small group dental plans are now available on Blue on Demand. Updated Open Enrollment tools, including At-A-Glance Brochures and Product Guides are also available. Now available: SimplyBlue Plus Small... | September 26, 2019 |
Have Your Employees Changed Their Password Yet?On August 3, we made enhancements to our website including our member portal. At that time, members were asked to reset their password when they visited the site to login. If they HAVE NOT accessed their online account since August 3, they will be prompted to... | September 26, 2019 |
Small Group Plans, Rates and Product Updates for 2020Small Group plans and rates for 2020 will be available on Blue on Demand in early September, tentatively the week of the 9th. Updated Open Enrollment tools, including At-A-Glance Brochures and Product Guides will also be available. Good news—no discontinuances for 2020! ... | August 26, 2019 |
Care That’s Always In Your CornerWe believe that health insurance isn’t something to be used once in a while. That’s why we want to give you everything you need to help employees take control of their health each and every day. Introducing Wellframe®, a free and convenient way for your employees and... | August 26, 2019 |
Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) LettersComing soon, group benefit administrators with Medicare Blue Choice (HMO-POS) or Medicare Blue PPO (PPO) plans will be mailed an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). The ANOC provides details on 2020 benefit changes. Your members will receive their 2020 ANOC, along... | August 26, 2019 |
Site Changes Coming The Weekend Of August 3This includes a password change, so have yours ready! Updates to our Employer web portals, which include a new look and menu options, will be going live on Saturday, August 3. The new look includes a simplified layout giving you easy access to the... | July 30, 2019 |
Our Commitment: Providing Access to High Quality, Affordable CareOur mission is to help people in our communities live healthier and more secure lives through access to high quality, affordable care. Late spring is when we propose to state regulators the individual and small group rates we need to charge for our products, effective... | June 7, 2019 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield National Medicare Awareness CampaignFor the first time ever, we have been working with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and all the Blues plans nationally to launch a National Medicare Awareness Campaign. Embarking on a collaborative national campaign strengthens our brand recognition... | June 6, 2019 |
Q4 Small Group Rates Available July 1Compare Plans & Rates Use Blue on Demand to view our SimplyBlue Plus medical plan options, rates and enrollment forms for small businesses of 100 or fewer full time equivalent employees: Click Here to Begin (Login Required) Click Here to Begin | June 5, 2019 |
Congratulations 2019 Wealth Of Health WinnersThe Rochester Business Journal announced the winners of the 2019 Wealth of Health Awards during a breakfast ceremony Tuesday at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center. | June 4, 2019 |
Request for Missing Social Security NumbersUnder the Affordable Care Act, the Internal Revenue Service requires health insurers to request missing subscriber and dependent Social Security numbers from their members. In August, we will send Social Security number request letters to individuals who had health... | June 3, 2019 |
Annual Group Information Form (AGIF) Non-CompliancePlease be advised that employer groups who have not submitted an Annual Group Information Form (AGIF) in the past 2 or more consecutive years will be non‐renewed beginning January 2020. We ask for your assistance in ensuring the completion and submission of the AGIF... | June 3, 2019 |
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Now Offers Medicaid Managed Care Products in Onondaga CountyExcellus BlueCross BlueShield is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the New York State Department of Health to offer its HMOBlue Option and Blue Option Plus Medicaid managed care products to residents of Onondaga County. HMOBlue Option provides... | June 2, 2019 |
How Well Do Your Employees Know Their Benefits?Do they need a refresh on our telemedicine programs or what tools and resources are available within their health plan coverage? Our Workplace Wellness & Telemedicine team can help as we continue to host live monthly webinars for members. These member level... | May 6, 2019 |
Individual & Small Group – NYS Prior Approval of Rate ChangesOn May 13, 2019, an application was submitted requesting 2020 premium rate changes in accordance with New York state prior approval law. This rate application applies to Community Rated Individual and Small Group products. The following products are included in... | May 5, 2019 |
Members Can Still Hit the Gym for $200 RewardAll Small Business plans include our ExerciseRewards program in which members receive $200 per 6-month period of their plan year for going to the gym 50 times. It is not too late to start going to the gym in order to qualify! Find Out More | May 4, 2019 |
