Excellus BlueCross BlueShield: NEW Feature for 2022: Part B Refund

In 2022, Excellus BCBS is offering a new $0 Medicare BlueActive® (PPO) plan in Central New York that includes a Part B refund of $40/month for members. How the refund will be given back to the member will depend on how their Medicare Part B premium is paid – whether premiums are withheld from their Social Security check or if they pay Part B premiums directly.

• Premiums are withheld from their Social Security check: Members will receive their $40/month refund as part of their monthly Social Security check balance. Please note: Due to the application processing time needed when first enrolling in Part B refund plan, it may take the Social Security Administration up to three months before a Part B refund will reflect in a member’s Social Security check. If there is a delay, the member will see the total delayed premium refund as a one-time payment in the first Social Security check after it has been processed.

• EXAMPLE: If a member enrolls in the new $0 Medicare BlueActive® (PPO) plan and pays their full Medicare Part B premiums in January, February, and March, they would see a total of $120 returned in their Social Security check ($40 for January, $40 for February, and $40 for March). Moving forward, they would see the $40/month refund reflected in their Social Security check for the remainder of the plan year.

• Member pays Part B premiums directly: They will see their Part B premium statement updates with the rebate amount credited to the balance that they owe.