News Archive
All News
| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
Individual & Small Group – NYS Prior Approval Of Rate ChangesBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 - Special Issue On May 10, 2023, an application was submitted requesting 2024 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 2024... |
June 1, 2023 |
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Recognized By Forbes As One Of The Nation’s Best Employers For DiversityBroker News | May 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 5 Excellus BCBS was one of 500 companies on the Forbes Best Employers for Diversity 2023 list. Excellus BCBS ranked 135th overall on the nationwide list Excellus BCBS ranked 17th overall in the insurance industry This was Excellus BCBS’s first time on the Forbes Best... |
May 23, 2023 |
What Happens With Claims, COBRA And Special Enrollments Once The National Emergency Ends?Broker News | May 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 5 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 23, 2023 |
How Safety Net Plan Renewals Impact Your Business And GroupsBroker News | May 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 5 As we’ve been sharing for the past few months, Safety Net recertifications resumed in April, with the first of our members receiving notifications in May. We understand that not all brokers typically engage with our Safety Net population, but it’s important to understand... |
May 23, 2023 |
Contract Renewals Underway For Lifetime Benefit Solutions ClientsBroker News | May 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 5 We’re reminding brokers that Lifetime Benefit Solutions will begin a phased approach to update client contracts. We will communicate with your Lifetime Benefit Solutions clients based on their contract effective date. These clients will receive contract documents to... |
May 23, 2023 |
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast!Broker News | May 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 5 We’re kicking off another season of Community Check-In, our podcast series that features conversations with local experts about all things health, sharing the latest information and tips to support our groups and their members in managing your health and wellness. ... |
May 23, 2023 |
June Is Men’s Health MonthBroker News | May 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 5 Men's health is a critical issue. Unfortunately, many men tend to neglect their health until they experience a severe illness or injury. This leads to a higher risk of chronic diseases, disability, and premature death. Additionally, men also tend to engage in riskier... |
May 23, 2023 |
COVID-19 National Emergency And Federal Public Health Emergency To End May 11, 2023Broker News | April 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 4 The federal government announced the COVID-19 National Emergency and Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has been reviewing the guidelines surrounding COVID-19 related vaccines, testing and telehealth services and... |
April 21, 2023 |
MDLIVE Claims Cost IncreaseBroker News | April 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 4 Effective April 1, 2023, the MDLIVE claim cost for medical consults increased. The medical claim cost increased from $40.00 to $50.00 per MDLIVE visit, which is still 39% below the non-MDLIVE member price. This cost is also significantly below a telehealth visit with a... |
April 21, 2023 |
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast!Broker News | April 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 4 We’re kicking off another season of Community Check-In, our podcast series that features conversations with local experts about all things health, sharing the latest info and tips to support our groups and their members in managing your health and wellness. New Episode:... |
April 21, 2023 |
May Is Mental Health Awareness MonthBroker News | April 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 4 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine... |
April 21, 2023 |
Rx News - 2022 Results For Pharmacy ConciergeBroker News | April 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 4 Higher prescription costs affect everyone. We know that escalating drug prices are a problem for more and more Americans. And we understand that employers want to offer their employees the best possible health care but need to keep costs in check. Pharmacy Concierge is... |
April 21, 2023 |
Safety Net Recertifications UpdateBroker News | March 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 3 During the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), NY State has not required most Safety Net members to renew their Medicaid Managed Care, Essential Plan or Child Health Plus eligibility. For most group members, coverage has been auto renewed during the PHE. ... |
March 20, 2023 |
NEW! Primary Care Provider Toolkit Now AvailableBroker News | March 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 3 A new Primary Care Provider (PCP) toolkit is now live and can be found on ExcellusforBusiness.com. With a ready-to-send email, PCP checklist, find a doctor tool fact sheet and e-book, employers can encourage their team to find a provider and stay ahead of illnesses. Get... |
March 20, 2023 |
2022 Pharmacy Reporting Under The Consolidated Appropriations Act (RxDC)Broker News | March 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 3 To comply with the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), we will complete all required pharmacy benefit and prescription drug cost reporting on behalf of fully insured groups (small and large) and self-funded groups with medical and pharmacy coverage with Excellus... |
March 20, 2023 |
Small Group Underwriting Healthy NY Form And Annual Group Information Form WebTool UpdatesBroker News | March 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 3 Small Group Underwriting form updates are rolling out as outlined below. Impacted lines of business include Small Group Medical, Dental, Vision and Healthy NY. Healthy NY (HNY) Group Size Information Going forward, Underwriting will begin collecting group size... |
March 20, 2023 |
