News Archive
All News
| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast! Episode: Why Health Insurance Matters With Dr. CohenHave you checked out our Community Check-In podcasts? Each week, we have conversations with local experts about all things health, sharing the latest info and tips to support you in managing your health and wellness. Our latest episode: Why Health Insurance Matters With... |
October 26, 2023 |
November Is Diabetes Awareness MonthDiabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body turns food into blood sugar to use for energy. According to the CDC, one in three people have prediabetes and more than 37 million Americans (11.3% of the population) have diabetes. Because blood sugar in the body... |
October 26, 2023 |
Leading The Industry In Our Pursuit Of BiosimilarsIn our ongoing efforts to ensure access to high quality, affordable health care, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield leads the insurance industry in pursuing biosimilar drugs for our health plan members. According to the FDA*, biosimilars are safe and effective treatment... |
September 27, 2023 |
Coming Soon: Annual Notice Of Change LettersThis 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 2024 benefit changes. Your members will receive their 2024 ANOC, along with... |
September 27, 2023 |
2024 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Rates And Plans Are Now Available On Blue On DemandYou can now view 2024 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Plans on Blue on Demand. Blue on Demand allows you to compare plans and access your group's 2023 benefit summaries and rate sheets. Please contact your Group Medicare account manager with any... |
September 27, 2023 |
Small Group Materials Now Available For ThriveWell℠Every business wants to help their employees live their best and so we’re providing the tools and resources to help make it easier. ThriveWell, powered by Virgin Pulse, is a new digital tool we’re equipping members with to help them engage in healthier choices and get... |
September 27, 2023 |
Together We Can Move Towards Health EquityHealth care should meet the needs of everyone – no matter who you are, where you live or who you love. This is something we are taking very seriously at Excellus BCBS. Health equity is when everyone has the chance to be as healthy as possible. To improve health equity in... |
September 27, 2023 |
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthBreast cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States among people who were born female, after skin cancers. About one in eight women will have breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. While white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, Black... |
September 27, 2023 |
Excellus BCBS Launches Innovative Program To Reduce CostsThe Medication Assurance Program is a new initiative of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield aimed at reducing self-funded employer group overall spend. This program is designed to reduce spend on medications by holding manufacturers accountable for drugs that were approved... |
September 27, 2023 |
Small Group Rates And Plans For 2024 Are Now Available!2024* Plan Highlights: With a new year comes exciting changes to bring groups and members better coverage and greater peace of mind. Take a look at what’s to come for 2024: *Subject to DFS approval NEW ThriveWell℠ Introducing ThriveWell, a digital home base... |
September 11, 2023 |
Large Group HMO & Medicare Supplement – NYS Prior Approval Of Rate ChangesOn July 1, 2023, we submitted an application requesting 2024 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... |
August 30, 2023 |
We Want To Hear From You!In the coming weeks, you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete a brief Excellus BCBS satisfaction survey. This survey is an opportunity to provide feedback on your interactions and experiences with the health plan. Your responses are confidential, and your... |
August 30, 2023 |
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... |
August 30, 2023 |
Coming Soon! Enrollment Inquiry & Support UpdatesWe’re excited to announce that updates to our Enrollment Inquiry & Support tool are coming soon. You’ll access an enhanced submission form that better supports the enrollment process from start to finish with features like: An option allowing the form to be... |
August 30, 2023 |
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast! Episode: Menthol Cigarettes - Targeting Youth and Exploiting CommunitiesEpisode: Menthol Cigarettes - Targeting Youth and Exploiting Communities In a new episode of the Community Check-In podcast, Dr. Lisa Harris, senior vice president and corporate medical director for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield sheds light on the controversy surrounding... |
August 30, 2023 |
The Importance Of Taking Medications As DirectedDid you know that not taking medications the way they were prescribed leads to 125,000 deaths in the US every year? In addition to death, not taking medications as directed costs nearly $300 billion per year in additional doctors’ visits, trips to the emergency room, and... |
August 30, 2023 |
Accurate Effective Dates Help Ensure Your Employees Are CoveredAny employers who use the online Enroll & Update tool on the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield website to enroll a new employee in medical or dental plans must select the correct effective date in the online tool — a date that is in alignment with the new employee’s... |
July 31, 2023 |
Making It Easier To Reinstate & UpdateWith the click of a button, we’re making it easier for you to track and view requests to reinstate health plan policies for your members. Today on ExcellusBCBS.com, employers can go to the View/Update Policy tool to view or reinstate their members’ cancelled policies... |
July 31, 2023 |
Wellbeing For All, All In One PlaceNew for 2024: Introducing ThriveWell℠ Powered by Virgin Pulse We’re excited to announce our new digital home base dedicated to engaging teams in health and wellbeing, called ThriveWell! This tool will be embedded for our fully insured group plans and will be available as... |
