Excellus BCBS Broker News Vol. 19 No. 1

Tax Form 1095-B

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 carriers to mail the form. Members can still download the form or request it by mail if there are circumstances where they require it (i.e., audit). The 1095-B forms will be available by January 31 at the link below.

Please share this information with your groups and reach out to your account manager if you have questions about the tax form.

    Form 1095-B    

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Gag Clause Confirmation Of Attestations Completed

On December 31, 2023, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield completed the gag clause attestations on behalf of our fully insured and minimum premium groups who have our Rx. A gag clause Certificate of Attestation is available to groups, upon request.

Reach out to your account manager with questions or to request a confirmation of attestation on behalf of one of your groups.

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NEW For 2024: Virtual Physical Therapy Through Vori Health

Every business wants to help their employees live their best. That’s why Excellus is providing another option for physical therapy, so employees can have more accessibility when it comes to the care they need.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is now partnering with Vori Health to offer virtual musculoskeletal (back, neck and joint) health care and physical therapy services to our Fully Insured commercial group plans and Medicare Advantage group plans upon group renewal*. Vori Health is a nationwide specialty medical practice delivering a virtual-first musculoskeletal solution to help employees get back to their life faster.

Download the flyers below to learn more about virtual physical therapy through Vori Health and share the member flyers with your groups.

Virtual Physical Therapy - Group Flyer (PDF)                                              

Virtual Physical Therapy - Member Flyer (PDF)                  

^{* Vori Health is an independent company that offers virtual musculoskeletal (back, neck and joint) health care and physical therapy services to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield members. Embedded for all Fully Insured group plans with the exception of Minimum Premium arrangements. A buy-up option will be available for Minimum Premium and Self-Funded group plans for January 1, 2025.}

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Watch: Making The Most Of Your Health Plan

The Making the Most of Your Health Plan videos for 2024 are ready! These member-level videos provide a navigation member online account and mobile app, while highlighting important benefits, tools, and resources available to members.

There are three videos based on funding arrangement:

• Large Group, Fully Insured
• Large Group, Self-Funded
• Small Group

The shareable video links are available on the Excellus BCBS broker and employer portals under “Resources” then “Information Sessions.”

Please use the video links as you see fit and remember to share the video that aligns with a group’s funding arrangement. If you are unsure of which video to use, please reach out to your account manager.

    Watch The Videos  

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Blue On Demand Website Enhancements For Small Groups

To help create a better user experience for our Small Groups, Excellus BCBS has updated Blue on Demand with the following enhancements:

Medical Updates

• You can now compare the previous Q4 year rating period selected (Ex: 2022 to 2023)
• Added a new banner to link to dental and vision plans with instructions on how to view plans

Dental Updates

• Dental is now displayed the same as medical and you can switch orientation of the plan display
• Added plan type to the drop-down filter on the “Select Plan” page
• Added a new Print Package button on the “Select Plan” page for dental
• Added a remove all plans reset button for the “Add to App” feature

Log in to access Blue on Demand and explore these new features or talk to your account manager for more details.

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February Is American Heart Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventive (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, people aged 45 and over, and most races and Hispanic-origin groups, accounting for 1 in every 5 deaths in the US. The term “heart disease” includes several heart conditions. The most common form of heart disease in the US is coronary artery disease, which affects the blood flow to the heart and can cause a heart attack.

The biggest risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Almost half of adults in the US have at least one of these conditions. Diabetes and an unhealthy lifestyle also increase people’s risk for heart disease. Seeing a primary care provider annually is a great way to catch these risk factors before they develop into serious disease. Exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, managing stress, and limiting alcohol consumption can also reduce a person’s risk.

For members who want support managing their health, the Member Care Management team can help. Whether someone has a simple question or big health challenges, care managers can help them meet their health goals (at no additional cost to the member). Member Care Management can be reached at 1-877-222-1240 (TTY 711), 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or by email at Case.Management@Excellus.com.

The Heart Disease Toolkit (ZIP) below includes flyers and a challenge that can be shared with your groups. Contact your account manager or wellbeing consultant if you have questions.

    The Heart Disease Toolkit (ZIP)  

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