Healthy Vision Is Important To Overall HealthBroker News | March 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 3 Have you ever heard of “tear film”? Every time you blink, a thin layer of tears called “tear film” spreads across your eyes. Tear film has three layers: an oily outer layer, a watery middle layer, and an inner mucous layer. All three of these layers work together to help... |
March 20, 2023 |
Rx News - Fully Insured Pharmacy BenefitsBroker News | March 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 3 Did you know that we offer the nine innovative trend management programs to fully insured groups at no extra charge? All our fully insured employer groups receive fully integrated medical and pharmacy benefits built right into their plan with no hidden costs or additional... |
March 20, 2023 |
Free Resources To Support A Healthy Team And BusinessBroker News | February 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 2 To help protect employees’ physical, emotional, and financial health, we offer ExcellusForBusiness.com—a library of resources that can help businesses and employees enjoy better outcomes, lower costs, and more peace of mind. At ExcellusForBusiness.com, you’ll find... |
February 13, 2023 |
2023 Healthy New York Resources And Forms Are HereBroker News | February 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 2 The Healthy New York maximum wage has been increased to $47,750 and the Healthy New York (HNY) New Business form and HNY Recertification form have been updated. Please use the new forms (linked below) moving forward to reflect the new wages. The cutoff for reviewing the... |
February 13, 2023 |
Safety Net Recertifications UpdateBroker News | February 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 2 During the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), most Safety Net members have not been required by NY State to renew their Medicaid Managed Care, Essential Plan or Child Health Plus eligibility. For most members, coverage has renewed automatically during the... |
February 13, 2023 |
Focus On Fiber For Colon Cancer Awareness MonthBroker News | February 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 2 March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. An estimated 153,020 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023. Colon cancer, however, is largely preventable through... |
February 13, 2023 |
Rx News - Enhancement To Our Patient Assurance ProgramBroker News | February 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 2 The Patient Assurance Program was expanded to include cardiovascular drugs starting January 1, 2023. This enhancement is part of our continued commitment to provide affordable medications to members. This program helps reduce escalating costs of diabetic and... |
February 13, 2023 |
Rx News - Mona Chitre, PharmD, Chief Pharmacy Officer, President Pharmacy SolutionsBroker News | February 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 2 Mona Chitre, PharmD has been named President of Pharmacy Solutions, in addition to her role as Chief Pharmacy Officer. In her expanded role, Dr. Chitre will focus on delivering clinically sound pharmacy solutions to enable growth and diversification and bolster... |
February 13, 2023 |
Watch: New Experience Rated Formula VideoBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 As we shared earlier this month, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has filed with NYS DFS and received approval for changes to our insured rating formula, effective July 1, 2023. The changes filed include modifying the credibility and pooling methodology to provide more... |
January 25, 2023 |
2023 Broker Guide Is HereBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 The 2023 Broker Guide for Excellus BCBS is now available to help you better serve our clients and grow your brokerage business. The guide is also available in the broker portal on the Excellus BCBS website. 2023 Broker Guide (PDF) Login Required |
January 25, 2023 |
Newly Updated Telemedicine Toolkit Is Now LiveBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 The newly updated Excellus BCBS Telemedicine Toolkit is now available for employers to download on ExcellusforBusiness.com. With this collection of informational flyers, FAQ and ready-to-send email, employers can encourage their team to activate their telemedicine... |
January 25, 2023 |
Tax Form 1095-BBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 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 25, 2023 |
Submission Of Prescription Drug Data Collection ReportBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 On December 23, 2022, we submitted the Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC) report as required under Section 204 of Division BB, Title II of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021. The submission included information for fully insured policies issued and for... |
January 25, 2023 |
Here’s To Heart HealthBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 Did you know your heart is about the size of your fist? Your heart is the engine that runs your circulatory system, which carries blood to and from all areas of your body. Your blood carries oxygen and nutrients to your organs and carbon dioxide to your lungs. If your... |
January 25, 2023 |
Rx News - Pharmacy Concierge ProgramBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 The rising price of prescription drugs continues to be a major driver of health care costs. Our Pharmacy Concierge program is an all-encompassing approach to reducing pharmacy costs and improving health outcomes. Backed by a dedicated team of pharmacists and pharmacy... |
January 24, 2023 |
Rx News - Frozen Formulary Mandate - Effective January 1, 2023Broker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 The Frozen Formulary Mandate is a New York state law that goes into effect January 1, 2023. The mandate prohibits health plans that provide essential benefits from removing a prescription drug from a formulary, or adding additional formulary restrictions, during an... |
January 24, 2023 |
Update: New Experience Rated Formula RolloutBroker News | January 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 1 - Special Issue We have filed and received approval from NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS) for changes to our insured rating formula, effective July 1, 2023. The changes filed include modifying the credibility and pooling methodology to provide more stable year to year renewal... |