Do You or Your Employees Have Unclaimed Money?Every year, the state requires insurers to make a list of unclaimed checks that are three years old. The names are then placed in advertisements in local papers in an attempt to find the people who have money to claim. If the property is not claimed by August, the... | May 3, 2019 |
Last Chance For 2019 Wealth of Health Awards TicketsEach year, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and the RBJ honor Rochester area employers who promote health and wellness in the workplace. | May 2, 2019 |
The Secret to Getting the Most Out of a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)Help your employees understand their High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP). When they don't understand their HDHPs, they're less likely to use them. We've developed this handout to show employees how to get more value out of their health plan. There is also an HDHP... | April 6, 2019 |
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA)The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is a federal law which becomes effective January 1, 2020 and will change who can buy Medicare Supplement Plans C, F, and High F (F+). Beneficiaries who are newly eligible for Medicare Part A and B effective... | April 4, 2019 |
2019 Wealth of Health Awards Honorees AnnouncedMore than 30 finalists in eight categories have been announced for the 2019 Wealth of Health Awards, to be presented June 4. | April 2, 2019 |
Rate of Registered Organ Donors Grows, but State and Regional Rates Still Lag National RateMore New Yorkers than ever before are signing up to be organ donors, but the state still lags the nation when it comes to the percentage of adults in the donor registry, according to an analysis by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. At the same time, the need for... | April 1, 2019 |
Dental Health Is No Small Thing For Your BusinessHere’s a human truth — most folks don’t look forward to seeing the dentist. But regular checkups are more important than you know. So whether you’ve been away for a year or a little longer than you care to admit, it’s important to take that big step and schedule a... | March 7, 2019 |
Member Webinars - The Value of Your Health Insurance CoverageNeed a refresh on Excellus BCBS telemedicine programs or what tools and resources are available to employees within their health plan coverage? Our Workplace Wellness & Telemedicine team will be hosting live monthly webinars for our members. Please view the... | March 6, 2019 |
There's a Difference Between Single Payer and Universal CoverageA “single payer” health care proposal is currently under consideration in the New York State Legislature. There is a significant difference between “single payer” and “universal coverage.” Many people are confused by these two terms.... | March 5, 2019 |
"Who Will Speak for You?" Infographic Promotes Advance Care PlanningExcellus BlueCross BlueShield issued an infographic "Who Will Speak for You?" to prompt the beginning of advance care planning conversations between adults and their physicians or nurse practitioners. The infographic is being made available to doctors' offices... | March 4, 2019 |
10 Things To Know About Colon Cancer Screenings Open a PDFFacts About Colon Cancer Screening | March 2, 2019 |
Save the Date for the 2019 Wealth of Health AwardsEach year, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and the RBJ honor Rochester area employers who promote health and wellness in the workplace. | March 1, 2019 |
6 Questions For You To Ask About Pharmacy BenefitsWith the cost of pharmacy benefits on the rise, employers need to start asking tough questions about their coverage. Use this guide to put your pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) to the test and ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. Contact your... | February 6, 2019 |
2019 Small Group At-A-Glance BrochuresSecond Quarter Small Group rates are available now, and you can also get At-A-Glance Brochures. At-A-Glance Brochures provide you with our product portfolio and include all the essential details you need to quickly compare benefits from plan to plan. Download this... | February 5, 2019 |
Tips to Expedite the AGIF Process - Q2 RenewalsThe Annual Group Information Form (AGIF) request is being sent the week of March 4, to those groups renewing from April 1 – June 30, 2019. The form is being sent by email, as well as by US mail. You can login to our website and completing the AGIF online. In... | February 4, 2019 |
Last call for nominations! 2019 Wealth of Health AwardsEach year, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and the RBJ honor Rochester area employers who promote health and wellness in the workplace. | February 3, 2019 |
