News Archive
All News
| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
Healthy New York Business Applications And Recertifications For Small GroupBroker News | April 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 4 Updated versions of the Healthy New York (HNY) New Business application and the HNY Recertification form are now available online at Blue On Demand. They are also available on our website under the Broker and Employer portals where small group new business and renewal... |
April 12, 2024 |
About ACQAs: Broker TrainingBroker News | April 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 4 We continue to update and add to our Sales Hub eLearning offerings. Our latest training material focuses on Accountable Cost and Quality Agreement (ACQA). An ACQA is a localized approach to value-based payment agreements. This session will explain more about what an ACQA... |
April 12, 2024 |
Online Chat Now Available On Davis Vision WebsiteBroker News | April 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 4 Davis Vision now has an online chat tool available to assist members in locating their benefits and eligibility information. The chat tool becomes available after a member creates an account and logs into the Davis Vision website. Members can ask questions or gather... |
April 12, 2024 |
May Is Mental Health Awareness MonthBroker News | April 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 4 Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health and wellbeing. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. Poor mental health increases physical health risks, while poor... |
April 12, 2024 |
Rx News - Save On Medical Benefit Specialty Drugs With Smart RxAssistBroker News | April 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 4 In continuing efforts to combat the rising cost of specialty medications, Excellus BCBS is providing an innovative financial assistance program, Smart RxAssist. Smart RxAssist is a specialty drug assistance program offering financial relief to employers and employees on... |
April 12, 2024 |
Rx News - Saving $105,207 In Prescription Drug Costs With Pharmacy ConciergeBroker News | April 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 4 A new case study has been published on ExcellusforBusiness.com showcasing the ROI Heritage Christian Services, Inc. has seen from enrolling in Pharmacy Concierge. In 2023, Heritage Christian Services saw an ROI that is almost four times more than their guarantee. Learn... |
April 12, 2024 |
Rx News - Join Us For Our First Pharmacy WebinarBroker News | April 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 4 Beyond the Buzz: Understanding the GLP-1 Trend April 24, 2:00 - 2:45 p.m. ET GLP-1 Agonists are currently one of the most talked about trends in the pharmacy market. What are these drugs? What are their long-term impacts? What are we doing to lower costs for... |
April 12, 2024 |
REMINDER: It’s Time To Report Your 2023 Prescription DataBroker News | March 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 3 The 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) requires group and individual health plans to report annual data about prescription drugs and health care spending to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The last day to submit this data to CMS for the 2023... |
March 11, 2024 |
Target Optical And Pearle Vision Being Added To Vision NetworkBroker News | March 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 3 Together with our partner, Davis Vision, we are excited to announce the expansion of our network in 2024 with the addition of Target Optical and Pearle Vision. With this addition, members will be able to access more than 150,000 in-network points of eye care. This... |
March 11, 2024 |
Important Reminder About Our Brand Use Request ProcessBroker News | March 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 3 Brokers and agents must request use of our Excellus BlueCross BlueShield brand. This includes anything from our logo on your website, to mailings, collateral or advertising you create. To make it easier to request use, we’ve created an overview, guidelines, and a request... |
March 11, 2024 |
Why Your Primary Care Provider MattersBroker News | March 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 3 Taking care of your health is one of the most important things you can do to help you feel your best every day. Your Primary Care Provider is your partner in managing your health. Seeing them for regular preventive care ensures you are up to date on recommended screenings... |
March 11, 2024 |
It’s Time To Report Your 2023 Prescription DataBroker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 - Special Issue The 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) requires group and individual health plans to report annual data about prescription drugs and health care spending to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The last day to submit this data to CMS for the 2023... |
February 29, 2024 |
Learn How ACQAs Help Increase Quality Care For MembersBroker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 An Accountable Cost & Quality Agreement (ACQA) is our localized approach to value-based payment agreements. ACQAs promote a better, more holistic patient experience for members while working to reduce unnecessary medical costs for all. Watch Our 3-Minute Video To... |
February 16, 2024 |
Reminder Regarding WellNow Urgent Care Provider StatusBroker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 Recently, some Excellus BlueCross BlueShield members may have received communication from WellNow Urgent Care that could cause confusion regarding coverage and benefits. To clarify and remind our members, WellNow made the decision to leave our provider network on Jan. 1,... |
February 16, 2024 |
NEW! ThriveWell℠ Toolkit Now AvailableBroker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 A toolkit for our new digital, wellbeing program ThriveWell, administered by Virgin Pulse, can now be found on ExcellusforBusiness.com. With a ready-to-send email, member guide, quick start flyer, overview flyer, and reward flyers employers can encourage their team to... |
February 16, 2024 |
