News Archive
All News
| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
2024 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Rates And Plans Are Now Available On Blue On DemandBroker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 You can now view 2024 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Plans on Blue on Demand. Blue on Demand allows you to compare plans and access your group's 2023 benefit summaries and rate sheets. Please contact your Group Medicare account manager with any... |
September 19, 2023 |
Together We Can Move Towards Health EquityBroker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 Health care should meet the needs of everyone – no matter who you are, where you live or who you love. This is something we are taking very seriously at Excellus BCBS. Health equity is when everyone has the chance to be as healthy as possible. To improve health equity in... |
September 19, 2023 |
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthBroker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States among people who were born female, after skin cancers. About one in eight women will have breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. While white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, Black... |
September 19, 2023 |
Rx News - Excellus BCBS Launches Innovative Program To Reduce CostsBroker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 The Medication Assurance Program is a new initiative of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield aimed at reducing self-funded employer group overall spend. This program is designed to reduce spend on medications by holding manufacturers accountable for drugs that were approved... |
September 19, 2023 |
Small Group Rates And Plans For 2024 Are Now Available!Broker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 - Special Issue Small Group plans and rates for 2024* 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 11, 2023 |
Reminder: Large Group Open Enrollment MaterialsBroker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 - Special Issue If you need printed copies of the 2024 Large Group Open Enrollment materials, you can order them at ExcellusForBusiness.com/blueppo-broker-orders. At-a-Glance Brochure Product Guide Submit the quantity for each piece along with your shipping information and we’ll... |
September 11, 2023 |
Individual Metal Plans And Rates For 2024 Now Available!Broker News | September 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 9 - Special Issue Individual plans, rates and product placemats for 2024* are now available on Blue on Demand. Additional enrollment tools, including product brochures, will be available at a later date. Now available: Individual & Family Qualified Health Plans Blue Select... |
September 11, 2023 |
Large Group HMO & Medicare Supplement – NYS Prior Approval Of Rate ChangesBroker News | August 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 8 On July 1, 2023, we submitted an application requesting 2024 premium rate changes in accordance with New York state prior approval law. This rate application applies to Community Rated Large Group HMO and Medicare Supplement products. The following products are included... |
August 24, 2023 |
Request For Missing Social Security NumbersBroker News | August 2023 | Vol. 18 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 August, we will send Social Security number request letters to individuals who had health... |
August 24, 2023 |
Coming Soon! Enrollment Inquiry & Support UpdatesBroker News | August 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 8 We’re excited to announce that updates to our Enrollment Inquiry & Support tool are coming soon. You’ll access an enhanced submission form that better supports the enrollment process from start to finish with features like: An option allowing the form to be... |
August 24, 2023 |
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast! Menthol Cigarettes - Targeting Youth and Exploiting CommunitiesBroker News | August 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 8 Episode: Menthol Cigarettes - Targeting Youth and Exploiting Communities In a new episode of the Community Check-In podcast, Dr. Lisa Harris, senior vice president and corporate medical director for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield sheds light on the controversy surrounding... |
August 24, 2023 |
The Importance Of Taking Medications As DirectedBroker News | August 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 8 Did you know that not taking medications the way they were prescribed leads to 125,000 deaths in the US every year? In addition to death, not taking medications as directed costs nearly $300 billion per year in additional doctors’ visits, trips to the emergency room, and... |
August 24, 2023 |
Annual Group Information Form (AGIF) Mailing IssueBroker News | August 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 8 - Special Issue On July 31, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) mailed an Annual Group Information Form (AGIF) request to small groups. Unfortunately, some small groups with January 2024 renewals received the wrong letter. These groups should have received the initial notice to collect... |
August 8, 2023 |
NEW STREAMLINED FORMAT - Annual Group Information (AGIF) Broker ReportBroker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 7 The Small Group Underwriting AGIF Broker Report will feature some new and exciting changes that will help streamline both our AGIF and Healthy NY (HNY) groups into one report. The new version of the AGIF Broker Report will now also include: standalone Dental and Vision... |