More Benefits, Access, And Control With An Online AccountIf your employees haven't done so already, now is the perfect time to register for an online account on our website. It’s a simple process and it will provide answers to some of their most frequently asked questions. Registering for an account just requires an... | January 7, 2019 |
Reminders and New Information for HealthyRewardsFor groups with HealthyRewards, please remember that rewards do not roll over to the new benefit year. Please review and share these details with your employees. There are also new missions available for 2019. For members renewing their HealthyRewards plan... | January 6, 2019 |
New Blue4U Biometric Screening Program VendorAs of January 1, 2019, Blue4U biometric screening programs are being provided by a new vendor partner, Integrated Health 21 (IH21). IH21 is a national biometric screening vendor. They provide customer centered, high quality and cost effective services, employ highly... | January 5, 2019 |
2019 Wealth of Health AwardsEach year, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and the RBJ honor Rochester area employers who promote health and wellness in the workplace. | January 4, 2019 |
Behavioral Health Telemedicine Now Available Through MDLIVEExcellus BCBS has partnered with MDLIVE® to provide a faster way to access healthcare for non-emergency medical conditions. As of January 1, 2019, most members can access MDLIVE for behavioral health conditions.* We recognize that often those needing... | January 3, 2019 |
It's Flu Season Learn How to Protect YourselfThere are fewer cases of flu so far this flu season in New York state than at this point last flu season, according to a review of health tracking data by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. As of January 12, the Department of Health confirmed 16,029 cases of flu, 1,333 fewer... | January 2, 2019 |
Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2019 InternshipsStarting now and until they are filled, Excellus BCBS is posting about 90 college internships for summer 2019 for college students at its locations in upstate New York. Summer internship positions currently available include jobs in finance, information technology,... | January 1, 2019 |
Working Hard to Keep Current on Regulatory ChangesEvery year, as part of your relationship with us, we work to communicate with our brokers and groups about changes in regulations and requirements that we all must adhere to. We ensure our coverage plans are compliant with the most current changes. And we are... | December 9, 2018 |
Medicare Creditable Drug List for 2019One of the requirements of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) requires us to notify Medicare eligible policyholders whether their prescription drug coverage is creditable coverage. In order for a drug plan to be creditable, the benefits should be worth at least as... | December 8, 2018 |
Dental Membership Termination DatesThere are specific days of the month that should be used when terminating dental contracts. For cancelling members with ID numbers that begin with a “2” and do not contain an alpha character, use the last day of the month as the cancel date (this applies to... | December 7, 2018 |
Health Plans to Mail IRS Form 1095-B by MarchUnder the Affordable Care Act, health insurers are required to mail Form 1095-B to individuals regarding their health coverage information for the prior year. We will mail Form 1095-B to individuals by no later than March 3, 2019. For more... | December 6, 2018 |
Reminder: Important Underwriting UpdatesWe have several underwriting updates to communicate. Healthy New York Offer of Coverage by Business within the Last 12 Months Healthy NY is a program designed to make reduced-cost, comprehensive health insurance available to small employers. One of the conditions... | December 5, 2018 |
Reminder: Excellus BCBS Earns Highest National Accreditation for QualityExcellus BlueCross BlueShield’s commercial plans have received the highest accreditation status available, a rating of “Excellent,” from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The Excellent rating applies to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s HMO, point of service,... | December 4, 2018 |
Reminders and New Information for HealthyRewardsThe end of the year also means the end of the plan year for many members. Please keep in mind these important points about HealthyRewards at the end of your plan year. For members renewing their HealthyRewards plan (subscriber ID not changing): ... | December 3, 2018 |
It Pays to Talk TelemedicineTelemedicine isn't just a quick, convenient way to see a doctor for non-life-threatening conditions. It can also deliver substantial savings to employers and their business. One analysis from Towers Watson put the figure at more than $6 billion a year for... | December 2, 2018 |
Thank You!As 2018 comes to a close, we want to thank you for your business and wish you a happy holiday season. We understand that healthcare is a complex industry and that there are many options available to you and your employees. We are grateful for your... | December 1, 2018 |
