News Releases

Unlocking the mystery of health insurance premiums

What’s driving the rising costs of health care, how this influences premiums, and what Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is doing to help its members navigate and manage the costs of their care.

September 11, 2024 | Rochester, NY

We understand that rising health care costs can create difficulties for you. Expensive prescription drugs, increases in outpatient procedures, and high-cost hospital care are challenging patients, doctors, businesses, health plans, and the entire...

Corporate

Part 3 of a 6-part series: How can you support your team with the rise of health care costs

September 10, 2024 | Rochester, NY

We’re back with Part Three in our series. (Please click HERE to view Part One and HERE to view Part Two of our series) With Open Enrollment coming up this fall, we wanted to dive deeper into what goes into the premium rates that employers and employees...

Corporate

Excellus BCBS to hold ribbon cutting for new resource center Sept. 27

September 9, 2024 | Utica, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will celebrate the opening of the Resource Center of the Mohawk Valley, located at 62 Kellogg Rd., New Hartford, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. The public is invited to this free event,...

Corporate

One call helped Frank lower his drug costs

September 9, 2024 | Rochester, NY

For Medicare member Frank Pecora, making a call to Customer Care at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield meant finding medications he could afford. The 75-year-old is one of thousands of members who call the number on the back of their member card and...

Corporate

In-network vs. out-of-network care

September 6, 2024 | Rochester, NY

When you go to a healthcare provider that is "out-of-network," it means they don’t accept your insurance. This usually means you'll have to pay more for the same services compared to using an "in-network" provider, who does accept your insurance. ...

Corporate

Excellus BCBS and WellBe Senior Medical collaborate to bring in-home care to those in need

September 6, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is teaming up with WellBe Senior Medical, an independent company, to help some of our Medicare Advantage members. This program will bring care right to the homes of members who need it the most. These members often have...

Corporate

Nonprofits can now apply for Excellus BCBS Health Equity Innovation Award funding

September 5, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is accepting applications for its 2024 Health Equity Innovation Awards, which provide funding to community-based organizations to support health and wellness programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities in...

Corporate

Part 2 of a 6-part series: How can you support your team with the rise of health care costs

September 1, 2024 | Rochester, NY

We’re back with part two in our cost saving series. (Please click HERE to view Part One of our series) As a recap, we know the upward trend of health care costs is expected to continue, impacting employers and individuals alike. High drug prices,...

Corporate

Part 1 of a 6-part series: How can you support your team with the rise of health care costs

August 29, 2024 | Rochester, NY

PART 1 We know the upward trend of health care costs is expected to continue, impacting employers and individuals alike. High prescription drug prices, increases in outpatient procedures, and more members needing high-cost hospital care are challenging...

Corporate

Excellus BCBS recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers 2024

August 21, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a local non-profit Health Plan, is proud to announce its recognition by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for New York State in 2024. "This recognition holds special meaning because being a local health...

Corporate

Health care providers give Excellus BCBS high scores in latest satisfaction survey

August 15, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has announced the results of their 2023 Provider Satisfaction Survey, receiving a 78 percent overall provider satisfaction score. The survey, conducted last fall, was expanded to include all behavioral health providers,...

Corporate

New partnership helps those with chronic kidney disease

August 14, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield members with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be eligible for a new program, REACH Kidney Care*, that helps improve care and quality of life while delaying the need for more costly interventions such as...

Corporate

Excellus BCBS appoints Susie Hume, Senior VP Corporate Development & Strategy, Chief Risk Officer

August 5, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Susie Hume has been appointed senior vice president corporate development and strategy, chief risk officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.   Hume most recently served as vice president of Human Resources Strategic Business Partnerships where...

Rochester

Excellus BCBS recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Women 2024

July 23, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is proud to announce its recognition by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Women 2024. This award highlights the organization’s ongoing commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where women can...

Corporate

Excellus BCBS named to Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion

July 16, 2024 | Rochester, NY

For the fourth consecutive year, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield was named to the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion. Excellus BCBS received a top score of 100% on the 2024 Disability Equality Index®, a national benchmarking survey by...

Corporate

Be safe outdoors - What you need to know about Lyme disease

July 10, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Summer is a time to work in the garden, visit the dog park, or hit the bike path. It is also a time to be aware of tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease, and ways to avoid them. Infected ticks can be found across the Northeast, including in...

Corporate

Excellus BCBS supports access to primary care in Oswego County

June 26, 2024 | Syracuse, NY

When two organizations share the same vision for “keeping people healthy” remarkable things can happen through collaboration. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently awarded Oswego Health with Health and Wellness Award funding to support Primary Care at...

Central New York

New York state rates of birth complications after patients leave the hospital higher than the national average

Analysis of millions of births shows one-third of birth complications occur during the six weeks following discharge and disproportionately affect Black patients.

June 26, 2024 | Rochester, NY

The country’s maternal health crisis goes far beyond the delivery room.  New data shows that dangerous, unexpected birth complications often emerge weeks after the patient and baby have left the hospital, with Black patients experiencing these...

Corporate

Excellus BCBS supports Oswego County Early Childhood Initiative, commits funding to establish diaper bank

June 26, 2024 | Syracuse, NY

To fight the increasing trend of diaper need among lower-income families in Oswego County, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently provided funding in support of the establishment of a diaper bank at the Oswego County Early Childhood Alliance (OCECA) ...

Central New York

Bonavita, Dowd join Excellus BCBS CNY Regional Advisory Board

June 26, 2024 | Syracuse, NY

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has named Dr. Louis Bonavita, Jr., and Elin R. Dowd to its Central New York Regional Advisory Board. “As a local health plan, our mission is to help people in our communities live healthier and more secure lives...

Central New York

Upstate NY health plans support legislation to defend Medicare Advantage plans for seniors

June 25, 2024 | Rochester, NY

Upstate New York health plans are showing their support for recently introduced bipartisan legislation to protect benefits and access to care for hundreds of thousands of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in upstate New York.  Excellus...

Corporate