News Archive
All News
| Title | Issued Date |
|---|---|
Request For Missing Social Security NumbersBroker News | August 2021 | Vol. 16 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 26, 2021 |
Coming In September: Virtual Training For 2022 Open EnrollmentBroker News | August 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 8 Once again this year, training for 2022 Open Enrollment will be virtual through Sales Hub. Your Sales Hub site is designed to support all your Open Enrollment training and presentation needs for the 2022 season and beyond. Training will go live in mid-September. |
August 26, 2021 |
Help Protect Employees From The FluBroker News | August 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 8 Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Millions of people get the flu every year; many are hospitalized and some die from flu-related causes every year. Make plans to get vaccinated early in fall before flu season begins. The... |
August 26, 2021 |
Excellus BCBS Addresses Health Disparities In Upstate New York With New Health Equity AwardsBroker News | August 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 8 Recognizing structural racism as a driving force of health inequities and a barrier to its goal of health equity, Excellus BCBS invites nonprofit organizations to apply for Health Equity Awards of up to $30,000 each to help fund health and wellness programs that address... |
August 26, 2021 |
Updates To Non-COVID Telehealth BenefitsBroker News | August 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 8 The New York State regulation to cover non-COVID telehealth benefits in full for fully insured members, ended on June 24, 2021. Excellus BCBS will continue to cover IN-NETWORK NON-COVID telehealth benefits for fully insured members in full through December 31, 2021. ... |
August 26, 2021 |
COBRA Subsidy Period Coming To An EndBroker News | August 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 8 The COBRA subsidy period will end on September 30, 2021. Groups will NOT need to take any action to return to standard billing in October and going forward. If a Group wants to terminate a COBRA enrollee, they will need to notify us. As a reminder, the American Rescue... |
August 26, 2021 |
Individual Metal Plans And Rates For 2022 Now Available!Broker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 - Special Issue Individual plans and rates for 2022 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 13, 2021 |
REMINDER: Large Group Open Enrollment Materials Now Available!Broker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 - Special Issue If you need printed copies of the 2022 Large Group Open Enrollment materials, you can order them at ExcellusForBusiness.com/GroupGuidesLG At-a-Glance Brochure Product Guide Just submit the quantity for each piece along with your shipping information and we’ll take... |
September 13, 2021 |
Ready For Open Enrollment!Broker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 - Special Issue A new year means exciting new changes for your groups and their members—and even better coverage. Rates, plans, brochures, and product guides are all available now. What’s New for 2022 (PDF) |
September 13, 2021 |
Breast Cancer Awareness MonthBroker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 255,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease in the US every year. Here’s how... |
September 22, 2021 |
REMINDER: COBRA Subsidy Period Coming To An EndBroker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 The COBRA subsidy period will end on September 30, 2021. Groups will NOT need to take any action to return to standard billing in October and going forward. If a Group wants to terminate a COBRA enrollee, they will need to notify us. As a reminder, the American Rescue... |
September 22, 2021 |
Medicare Annual Notice Of Change MailingBroker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 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 2022 benefit changes. These members will receive their 2022 ANOC, along with their... |
September 22, 2021 |
2022 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Rates/Plans Now AvailableBroker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 You can now view 2022 Community Rated, Small Group Medicare Advantage Plans on Blue on Demand. Blue on Demand allows you to compare plans and access your group's 2022 benefit summaries and rate sheets. Please contact your Group Medicare Sales Consultant with any... |
September 22, 2021 |
Revised Waiting Period PolicyBroker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 We understand that employers may be looking for ways to position themselves more competitively in the current hiring environment. Health insurance is often a key component of employee benefit packages. From now until January 1, 2022, employers may change their new hire... |
September 22, 2021 |
Coming Soon! Online Billing For BrokersBroker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 Earlier this year, we launched a new online bill pay tool for your groups. Soon, brokers will have access to online billing as well. Beginning in mid-October, brokers will be able to: Access all Group billing information under one login View Group invoices View... |
September 22, 2021 |
Broker OE Content Now Available On The Sales HubBroker News | September 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 9 2022 Open Enrollment presentations are now available on Sales Hub. Some topics you can review include: Broker Commission Strategy for New Business Small Group Product Updates (Large group updates were released in June) 2022 Small and Large Group OE Updates from Sales... |
September 22, 2021 |
November Is Diabetes Awareness MonthBroker News | October 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 10 November is Diabetes Month, a national observance designed to raise awareness about the risk factors, symptoms, types of diabetes, and the impact this disease has every day on millions of Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association®, Diabetes is the seventh... |
October 25, 2021 |