NEW! Headspace Toolkit Now AvailableBroker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 A toolkit for our new mindfulness and meditation partner*, Headspace, administered by Virgin Pulse, can now be found on ExcellusforBusiness.com. This toolkit includes a ready-to-send email, Headspace overview flyer, and material to help guide members through creating an... |
February 16, 2024 |
Rx News - Navigating The GLP-1 TrendBroker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 Diabetes is one of the top trend drivers of pharmacy costs due to the growing diabetic population and newer, more expensive therapies recommended earlier in the treatment plan. Since 2006, medications like Ozempic® and Trulicity® have been used to treat Type 2 Diabetes.... |
February 16, 2024 |
Have You Listened To Our Community Check-In Podcast?Broker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 Each week, with our Community Check-In podcasts, 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: The Loneliness Epidemic: Unveiling The Health... |
February 16, 2024 |
The Importance Of SleepBroker News | February 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 2 Sleeping is a basic human need, like eating, drinking, and breathing. Did you know adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, and children and teens need even more? Surveys show the average adult sleeps fewer than seven hours a night. According to the... |
February 16, 2024 |
Tax Form 1095-BBroker News | January 2024 | Vol. 19 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 23, 2024 |
Gag Clause Confirmation Of Attestations CompletedBroker News | January 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 1 On December 31, 2023, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield completed the gag clause attestations on behalf of our fully insured and minimum premium groups who have our Rx. A gag clause Certificate of Attestation is available to groups, upon request. Reach out to your account... |
January 23, 2024 |
NEW For 2024: Virtual Physical Therapy Through Vori HealthBroker News | January 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 1 Every business wants to help their employees live their best. That’s why we are providing another option for physical therapy, so employees can have more accessibility when it comes to the care they need. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is now partnering with Vori Health... |
January 23, 2024 |
Watch: Making The Most Of Your Health PlanBroker News | January 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 1 The Making the Most of Your Health Plan videos for 2024 are ready! These member-level videos provide a navigation of our member online account and mobile app, while highlighting important benefits, tools, and resources available to members. There are three videos based... |
January 23, 2024 |
Blue On Demand Website Enhancements For Small GroupsBroker News | January 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 1 To help create a better user experience for our Small Groups, we’ve updated Blue on Demand with the following enhancements: Medical Updates You can now compare the previous Q4 year rating period selected (Ex: 2022 to 2023) Added a new banner to link to dental... |
January 23, 2024 |
February Is American Heart MonthBroker News | January 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 1 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventive (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, people aged 45 and over, and most races and Hispanic-origin groups, accounting for 1 in every 5 deaths in the US. The term “heart disease”... |
January 23, 2024 |
Update: WellNow Urgent Care 1/3/24Broker News | January 2024 | Vol. 19 No. 1 - Special Issue WellNow Urgent Care has made a decision to leave the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) provider network effective Monday, January 1, 2024. While we’re disappointed by their decision, we’re prepared to assist members with questions about their health benefits and... |
January 3, 2024 |
Update: WellNow Urgent CareBroker News | December 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 12 - Special Issue With WellNow Urgent Care announcing its intent to leave Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s provider network on December 31, 2023, we are prepared to assist our members with questions about their health benefits and options for care. Contrary to public statements, we have... |
December 18, 2023 |
Season’s Greetings. Holiday Cheer. From Our Team To Yours.Broker News | December 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 12 As the year comes to a close, we extend our warmest appreciation and gratitude for your partnership and loyalty. May the year ahead be filled with peace and prosperity for you and your loved ones. Have a safe and happy holiday season! |
December 11, 2023 |
2024 Broker Guide Is HereBroker News | December 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 12 The 2024 Broker Guide for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is now available to help you better service our clients and grow your brokerage business. The guide is available in the broker portal on the Excellus BCBS website. If you have any questions about the 2024 Broker... |
December 11, 2023 |
Our Next Step Toward Health EquityBroker News | December 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 12 We want everyone to have the chance to be as healthy as possible. Health equity is about removing any barriers that get in the way of health. We notified you earlier this fall that we would begin contacting our group members and asking them to share more about themselves... |
December 11, 2023 |
Excellus BCBS Earns 85 Percent In Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-24 Corporate Equality IndexBroker News | December 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 12 Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has received a score of 85 percent out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+... |
December 11, 2023 |
January Wellbeing Tip: The Importance Of Preventive CareBroker News | December 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 12 “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is as true now as it was when Benjamin Franklin said it in 1735. While healthy behaviors such as exercise, sleep and good nutrition can significantly impact wellbeing, getting routine preventive care is an important... |
December 11, 2023 |
