News Archive
All News
| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
Annual Rate Notices Are In The MailGroups will receive Annual Rate Notices (ARNs) at the end of October 2022. This includes the following products: Small Group Individual Large Group HMO Please note that Medicare Advantage, Simply Prescription, Dental prospective pooled and dental/vision standalone... |
October 28, 2022 |
2023 Individual Market PlansIf 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 Safety Net coverage and Qualified Health Plans (metal level plans). If you would like to review your health care options,... |
October 28, 2022 |
How To Deal With The High Cost Of Prescription MedicationsWhen we think about taking care of our health, we often think about working out, eating healthy, and avoiding germs. But, taking medications as prescribed is also a key ingredient in our overall health management. In a recent episode of Community Check-In, Mona Chitre,... |
October 28, 2022 |
November Is National Diabetes MonthDid you know medical costs for people with diabetes are twice as high as for those who don’t have diabetes? Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has more... |
October 31, 2022 |
New On-Site Optical Clinics For Groups With Simply Vision℠If your group has a Simply Vision plan, you can host convenient, comprehensive pop-up optical clinics at your workplaces, making it easier than ever for employees to use their vision benefits and select eyewear! These on-site optical clinics bring all equipment necessary... |
September 30, 2022 |
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthBreast cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in women in the United States, after skin cancers. About one in eight women will develop breast cancers at some point in their lifetime. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women who... |
September 30, 2022 |
Reimbursement For Travel And Lodging Expenses – New Coverage For 2023*As a result of the recent decision by the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) has issued optional reimbursement travel and lodging coverage that may be applied to Small and Large Group... |
September 30, 2022 |
Dental Checkups And A Healthy Smile? You’re Covered!Did you know that adults born between 1946 and 1964 (baby boomers) are the first generation where the majority of people will keep their natural teeth for their entire lifetime? This is largely because of the fluoride in water and in toothpaste. Oral health is essential... |
September 30, 2022 |
Small Group Rates and Plans for 2023 Are Now Available!2023 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 2023: NEW Calm® – New in 2023 the Calm app will be included in all Small Group plans. This digital... |
September 8, 2022 |
HSA Education Made Easy – Introducing My HSA PlannerWe know that the benefits of an HSA vary based on unique lifestyle and financial goals of your employees. This makes it difficult and time consuming for you to explain to employees the benefits of a HSA in a way that resonates to help them *actually* use or sign up for an... |
August 25, 2022 |
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 September, we will send Social Security number request letters to individuals who had health... |
August 25, 2022 |
September Wellbeing Tip: Substance Use DisordersAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 14 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder, a disease in which a person overuses or abuses alcohol or drugs. Some people may use drugs to help cope with stress, trauma, or to help... |
August 25, 2022 |
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 |
Pharmacy Reporting Under The Consolidated Appropriations ActTo comply with the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), we will complete the required pharmacy benefit and prescription drug cost reporting for insured businesses and self-funded groups at no charge; however, there will be a charge for a self-funded group that... |
July 28, 2022 |
Excellus BCBS Named To The Best Places To Work For Disability Inclusion®Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is pleased to be named to the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion after receiving a top score of 100 percent on the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI), a national benchmarking survey by Disability:IN and the American Association of... |
July 28, 2022 |
Five Things To Know About The Transparency In Coverage RulesTransparency in Coverage rules have been established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and require health plans and self-funded employer groups to post on their public website machine-readable files containing the following pricing information: ... |
July 28, 2022 |
COBRA And The New York State Extension Of Benefits For Dental And VisionFederal COBRA benefits are generally available to employers with 20 or more employees in the prior calendar year. The New York state continuation of coverage (Mini-COBRA) is available for all insured health plans with under 20 employees; however, it does not apply to... |
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 Inside Rx Prescription Discount CardExcellus 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 |
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 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 |
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 |
February Is American Heart MonthFebruary 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 SeasonAs 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 12/31/21Please 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 UpdateWe 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 DoctorWe 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 |
