Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield
Excellus BCBS, a BlueCross BlueShield Company, offers individual and family health insurance plans across 31 New York counties.
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All About Excellus BCBS of NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of NY has over 80 years of health insurance experience. Their original motto said they could offer “hospital prepayment for pennies a day.”
Today, Excellus BCBS serves 31 counties in New York. It serves the Central New York, Utica, Southern Tier, and Rochester regions.
They offer a wide array of health insurance options based upon personal lifestyle needs. These range from coverage options for individuals, families and those eligible for Medicare.
Furthermore, Excellus BCBS has options for dental, small and large businesses, as well as flexible savings accounts. With added benefits to boast, including a ExerciseRewards, HealthyRewards, a 24/7 Nurse line and Advanced Care Planning. Excellus BCBS is more than just a health insurance provider. They offer a partnership in the health care.
All Excellus BCBS members enjoy access to:
Exercise Rewards
Under some plans, subscribers and their spouse or partner can get up to $600 each year. This helps pay for fitness club memberships.
ExerciseRewards also offers fitness tools. You can create a personal fitness plan. You can also get custom meal plans. Online coaching courses are available too.
Healthy Rewards
An online incentive program available to a subscriber and their spouse or partner. Each family can earn up to $1,000 by doing healthy daily tasks. These include taking the stairs, going for a walk, or doing household chores.
They track progress online, and each task earns one dividend; each dividend equals one dollar.
Excellus BCBS Available Plans
Excellus offers a Blue PPO Health Savings Account. This is a great way to receive a comprehensive health plan while also receiving the tax benefits that can come with an HSA.
The Blue PPO HSA is a Consumer Driven Health Care (CDHC) plan. It lets you get the same benefits as many health insurance plans, including preventive care and wellness programs. You also pay a low premium.
The state’s health insurance exchange offers Excellus BCBS of NY plans. Plans from the exchange can lower your premium, deductible, copays, and coinsurance if you qualify for tax credits.
HMO Blue
Bronze Standard
Bronze Select
Silver Standard
Silver Select
Gold Standard
Gold Select
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield: Pros & Cons
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield has served upstate New York for over 80 years. It offers coverage for individuals, families, and small businesses. A nonprofit, independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. Here is an honest look at what members can expect:
Pros
- Strong national quality ratings: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is one of 13 health plans nationwide. It earned 4.5 out of five stars and full accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Every Excellus plan, including commercial coverage, has earned NCQA accreditation. This is a trusted third-party sign of care quality and member satisfaction.
- Recognized for value-added wellness benefits: Beyond standard coverage, Excellus stands out with ExerciseRewards and HealthyRewards programs. These programs give members clear financial incentives to stay engaged in their health. Not all regional carriers offer benefits at this level.
- Solid financial stability: Excellus BCBS holds an A rating from AM Best for financial stability. Combined with its nonprofit structure and decades of operating history, this gives members confidence. They believe the company can meet its obligations over the long term.
- Valuable wellness rewards programs: Excellus offers ExerciseRewards. It provides up to $600 per year for fitness club memberships. This applies to subscribers and their spouse or partner.
Excellus also offers HealthyRewards, an online incentive program. It lets each family earn up to $1,000 for completing routine healthy tasks.
- Broad regional presence with HSA-qualified options: Excellus serves 31 counties in Central New York, Utica, the Southern Tier, and Rochester. Plans are also available on the state exchange. The Blue PPO HSA plan gives members a tax-advantaged option alongside comprehensive coverage.
Cons
- Mixed customer review scores: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Net Promoter Score is -9. Independent review sites show 52% of customers are detractors. Member experience can vary by plan type and region.
- Customer service complaints persist: Some members report frustration with claims handling and follow-through. One review said they had no medication for over a week. The company did not call back as promised. This delay kept a pharmacy issue unresolved.
- Billing and tax credit disputes: BBB complaint records include cases where members reported unexpected coverage ending. This left them responsible for medical bills that their coverage would have paid. Retroactive tax credit changes from the state exchange linked to some cases.
- Limited geographic footprint: EExcellus BCBS limits its coverage to upstate New York. Members who relocate outside the service area, or who split time between states, will need to secure separate coverage.
- Regional brand name variation can cause confusion: Excellus’s BlueCross BlueShield operations once used several regional names. These included BlueCross BlueShield of Central New York. They also included BlueCross BlueShield of the Rochester Area.
Long-time members or those researching online may encounter outdated branding that complicates plan comparisons.
Bottom line: Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield stands out for strong NCQA quality ratings. It offers valuable wellness rewards programs. It also has over 80 years of regional experience and solid financial stability. The trade-off is a more limited geographic footprint and some inconsistency in customer service reviews.
An HSA for America Personal Benefits Manager can help you compare Excellus BCBS plans with other local carriers. They help you find the right fit at the right price. This service is free to you.
Ready to Sign Up with Excellus BCBS of NY?
At HSA for America, we guide you through questions that may arise when choosing a health insurance plan. Our Personal Benefits Managers work with you and use all available money-saving tools. Their goal is to help you save as much money as possible.
This professional relationship continues after you secure your health plan. It helps you meet your medical needs and save money.
Excellus BCBS Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Excellus BCBS?
A: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with over 85 years of experience in the health insurance industry, serving individuals, families, employers, and Medicare members across upstate New York..
Q: What types of health insurance plans does Excellus BCBS offer?
A: Excellus BCBS offers a range of plans including HMO Blue, Bronze Standard, Bronze Select, Silver Standard, Silver Select, Gold Standard, and Gold Select. They also offer Medicare plans, Medicaid managed care, dental plans, and options for small and large businesses..
Q: Can I get subsidies on Excellus BCBS plans?
A: Yes. Excellus BCBS plans are offered on New York’s state health insurance exchange (NY State of Health). Qualifying individuals and families may be eligible for tax credits that reduce monthly premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs..
Q: Does Excellus BCBS have a 24/7 nurse line?
A: Yes. Excellus BCBS members have access to a 24/7 nurse line where registered nurses can help assess symptoms and recommend appropriate next steps, helping members determine whether they need to seek in-person care..
Q: How do I get a quote for a BCBS Excellus health plan?
A: You can request an instant online quote for a BCBS Excellus health plan through HSA for America by selecting your state above. You can also call us at 800-913-0172.
Or, schedule a free consultation with a Personal Benefits Manager. They can compare Excellus plans with other carriers in your area. They can help you find the most affordable coverage for your needs.
Q: What counties does Excellus BCBS serve in New York?
A: Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield serves 31 counties in New York. It covers Central New York, Utica, the Southern Tier, and Rochester. Coverage is not available outside these New York service areas. Members who relocate or split time across states should plan for separate coverage as needed.
Q: Does Excellus BCBS offer an HSA-compatible plan?
A: Yes, Excellus BCBS offers the Blue PPO Health Savings Account plan, which is an IRS-qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP). It qualifies members to open and contribute to a Health Savings Account, allowing them to pay for eligible medical expenses with pre-tax dollars..
Q: What extra benefits do Excellus BCBS members receive?
A: All Excellus BCBS members have access to ExerciseRewards (up to $600 per year toward gym memberships), HealthyRewards (up to $1,000 per year for completing healthy activities), a 24/7 nurse line, telemedicine, Advanced Care Planning support, and discounts on dental, vision, and fitness tools..
Q: Is Excellus Blue Cross financially stable?
A: Yes. Excellus Blue Cross has an A rating from AM Best for financial stability. This shows it can meet its duties to policy holders.
Excellus is a nonprofit health insurer. It has served members for over 80 years and has a long history of strong financial stability.
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