Premium Rates

New York state law requires that health insurers seek premium rate approval for community rated products from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS) prior to issuance of premium rates.

  • This law requires us to give certain subscribers and their employers an initial notice explaining our proposed rate change.
  • The premium rate changes that we request vary by specific products.
  • The actual changes will not be known until approval, and we will notify our customers of any rate change at least 60 days prior to the appropriate implementation date.
  • If you are uncertain as to when your rates renew or the rating region you are a part of;
    • Subscribers please contact Customer Service
    • Groups please contact your Account Service representative or Broker.

We work hard every day to provide our subscribers and their employers with the best health care value possible. If the rate adjustment for your current product does not meet your budget, we offer a wide variety of other products at prices that may fit your needs.

Small Group: Follow this link for a more detailed narrative describing the Premium Rate Filing. Open a PDF

Individual: Follow this link for a more detailed narrative describing the Premium Rate FilingOpen a PDF

Your Rights

Small Group and Individual
You can contact us or DFS to ask for more information or submit comments to DFS about the proposed rate changes. The comments must be made within 30 days from the date of this notice.
You can contact Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for additional information at:

  • Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
    P.O. Box 21146
    Eagan, MN 55121
  • calling the number on your member identification card
  • Contact Us

Comments or requests for more information on the proposed rate change may be submitted to:

If you choose to submit comments to DFS, please include the following information:

  1. The name of your insurer, which is Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
  2. The name of your plan as listed on your identification card
  3. Indicate your type of coverage (Group or Individual)
  4. Your HIOS identification number, which is found on the letter you received about the requested rate change.

We've prepared the following resources to help you learn more:

  • Why Premium Rates Increase: A Dinner Analogy

Large Group HMO: Follow this link for a more detailed narrative describing the Premium Rate Filing. Open a PDF

Medicare Supplemental/Group: Follow this link for a more detailed narrative describing the Premium Rate FilingOpen a PDF

Medicare Supplemental/Individual: Follow this link for a more detailed narrative describing the Premium Rate FilingOpen a PDF

Employer/Subscriber Rights

Large Group HMO and Medicare Supplement
If you've received a letter from us about a requested rate change, the law gives you a 30 day window of opportunity to:

  • Request information from us -
    • subscribers can contact the phone number on their subscriber ID card
    • employers can contact their Account Service representative or Broker
  • Submit any written comments to the Superintendent of Insurance -
  • Please note that the name of the insurer should be included on any correspondence and that written comments submitted to the Department will be posted to the Department's web site, with personal identifying information removed.
  • Please be sure to identify "Excellus Health Plan, Inc." and its dba, "Excellus BlueCross BlueShield" as your insurer and indicate that the type of your policy is large group HMO or Medicare Supplement in the comments.

We've prepared the following resources to help you learn more:

  • Why Premium Rates Increase: A Dinner Analogy

 

GDPR Notification Content