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Title	Issued Date
Making The Most Of Your Health Plan Many members are not aware of the programs, resources, and tools we make available to them. We want to help close that gap. That’s why we created the Making the Most of Your Health Plan video. The video provides a member-level overview of creating an online account, using...	April 26, 2022
Welvie My Surgery Web Page Welvie My Surgery℠ is now available to our Fully Insured commercial group plans, Qualified Health Plan, and Essential Plan members. This self-guided online program leads participants through the decision-making process if they’re considering an elective surgery. If...	April 26, 2022
May Is Mental Health Month According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 percent of adults report struggling with mental health or substance use, which is up 20 percent from pre-pandemic reports. Our own data also reflects this trend with nearly 1/3 of adults now reporting...	April 26, 2022
Behind Every Great Health Care Outcome Is An Informed Decision Introducing Welvie My Surgery℠ – We know that one of the keys to better health is better health literacy – the ability to understand health information and services and use that knowledge to make informed decisions. It’s especially important with major decisions like...	March 29, 2022
Excellus BCBS Partnering With Civica To Increase Access To Affordable Insulin Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and other Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies joined Civica’s initiative to manufacture and distribute affordable insulins that, once approved, will be available to people living with...	March 29, 2022
April 16 Is National Healthcare Decisions Day National Healthcare Decisions Day was created to emphasize the importance of advance care planning. Advance care planning is the process we use to plan for future medical care, consider what matters most to us, share our values, beliefs, and goals with our loved ones and...	March 29, 2022
New Wellness Videos Available To Share A new suite of wellness videos is now available for employers and members. The videos cover a variety of topics, including: Avoiding Processed Foods Be Stressed Less Benefits of Meditation Diabetes: Take Control of Your Health Fighting Virtual Work Fatigue ...	February 22, 2022
Excellus BCBS Is Now Accepting Community Health Award Applications Until March 17th Nonprofit organizations in upstate New York can apply for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Awards that the company is offering to help fund health and wellness programs in upstate New York. The application period opened on Thursday, February 17th and closes...	February 22, 2022
Excellus BCBS Earns 90 Percent In Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index Excellus BCBS received a score of 90 percent out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Excellus...	February 22, 2022
Helpful Resources For Employees Using Our Website Or Mobile App It’s early in the new year and a great time for employees to review the benefits and extras that are a part of their health plan. Employees can visit ExcellusBCBS.com 24/7 to: Register and/or log in to their online member account Download our mobile app Easy access...	February 22, 2022
Do You Really Need The Emergency Department? There are millions of visits to hospital emergency departments (ED) in New York state each year that don’t result in a hospital stay, according to New York State Department of Health data. And while some health conditions require emergency care, many are better suited for...	February 22, 2022
March Is National Colorectal Awareness Month In the United States, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths. Men are much more likely than women to get colon cancer, and African Americans are more likely to get it than any other race or ethnicity. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force...	February 22, 2022
Leadership Updates We are excited to share the following changes to our leadership team: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Cindy Langston Named First Female Chief Information Officer Cindy Langston has been named senior vice president and the company’s first female chief information...	January 27, 2022
Enrollment Inquiry & Support Updates Updates to our Enrollment Inquiry & Support tool are scheduled to go live on February 7. Users who login and contact us by using the Enrollment Inquiry & Support tool will have access to new features that will enhance the support process from start to finish. ...	January 27, 2022
2021 Diversity Equity And Inclusion Report Available We are proud to share our inaugural, “Diversity Equity and Inclusion Report, Bringing I.D.E.A. to Life,” which details our approach to mitigating the impact of bias, and our commitment to equitable treatment for all, within and beyond our walls. Our Corporate Commitment...	January 27, 2022
Tax Form 1095-B Health insurers—including Excellus BCBS—are no longer mailing tax form 1095-B to members. Because taxpayers are not required to include the form when filing their taxes, the IRS no longer requires us to mail the form. Members can still download the form or request it by...	January 27, 2022
