News Archive
All News
| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
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 |
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 |
REMINDER: Virtual Training For 2023 Open EnrollmentBroker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 Open Enrollment 2023 training will be virtual through the Sales Hub this year at ExcellusForBusiness.com/SalesHub. The Sales Hub has been designed to meet all your open enrollment (OE) and training needs for 2023 and beyond. We expect all OE videos to be live in the... |
September 20, 2022 |
New On-Site Optical Clinics For Groups With Simply Vision℠Broker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 Now available: Employer groups with Simply Vision plans can have convenient, comprehensive pop-up optical clinics at their workplaces, making it easier than ever for employees to use their vision benefits and select eyewear! These on-site optical clinics bring all... |
September 20, 2022 |
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthBroker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 Breast 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 20, 2022 |
Reimbursement For Travel And Lodging Expenses – New Coverage For 2023*Broker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 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 20, 2022 |
Dental Checkups And A Healthy Smile? You’re Covered!Broker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 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 20, 2022 |
Small Group Rates And Plans For 2023 Are Now Available!Broker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 - Special Issue Small Group plans and rates for 2023 are now available on Blue on Demand. Updated Open Enrollment tools, including At-A-Glance Brochures and Product Guides, are also available. Learn more and order open enrollment materials now. Now available: SimplyBlue Plus and Blue... |
September 8, 2022 |
Reminder: Large Group Open Enrollment MaterialsBroker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 - Special Issue If you need printed copies of the 2023 Large Group Open Enrollment materials, you can order them at ExcellusForBusiness.com/blueppo-broker-orders.* *NOTE: For Brokers of Record only. At-a-Glance Brochure Product Guide Submit the quantity for each piece along... |
September 8, 2022 |
Individual Metal Plans And Rates For 2023 Now Available!Broker News | September 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 9 - Special Issue Individual plans and rates for 2023 are now available on Blue on Demand. Updated Open Enrollment tools, including Product Placemats and Product Brochures will also be available. Now available: Individual Metal Level Medical Plans Blue Select Stand-Alone Dental Plans ... |
September 8, 2022 |
HSA Education Made Easy – Introducing My HSA PlannerBroker News | August 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 8 We know that the benefits of an HSA vary based on unique lifestyle and financial goals of individuals. This makes it difficult and time consuming for you to explain the benefits of an HSA in a way that resonates to help your clients and their employees use or sign up for... |
August 23, 2022 |
Request For Missing Social Security NumbersBroker News | August 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 8 Under 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 23, 2022 |
Andrew Napierala Named VP Of Medicare And Individual Market SalesBroker News | August 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 8 Andrew Napierala has been hired as Vice President of Medicare and Individual Market Sales for Excellus BCBS. His oversight will include field sales, telesales, retail sites, and broker operations. A Western New York native, Napierala has two decades experience in... |
August 23, 2022 |
September Wellbeing Tip: Substance Use DisordersBroker News | August 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 8 According 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 23, 2022 |
NYS Prior Approval Of Rate Changes For Large Group HMO And Medicare SupplementBroker News | July 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 7 On 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 26, 2022 |
Coming In September: Virtual Training For 2023 Open EnrollmentBroker News | July 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 7 Training for 2023 Open Enrollment will be virtual through Sales Hub at ExcellusForBusiness.com/SalesHub. Your Sales Hub is designed to support all your open enrollment training and presentation needs for the 2023 season and beyond. Training will go live for brokers in... |
July 26, 2022 |
Pharmacy Reporting Under The Consolidated Appropriations ActBroker News | July 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 7 To 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 26, 2022 |
Excellus BCBS Named To The Best Places To Work For Disability Inclusion®Broker News | July 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 7 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 26, 2022 |
Five Things To Know About The Transparency In Coverage RulesBroker News | July 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 7 Transparency 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 26, 2022 |
COBRA And The New York State Extension Of Benefits For Dental And VisionBroker News | July 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 7 Federal 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 26, 2022 |
August Wellbeing Tip: Vaccines Are Important For Adults, TooBroker News | July 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 7 Vaccinations 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 26, 2022 |
2023 Large Group Product UpdatesBroker News | June 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 6 - Special Issue With 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... |
June 29, 2022 |
2023 Small Group Package UpdateBroker News | June 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 6 The 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 23, 2022 |
Important: Brand Use Request ProcessBroker News | June 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 6 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... |
June 23, 2022 |