Rx News - The Real Deal On Weight Loss DrugsBroker News | December 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 12 In this episode of The Community Check-In podcast, Nicole Dawley, Senior Director of Pharmacy Strategy and Policy at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, explores the complex world of weight management drugs. Nicole provides valuable insights into the background of the obesity... |
December 11, 2023 |
Gag Clause Prohibition Attestation Under The Consolidated Appropriation ActBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 The gag clause prohibition under the Consolidate Appropriations Act (CAA) prohibits health plans from entering into contracts that restrict specific data and information that a plan can make available to another party. Plans must annually submit an attestation that they... |
November 27, 2023 |
Sunsetting Wellbeing Programs & How Members Can Claim Their RewardsBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 With the much-anticipated transition to our new digital, wellbeing engagement program, ThriveWellSM, we will be sunsetting several of our wellbeing programs. The following programs* will be discontinued the last day of a groups’ benefit year: HealthyRewards ... |
November 27, 2023 |
Fully Insured Large Groups To Move To Preferred Value FormularyBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 Please be advised that all Commercial Fully Insured Large Groups will move from the current 3 Tier Open Formulary to our Preferred Value Formulary (PVF) based on their plan year. This change excludes Minimum Premium groups, who will continue to have the option to choose... |
November 27, 2023 |
Updated Annual Group Information Form And Web Tool AvailableBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 An updated version of the Annual Group Information Form (AGIF) is available for Large and Small Groups. The only change in this version is that a question has been added to the AGIF and online AGIF Web Tool which requires groups who offer a dental plan through the Health... |
November 27, 2023 |
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast! The Common But Preventable Disease - Pre-diabetes, With Dr. FitzpatrickBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 Have 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: The Common But Preventable... |
November 27, 2023 |
Updated Brochures Now AvailableBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 We’ve updated several brochures with our new Everybody Benefits logo. Please share these with your groups. Questions? Contact your account manager. Out-of-Pocket Protection Program Brochure (PDF) Rx Home Delivery Brochure (PDF) |
November 27, 2023 |
December Wellbeing Tip: Where To Go For CareBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 Understanding where to go for medical care before you need it can help minimize frustration, time, and cost. Your primary care provider should be your first choice for routine medical care or minor illnesses or injuries that are not an emergency. A primary care provider... |
November 27, 2023 |
Rx News - Kicking Off A New Social Media CampaignBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 We launched a new campaign on our social media channels that will feature some of the positive feedback we receive from our health plan members. Topics will vary monthly so be sure to bookmark our various social media sites and check back often. This month we’re... |
November 27, 2023 |
Rx News - The Right Meds At The Best ValueBroker News | November 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 11 An Excellus BlueCross BlueShield program is focusing on medication safety while saving millions of dollars in prescription drug costs. The program, Pharmacy Concierge, is available to most midsize and large employers through the health plan. “Improving care is the... |
November 27, 2023 |
Medicare Recognizes Excellus BlueCross BlueShield For QualityBroker News | October 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 10 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its 2024 quality ratings, and again this year recognized Excellus BCBS for its Medicare Advantage plans. This is the eleventh consecutive year the health plan has ranked above average or higher for its... |
October 18, 2023 |
Annual Rate Notices MailedBroker News | October 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 10 Groups will receive Annual Rate Notices (ARNs) at the end of October. This includes the following products: Small Group Individual Large Group HMO Medicare Supplement Medicare Advantage, Simply Prescription, Dental prospective pooled and dental/vision standalone... |
October 18, 2023 |
Change To 2024 New Business Medical Bonus ScheduleBroker News | October 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 10 We have implemented a change to our Excellus BlueCross BlueShield 2024 Broker Commission Schedule regarding the New Business Medical Bonus. The new chart, which replaces our previous New Business Medical Bonus chart, is available to Brokers of record with us. If you have... |
October 18, 2023 |
2024 Broker Tips For Individual PlansBroker News | October 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 10 We’ve compiled a sheet of 2024 Broker Tips to assist you during the upcoming Open Enrollment Period for SafetyNet and Individual Market Plans. The tip sheet includes: Important dates What’s new for 2024 Renewal details Health Plan features and updates Who to... |
October 18, 2023 |
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast! Why Health Insurance Matters With Dr. CohenBroker News | October 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 10 Have 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 18, 2023 |
November Is Diabetes Awareness MonthBroker News | October 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 10 Diabetes 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 18, 2023 |
Leading The Industry In Our Pursuit Of BiosimilarsBroker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 In 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 members. According to the FDA*, biosimilars are safe and effective treatment options for many... |
September 19, 2023 |
Coming Soon: Annual Notice Of Change LettersBroker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 This 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 19, 2023 |