Update To COVID Treatment BenefitsBroker News | October 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 10 Excellus BCBS will continue to cover IN-NETWORK COVID treatment benefits for fully insured members in full through December 31, 2021. Self-funded groups that previously opted-in will be given the choice to extend that option through December 31, 2021. |
October 25, 2021 |
Update To Small Group Medical Underwriting GuidelinesBroker News | October 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 10 Small Group medical underwriting guidelines have been updated and are available on our website and on Blue On Demand. Please reach out to your dedicated underwriter or account representative with any questions. View the Updated Guidelines |
October 25, 2021 |
Annual Rate Notices Being MailedBroker News | October 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 10 Groups will receive Annual Rate Notices (ARNs) at the end of October. This includes: Small Group Products Large Group HMO Individual Medicare Advantage, Simply Prescription and Dental prospective pooled group notices and rates will be issued and viewable in... |
October 25, 2021 |
Coming Soon – Online Billing For BrokersBroker News | October 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 10 We have started our pilot program and will be rolling out Online Billing to all Brokers in the coming months. With Online Billing you will be able to: Access all your group’s billing information under one login View and download your group’s invoices View your... |
October 25, 2021 |
Excellus BCBS Achieves 5-Star Rating For Two Of Its Medicare PlansBroker News | October 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 10 Among the highest in the nation and upstate New York. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annual Star Ratings for 2022 has awarded Excellus BCBS five-star ratings for two of its Medicare plans, making it among the highest rated Medicare plans in the... |
October 25, 2021 |
Changes To Member ID CardsBroker News | October 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 10 - Special Issue Both New York State and the federal government have mandated changes to health insurance member identification cards. Beginning November 1, 2021, we will begin sending member cards in compliance with the federal mandate that takes effect January 1, 2022. Federally... |
October 29, 2021 |
Coping With Winter And Holiday BluesBroker News | November 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 11 As the days get shorter and the temperatures colder, some people may notice they feel down or have less energy than usual. This could just be the winter blues caused by less activity, or stress or sadness related to the holidays. Daylight, exercise, healthy eating, and... |
November 15, 2021 |
Recipients Of 2021 Health Equity Awards AnnouncedBroker News | November 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 11 Excellus BCBS announced the recipients of its 2021 Health Equity Awards. The awards represent more than $388,000 in financial support we are providing to community programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities across our service area. The funding will... |
November 15, 2021 |
2022 Product Update: Calm® App And Blue SimplicityBroker News | November 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 11 Great news! The Calm® App now has full contract finalization and New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) approval. Additionally, DFS has approved Blue Simplicity for fully insured large groups with effective dates of 1/1/22 and later. Calm® App Finalized... |
November 15, 2021 |
2022 Individual Market PlansBroker News | November 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 11 Our SafetyNet and Individual Market Sales Team is ready to assist brokers during the upcoming 2022 Open Enrollment Period. If you have a client who is not eligible for an Employer Group Plan, Medicare, or Qualified Health Plan offerings, we are here to support you.... |
November 15, 2021 |
Member ID Card UpdateBroker News | November 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 11 - Special Issue As we previously communicated, because of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, we will be reissuing many Member ID cards for January 1, 2022. To ensure cards are efficiently issued, please send us your enrollment as soon as possible or notify us as to when... |
November 30, 2021 |
New Individual Market COBRA Special Enrollment Period Effective January 1, 2022Broker News | December 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 12 On May 5, 2021, CMS released the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) for the 2022 plan year final rule, and it included a new/modified qualifying event for a special enrollment period (SEP). The existing SEP for Involuntary Loss of Minimum Essential Coverage... |
December 14, 2021 |
Sending Our Thanks This Holiday SeasonBroker News | December 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 12 As we come to the end of another year, we once again want to thank you for your partnership as we continue to help our shared clients navigate through these unprecedented times. We wish you and your families a safe and healthy holiday season. We hope the communities we... |
December 14, 2021 |
Excellus BCBS Welcomes Dr. Gina CuylerBroker News | December 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 12 In keeping with its mission to ensure access to high quality health care and reduce health disparities, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced that Gina Cuyler, MD. has joined the health plan as Vice President Health Equity and Community Investments. In this new role,... |
December 14, 2021 |
An Ounce Of Prevention…Broker News | December 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 12 Are your employees regularly seeing their doctors for preventive care? Regular preventive care can help reduce the risk or severity of chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 90... |
December 14, 2021 |
Enhancements Made To Find A DoctorBroker News | December 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 12 We continue to work to give our members the best user experience possible when it comes to our digital tools. Our Find A Doctor tool recently received the following enhancements to take advantage of in-app features such as: Location services Mapping capabilities ... |