February Is American Heart Month February is American Heart Month, a time to spotlight heart disease which is the #1 killer of Americans. Yet heart disease is largely preventable by living a healthy lifestyle: eat a healthy diet, get regular physical activity, manage stress, don’t smoke, and get enough...	January 27, 2022
Sending Our Thanks This Holiday Season As we come to the end of another year, we once again want to thank you for your business as we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times. We wish you and your families a safe and healthy holiday season. We hope the communities we live and do business in...	December 16, 2021
COVID Treatment Benefits Ending On 12/31/21 Please remind your employees that COVID treatment benefits will be ending on December 31, 2021. Beginning January 1, 2022, COVID treatment benefits will process according to the member’s benefits.	December 16, 2021
Online Billing For Brokers Update We will be launching Online Billing for Brokers in early January. With Online Billing your Broker will be able to assist with: Viewing and downloading invoices Reviewing payment history Checking for enrollment in automatic payments Note: While Brokers will have...	December 16, 2021
Enhancements Made To Find A Doctor We continue to work to give our members the best user experience possible when it comes to our digital tools. Our Find A Doctor tool recently received the following enhancements to take advantage of in-app features such as: Location services Mapping capabilities ...	December 16, 2021
An Ounce Of Prevention… Are your employees regularly seeing their doctors for preventive care? Regular preventive care can help reduce the risk or severity of chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 90...	December 16, 2021
Excellus BCBS Welcomes Dr. Gina Cuyler In keeping with its mission to ensure access to high quality health care and reduce health disparities, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced that Gina Cuyler, MD. has joined the health plan as Vice President Health Equity and Community Investments. In this new role,...	December 16, 2021
2022 Individual Market Plans If you have an employee who is not eligible for an Employer Group Plan, Medicare, or COBRA, we’re here to help connect them with NY State sponsored SafetyNet coverage and Qualified Health Plans (metal level plans). If you would like to review your health care options,...	November 22, 2021
2022 Product Update: Calm® App And Blue Simplicity Calm® App Available in 2022 Effective Jan 1, 2022, a 12-month premium subscription to the Calm app is now an embedded benefit in all Fully Insured Large Group plans and available to Self-Funded and Minimum Premium Groups as a buy-up. The Calm app is a digital experience...	November 22, 2021
Recipients Of 2021 Health Equity Awards Announced Excellus BCBS announced the recipients of its 2021 Health Equity Awards. The awards represent more than $388,000 in financial support we are providing to community programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities across our service area. The funding will...	November 22, 2021
Coping With Winter And Holiday Blues As the days get shorter and the temperatures colder, some people may notice they feel down or have less energy than usual. This could just be the winter blues caused by less activity, or stress or sadness related to the holidays. Daylight, exercise, healthy eating, and...	November 22, 2021
Changes To Member ID Cards Both New York State and the federal government have mandated changes to health insurance member identification cards. Beginning November 1, 2021, we will begin sending member cards in compliance with the federal mandate that takes effect January 1, 2022. Federally...	November 2, 2021
Excellus BCBS Achieves 5-Star Rating For Two Of Its Medicare Plans Among the highest in the nation and upstate New York. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annual Star Ratings for 2022 has awarded Excellus BCBS five-star ratings for two of its Medicare plans, making it among the highest rated Medicare plans in the...	October 29, 2021
Online Bill Pay Updates We listened to your feedback and continue to make updates to our Online Bill Pay tool! Earlier this month we updated the Billing Summary page to make it simpler and easier to use. New updates include, selecting date of payment withdrawal for one-time payments and...	October 29, 2021
Annual Rate Notices Being Mailed Groups will receive their Annual Rate Notices (ARNs) at the end of October. Also, at the end of October, groups will be able to access the Monthly Rate Summary report through Information Connection with their January 2022 renewals. This includes: Small Group Products ...	October 29, 2021
Excellus BCBS Inside Rx Prescription Discount Card Excellus BlueCross BlueShield continues its mission of helping people in our communities live healthier and more secure lives through high-quality and affordable health care access. As part of that ongoing commitment, we’re excited to announce that we have partnered with...	October 29, 2021
Update To COVID Treatment Benefits Excellus BCBS will continue to cover IN-NETWORK COVID treatment benefits for fully insured members in full through December 31, 2021. Self-funded groups that previously opted-in will be given the choice to extend that option through December 31, 2021.	October 29, 2021