July 31, 2023 |
Looking For Something?Ever found yourself looking for a certain employer news article or announcement? You know you read it and filed it away but now you can’t locate it! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We archive all our employer news articles and announcements chronologically on the... |
July 31, 2023 |
Preparing A Child For Peak Asthma SeasonIf you have a child with asthma, now is the time to revisit their asthma action plan so you are prepared for the annual increase in asthma attacks that occurs each year as kids return to the classroom. A dramatic rise in the number of asthma flare-ups occurs each year... |
July 31, 2023 |
Vaccines Are Important For Adults, TooVaccinations are not just for children – adults need vaccinations, too. Immunity from some childhood vaccines can wear off over time and adults are at risk for different diseases (shingles, for example) than children. Vaccines are important during pregnancy too. According... |
July 31, 2023 |
What Happens With Claims, COBRA And Special Enrollments Once The National Emergency Ends?As you may recall, due to the COVID-19 National Emergency, the Department of Labor provided relief via extensions for filing and appealing claims, electing and paying for COBRA, and notifying administrators of disability notices and special enrollments. The extensions... |
May 30, 2023 |
Large Group HMO & Medicare Supplement – NYS Prior Approval Of Rate ChangesOn July 1, 2022, an application was submitted requesting 2023 premium rate changes in accordance with New York state prior approval law. This rate application applies to Community Rated Large Group HMO. An application will be submitted requesting 2023 premium rate... |
July 28, 2022 |
August Wellbeing Tip: Vaccines Are Important For Adults, TooVaccinations are not just for children – adults need vaccinations, too. Immunity from some childhood vaccines can wear off over time and adults are more at risk for different diseases (shingles, for example) than children. Vaccination is one of the safest and most... |
July 28, 2022 |
2023 Large Group Product UpdatesWith a new year comes exciting new changes to bring groups and members even better coverage. Take a look at what’s in store for 2023.* Here’s What’s New for 2023: Bright Beginnings – Upon renewal in 2023, the Healthy Baby Connection program, previously available to... |
July 12, 2022 |
2023 Small Group Package UpdateThe following SimplyBlue Plus packages will no longer be offered directly through Excellus BCBS or on the New York State of Health (SHOP) Marketplace beginning January 1, 2023. Blue On Demand will be updated for package comparisons. The packages that will no longer be... |
June 29, 2022 |
COBRA Terminations For Non-Payment Of Premiums Will Resume July 1, 2022In March 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL), together with the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (collectively “Agencies”), issued final rules and, in February 2021 and July 2021 subsequent guidance with respect to the extension of certain... |
June 29, 2022 |
Excellus BCBS Provides 65 Community Health Awards To Area NonprofitsExcellus BCBS is awarding a total of 65 community health awards to nonprofit organizations across upstate New York. The community health award funding will support innovative programs and solutions to advance health equity and ultimately improve health outcomes for... |
June 29, 2022 |
Make A Mid-Year Resolution To Be More ActiveAccording to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), physical activity is one of the best things people can do for their health, both physical and mental. Not only does physical activity help people immediately feel better, function better, and sleep... |
June 29, 2022 |
Individual & Small Group – NYS Prior Approval Of Rate ChangesOn May 10, 2022, an application was submitted requesting 2023 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 this 2023... |
May 31, 2022 |
Calm E-Book For GroupsWe worked with Calm to create a new informational resource to help Groups with some of your most asked questions. It’s a great tool if you’re looking for: Registration Instructions Sample HR Email template Member FAQs Links to additional Calm resources and trainings... |
May 31, 2022 |
Updates To Our Enrollment ToolsWe are always looking for ways to improve our online tools and resources to give our brokers, groups, and members a better user experience. In the coming weeks and months, you will see updates to our online enrollment and support tools. One update you will see soon, is... |
May 31, 2022 |
Sun, Safety & HydrationAs the weather gets warmer and people spend more time outside, it is important to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun. Drinking plenty of water every day is good for overall health any time of year. Getting enough water every day is even more important when... |
May 31, 2022 |
Making The Most Of Your Health PlanMany 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 PageWelvie 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 MonthAccording 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 DecisionIntroducing 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 InsulinExcellus 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 DayNational 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 ShareA 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 17thNonprofit 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 IndexExcellus 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 AppIt’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 MonthIn 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 UpdatesWe 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 UpdatesUpdates 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 AvailableWe 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-BHealth 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 |
