On May 15, 2025, an application was submitted requesting 2026 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 2026 rate filing:
- Direct Pay Metal Plans and Base (catastrophic)
- Bassett Preferred
- Healthy NY EPO
- SimplyBlue Plus
- Excellus BCBS HMO
Employer Group Communication
Initial notification letters will be mailed to community-rated employer groups and direct pay members enrolled in the products listed above. The letter will include the percentage change in premium rates that we have requested in our application to New York state. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) will review our proposal and will determine the final approved rate levels which will be communicated later this year.
Broker Communication
Beginning on May 30, (or shortly after that date) you will receive an encrypted email notification with copies of the initial notification letters being sent to your groups. The encrypted emails* will expire if not read within the specified timeframe as indicated in your email notification.
Your groups will receive an annual rate notification with the actual, approved rates 60 days prior to their renewal date. The annual rate notices will be available to Brokers on Information Connection.
It’s important that the groups receive the notification and distribute the individual letters to their employees with any additional information explaining the rate changes which may be different from the rates in the initial notification letters (e.g., shared expense).
Please contact your account representative if you have any questions.
*Encrypted files expire after a specified time from the send date. You will not be able to access the information in the file if the email isn't opened and read within that time. You will also be prompted to create a password associated with your email address to access the encrypted file.