November Is Diabetes Awareness Month November is Diabetes Month, a national observance designed to raise awareness about the risk factors, symptoms, types of diabetes, and the impact this disease has every day on millions of Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association®, Diabetes is the seventh...	October 29, 2021
Revised Waiting Period Policy We understand that employers may be looking for ways to position themselves more competitively in the current hiring environment. Health insurance is often a key component of employee benefit packages. From now until January 1, 2022, employers may change their new hire...	September 29, 2021
2022 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Rates/Plans Now Available You can now view 2022 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Plans on Blue on Demand. Blue on Demand allows you to compare plans and access your group's 2022 benefit summaries and rate sheets. Please contact your broker or Group Medicare Sales Consultant with...	September 29, 2021
Online Bill Pay Updates We listened to your feedback and continue to make updates to our Online Bill Pay tool! Throughout the fall, you will see changes including an updated billing summary page and enhancements to autopay functionality including being able to enroll and manage autopay at the...	September 29, 2021
Breast Cancer Awareness Month October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 255,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease in the US every year. Here’s how you...	September 29, 2021
Medicare Annual Notice Of Change Mailing This month, 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 2022 benefit changes. These members will receive their 2022 ANOC, along with their...	September 29, 2021
REMINDER: COBRA Subsidy Period Coming To An End The COBRA subsidy period will end on September 30, 2021. Groups will NOT need to take any action to return to standard billing in October and going forward. If a Group wants to terminate a COBRA enrollee, they will need to notify us. As a reminder, the American Rescue...	September 29, 2021
COBRA Subsidy Period Coming To An End The COBRA subsidy period will end on September 30, 2021. Groups will NOT need to take any action to return to standard billing in October and going forward. If a Group wants to terminate a COBRA enrollee, they will need to notify us. As a reminder, the American Rescue...	August 30, 2021
Updates To Non-COVID Telehealth Benefits The New York State regulation to cover non-COVID telehealth benefits in full for fully insured members, ended on June 24, 2021. Excellus BCBS will continue to cover IN-NETWORK NON-COVID telehealth benefits for fully insured members in full through December 31, 2021. ...	August 30, 2021
Excellus BCBS Addresses Health Disparities In Upstate New York With New Health Equity Awards Recognizing structural racism as a driving force of health inequities and a barrier to its goal of health equity, Excellus BCBS invites nonprofit organizations to apply for Health Equity Awards of up to $30,000 each to help fund health and wellness programs that address...	August 30, 2021
Help Protect Employees From The Flu Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Make plans to get vaccinated early in fall before flu season begins. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. ...	August 30, 2021
Request For Missing Social Security Numbers Under the Affordable Care Act, the Internal Revenue Service requires health insurers to request missing subscriber and dependent Social Security numbers from their members. In September, we will send Social Security number request letters to individuals who had health...	August 30, 2021
2022 Large Group Product Updates We know that health and wellbeing have taken on new meaning and significance over the past year. That’s why we’re bringing you more ways to get the most from your benefits, all backed by a local, caring team and more than 85 years of strength and stability. Here’s What’s...	August 2, 2021
Large Group HMO & Medicare Supplement – NYS Prior Approval Of Rate Changes On July 15, 2021 an application was submitted requesting 2022 premium rate changes in accordance with New York state prior approval law. This rate application applies to Community Rated Large Group HMO and Medicare Supplement products. The following products are included...	July 29, 2021
Online Bill Pay Now Available Earlier this year, we launched new and improved online bill pay features. Groups with bill pay access can log in to Employer.ExcellusBCBS.com to: View invoices, payments, and balance due Pay premium bills Setup automatic payments Pay for one or multiple sub-groups ...	July 29, 2021
The Price Of Back Pain In The Workplace And Home Office According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), low back pain (LBP) causes more global disability than any other condition. According to a report by Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), nearly one in four U.S. employees report experiencing lower-back...	July 29, 2021
Premium Payment Reminder Reminder, per contract, there is a 30-day grace period to make their premium payment. If payment is not received within the 30-day grace period, we will initiate the termination process. As a reminder, the first premium payment must be made prior to the effective date of...	June 30, 2021

Showing 1– 50 of 105 Results