December 14, 2021 |
Online Billing For Brokers UpdateBroker News | December 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 12 We will be launching Online Billing to all Brokers in early January. We will post an alert on our website when the tool is available. If you currently have access to enrollment for a group, you will be given access to billing for that group under the same account. ... |
December 14, 2021 |
COVID Treatment Benefits Ending On 12/31/21Broker News | December 2021 | Vol. 16 No. 12 Please remind your groups that COVID treatment benefits will be ending on December 31, 2021. Beginning January 1, 2022, COVID treatment benefits will process according to the member’s benefits. |
December 14, 2021 |
Healthy NY UpdatesBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 1 Based on NYS changes, the Healthy NY New Business Application and Healthy NY Recertification have been updated to reflect the new maximum annual wage of $45,450.00 on all systems including Blue On Demand. The cutoff for using prior versions of the form will be May 1,... |
January 20, 2022 |
February Is American Heart MonthBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 1 February is American Heart Month, a time to spotlight heart disease which is the #1 killer of Americans. Yet heart disease is largely preventable by living a healthy lifestyle: eat a healthy diet, get regular physical activity, manage stress, don’t smoke, and get enough... |
January 20, 2022 |
Tax Form 1095-BBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 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 20, 2022 |
2021 Diversity Equity And Inclusion Report AvailableBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 1 We are proud to share our inaugural, “Diversity Equity and Inclusion Report, Bringing I.D.E.A. to Life,” which details our approach to mitigating the impact of bias, and our commitment to equitable treatment for all, within and beyond our walls. Our Corporate Commitment... |
January 20, 2022 |
Leadership UpdatesBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 1 We are excited to share the following changes to our leadership team: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Cindy Langston Named First Female Chief Information Officer Cindy Langston has been named senior vice president and the company’s first female chief information... |
January 20, 2022 |
Enrollment Inquiry & Support UpdatesBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 1 Updates to our Enrollment Inquiry & Support tool are scheduled to go live on February 7. Users who login and contact us by using the Enrollment Inquiry & Support tool will have access to new features that will enhance the support process from start to finish. ... |
January 20, 2022 |
Coming In FebruaryBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 1 Beginning next month, Hinman Straub, our external legal counsel, will be providing a legislative update for our brokers. Our first update will include: 2021 recap of legislation signed into law 2022 NYS budget COVID policy moving forward Additional sessions are... |
January 20, 2022 |
2022 Broker Guide Now AvailableBroker News | January 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 1 Good health and preventive care are more important than ever and guiding your clients through their health care benefits is one way you provide confidence and security in uncertain times. The programs and tools outlined in the 2022 Broker Guide demonstrate our commitment... |
January 20, 2022 |
March Is National Colorectal Awareness MonthBroker News | February 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 2 In the United States, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths. Men are much more likely than women to get colon cancer, and African Americans are more likely to get it than any other race or ethnicity. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force... |
February 17, 2022 |
Do You Really Need The Emergency Department?Broker News | February 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 2 There are millions of visits to hospital emergency departments (ED) in New York state each year that don’t result in a hospital stay, according to New York State Department of Health data. And while some health conditions require emergency care, many are better suited for... |
February 17, 2022 |
New Active&Fit ExerciseRewards™ Training VideoBroker News | February 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 2 Our vendor, American Specialty Health (ASH), has provided a new training on Active&Fit ExerciseRewards™ that includes program information as well as how to register, enroll in a fitness center, connect a wearable device, and more! This training video has been added to... |
February 17, 2022 |
Helpful Resources For Employees Using Our Website Or Mobile AppBroker News | February 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 2 It’s early in the new year and a great time for employees to review the benefits and extras that are a part of their health plan. Employees can visit ExcellusBCBS.com 24/7 to: Register and/or log in to their online member account Download our mobile app Easy access... |
February 17, 2022 |
Excellus BCBS Earns 90 Percent In Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality IndexBroker News | February 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 2 Excellus BCBS received a score of 90 percent out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Excellus... |
February 17, 2022 |
Group Premium Payment ReminderBroker News | February 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 2 - Special Issue The beginning of a new month is a good time to remind your groups, per contract, there is a 30-day grace period to make their premium payment. If payment is not received within the 30-day grace period, we will initiate the termination process. As a reminder, the first... |
February 28, 2022 |
April 16 Is National Healthcare Decisions DayBroker News | March 2022 | Vol. 17 No. 3 National Healthcare Decisions Day was created to emphasize the importance of advance care planning. Advance care planning is the process we use to plan for future medical care, consider what matters most to us, share our values, beliefs, and goals with our loved ones and... |
March 24, 2022 |