July 28, 2023 |
Accurate Effective Dates Help Ensure Employees Are CoveredBroker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 7 Any employers who use the online Enroll & Update tool on the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield website to enroll a new employee in medical or dental plans must select the correct effective date in the online tool — a date that is in alignment with the new employee’s... |
July 28, 2023 |
Making It Easier To Reinstate & UpdateBroker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 7 With the click of a button, we’re making it easier for groups to track and view requests to reinstate health plan policies for their members. Today on ExcellusBCBS.com, employers can go to the View/Update Policy tool to view or reinstate their members’ cancelled policies... |
July 28, 2023 |
Looking For Something?Broker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 7 Ever found yourself looking for a certain broker blast article or announcement? You know you read it and filed it away but now can’t locate it! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We archive all our broker blast articles and announcements chronologically on the broker... |
July 28, 2023 |
Preparing Children For Peak Asthma SeasonBroker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 7 If you have a child with asthma, now is the time to revisit their asthma action plan so you are prepared for the annual increase in asthma attacks that occurs each year as kids return to the classroom. A dramatic rise in the number of asthma flare-ups occurs each year... |
July 28, 2023 |
Vaccines Are Important For Adults TooBroker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 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 at risk for different diseases (shingles, for example) than children. Vaccines are important during pregnancy too. According... |
July 28, 2023 |
Rx News - An Innovative Way To Reduce Spend On Specialty DrugsBroker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 7 Learn about Specialty Drug Benefit Optimization, an innovative program aimed at reducing spend on specialty drugs. When medical and pharmacy benefits are integrated, this program allows us to target specialty drugs that can be covered at a lower cost under the pharmacy... |
July 28, 2023 |
2024 Large Group Product UpdatesBroker News | July 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 7 - 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 2024.* Here’s What’s New for 2024: ThriveWell℠ ** Introducing ThriveWell, a digital homebase dedicated to engaging teams in health and... |
July 5, 2023 |
Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC) Report SubmittedBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 On June 1, 2023, 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... |
June 23, 2023 |
New And Improved Agent Onboarding!Broker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 We are excited to announce a new way Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will be managing your agents' data. This summer we will begin using the Miramar:Agent System to onboard agents, perform background checks, and more. Miramar:Agent is a web-based software solution that... |
June 23, 2023 |
Breaking Down The Barriers To Better HealthBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 Advancing health equity is central to our mission and is woven throughout the work we do day in and day out. It’s good for our members, as well as businesses and the communities we serve. With this, it’s important to recognize the diversity of employees and how their... |
June 23, 2023 |
Healthy NY Group Recertification FormsBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 Excellus BCBS was set to begin requiring the Healthy NY (HNY) Recertification form and Supplemental form from all HNY groups upon renewal starting July 1, 2023. We are postponing the requirement of the HNY Supplemental form at this time; however, all HNY groups will... |
June 23, 2023 |
Check Out Our Community Check-In Podcast! Episode: The Power Of Early DetectionBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 Episode: The Power Of Early Detection In a new episode of the Community Check-In podcast, Dr. Angel Kerney, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) and medical director at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield dives into the significance of preventive screenings,... |
June 23, 2023 |
The Benefits Of Getting OutdoorsBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. But going outside actually has lots of benefits to our mental and physical wellbeing. Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy the benefits of getting outdoors in nature, whether... |
June 23, 2023 |
Rx News - Offering Members Added Convenience And Accessibility To CareBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 Site of Care is an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield program that provides valuable options to members who are currently receiving infusion drugs at high-cost facilities. Our program provides cost savings by transitioning members from receiving their treatment at a hospital... |
June 23, 2023 |
Rx News - Pharmacy Concierge Delivers ValueBroker News | June 2023 | Vol. 18 No. 6 Whether experienced-rated or self-funded, Pharmacy Concierge is delivering significant savings to all Excellus BlueCross BlueShield groups and their employees. The savings are built in for our experience-rated groups, seamlessly saving employers and members on their... |
June 23, 2023 |
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 |
