Making Health Care as Affordable as Possible | News | Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (original) (raw)

We want you to feel confident that you can afford the high-quality health care you deserve. That's why we're working to slow the growth of rising costs and make care more accessible.

At Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, our strength lies in our commitment to the communities we serve. As a local nonprofit health plan, our mission is to ensure you have access to the care you need, when you need it. We do this through strong provider partnerships, innovative programs to improve affordability, and a relentless focus on you, our member.

Health is not just about an individual’s well-being; it’s about fostering healthier communities where everyone can thrive. We are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve while keeping health care as affordable as possible.

Jim Reed
President and CEO

Understanding Affordability

Health Insurance Premiums

Learn how health insurance premiums are calculated and what factors influence the rising cost of care.

Costs are increasing in all areas of our lives, from the grocery store to the gas pump. Health care is no exception. Locally, the cost of care is rising due to:

How We Use Your Premium Dollars

As a nonprofit health plan, we spent 93 cents of every premium dollar collected in 2023 on health care for you, our members. The rest was spent on taxes and fees and operating expenses.

Here’s the full breakdown: hospitals and doctors (69 cents); prescription medications (14 cents); emergency room visits/professional services such as labs and ambulance services (6 cents); other medical costs (4 cents).

How We’re Making Health Care More Affordable

Every day we work to find new ways to improve your health and to make care as accessible and affordable as possible.