Excellus BCBS Medicare Broker News Vol. 7 No. 7

Important Information About Excellus BCBS D-SNP Plans

As many of you know, D-SNP plans are available to eligible enrollees, but Excellus BCBS continues to face challenges with the enrollment pathway (seamlessly aligning both Medicare and Medicaid applications with CMS & NYSDOH.) They are actively working with NYSDOH to streamline the complicated enrollment process. The goal is to have one seamless D-SNP enrollment and to have NYS align the Medicaid enrollment on the back end.

Excellus BCBS will update you when there is a viable broker pathway. They remain hopeful for a full product launch in 2026.

In the meantime, they know you have clients that could benefit from being in their D-SNP plans. Excellus BCBS has identified members who are currently on an Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan that are D-SNP eligible. They are planning to reach out over the summer to educate them about the unique benefits the D-SNP plans offer.

Many of the members they'll be reaching out to are aligned to a broker. Because of this, you should know the following:

• Eligible members will receive the letter linked below in their mailbox.
• There is no obligation to switch plans.
• There is no action required for broker partners. This is just to keep you informed. Excellus has attached D-SNP benefit highlights below so you can review the plan and help your clients make the best decision for them.
• Current MA members that elect to enroll in a D-SNP plan will maintain their broker as AOR. You will be compensated for the plan change.

What makes the Excellus D-SNP plan different from others?

These plans fully integrate care for dually eligible beneficiaries under a single managed care organization, meaning members have Excellus BCBS for both Medicare and Medicaid for a streamlined member experience. Most plans in this market are coordination-only (CO). Additionally, each member has a designated care manager to help these vulnerable members get all the care they need.

If you have questions about our member mailing or our D-SNP plans, please reach out to Broker Account Services.

• D-SNP Eligibility Letter (PDF)
• D-SNP Benefit Highlights (PDF)

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Preparing For AEP: Core And Retail Trainings

It’s once again time to start preparing for AEP. Below you’ll find the Core Training Certifications that Excellus BCBS will accept for AEP 2026. Many of these trainings are now open.

• AHIP
• NABIP
• Pinpoint
• Convey

As a reminder, all agents must complete the retail training requirement prior to filing an event. If you are interested in registering for a sales or educational event, please contact your Broker Account Executive.

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