January 4, 2023 |
When We All Share The Joy, Everybody BenefitsBroker News | December 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 12 In the spirit of the holidays, we’d like to thank you for your partnership over the past year as we’ve worked together to bring high quality, affordable health care and peace of mind to so many in our community. Here's to new opportunities and exceptional client... |
December 19, 2022 |
Introducing Rx NewsBroker News | December 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 12 We’re excited to announce the launch of Rx News, a new section of Broker News that will provide important pharmacy updates for you and your groups. Beginning in January, you will see content each month under the heading “Rx News” that will include information about our... |
December 19, 2022 |
How To Manage Stress During The Holiday Season – Excellus BCBS Community Check-InBroker News | December 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 12 Have you checked out our Community Check-In podcasts? Each week, we feature conversations with local experts about all things health, sharing the latest info and tips to support you in managing your health and wellness. This month, since we’re in the midst of the... |
December 19, 2022 |
Healthy Living Is Just A Deal AwayBroker News | December 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 12 Are your groups aware of Blue365, an online discount program for health and wellness related products and services? One of the most utilized options is Fitness Your Way, a passport gym membership that members can sign up for to access over 10,000+ fitness centers... |
December 19, 2022 |
Add Preventive Care To Your List Of New Year’s ResolutionsBroker News | December 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 12 A new year is around the corner and for many, that means evaluating their health status and lifestyle habits. This year, we encourage you and your groups to add preventive care to your list of new year resolutions. Regular preventive care can help reduce the risk or... |
December 19, 2022 |
Introducing Everybody BenefitsBroker News | November 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 11 When health coverage means more than plans and premiums, everybody benefits. No one has to wonder if they’ll be able to afford coverage or where they’ll turn when life changes. Communities embrace the tough conversations and address long-standing gaps in care. Employers... |
November 22, 2022 |
Fixing The Family GlitchBroker News | November 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 11 To be eligible for subsidized qualified health plans today, employees must not have "affordable coverage" through their own/spouse's employer. For some, if their employer doesn’t contribute to the cost (or only contributes a small amount) toward the family premium, it may... |
November 22, 2022 |
2022 Health Equity Awards Winners Announced!Broker News | November 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 11 We recently announced the recipients of our Excellus BlueCross BlueShield 2022 Health Equity Awards. The awards represent more than $560,000 in financial support for community programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities across its upstate New York service... |
November 22, 2022 |
REMINDER: 2023 Individual Market PlansBroker News | November 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 11 Our Safety Net and Individual Market Sales Team is ready to assist brokers during the upcoming 2023 Open Enrollment Period. If you have a client who is not eligible for an Employer Group Plan, Medicare, or Qualified Health Plan offering, we are here to support you.... |
November 22, 2022 |
‘Tis The Season For Self-CareBroker News | November 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 11 While the holiday season can be a time of joy, it may bring added stress, anxiety, and depression for some people. Many things contribute to the “holiday blues”: fatigue, money problems, over-commitment, and missing family or friends. That’s why, during the holiday... |
November 22, 2022 |
Achieving Some Of The Highest Medicare Star Ratings In The State And Nation!Broker News | October 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 10 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2023 quality ratings and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has once again been awarded some of the highest ratings in the state and nation for quality and performance! For 2023, Medicare has awarded us with... |
October 27, 2022 |
Excellus BCBS Is The One-Stop Shop For Health Insurance NeedsBroker News | October 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 10 As employees move through life and situations change, you can always count on our team at Excellus BCBS to be there for them. Our Group plans are just a part of how we here to care for businesses and people in our community. We also offer a complete range of plans... |
October 27, 2022 |
Annual Rate Notices Are In The MailBroker News | October 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 10 Groups 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 27, 2022 |
2023 Individual Market PlansBroker News | October 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 10 Our Safety Net and Individual Market Sales Team is ready to assist brokers during the upcoming 2023 Open Enrollment Period. If you have a client who is not eligible for an Employer Group Plan, Medicare, or Qualified Health Plan offering, we are here to support you.... |
October 27, 2022 |
How To Deal With The High Cost Of Prescription MedicationsBroker News | October 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 10 When 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 27, 2022 |
November Is National Diabetes MonthBroker News | October 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 10 Did 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 27, 2022 |
Updated 2023 Commercial Broker Commission Program For Dental & VisionBroker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 The Commercial Broker Commission program for Dental & Vision has been updated for 2023. Please note these are pending Department of Financial Services (DFS) approval, so we will notify you as soon as we have received approval from DFS. For a copy of the... |
September 20, 2022 |
