Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) will no longer accept new members in its Medicare Supplement (Med Supp)
Plans in New York (NY) beginning with July 1, 2023 effective dates.
Members currently enrolled in an Empire Med Supp plan may keep their existing plan and you will continue to receive
commission for these members for as long as they continue to pay their premiums. Empire will continue to offer
prescription drug plans (Part D) and Medicare Advantage plans. Med Supp applications already submitted to, or
received by the plan prior to July 1, 2023 for July 1 2023 effective dates or earlier, will follow the current enrollment
process.
Applicants who apply for July 1, 2023 effective dates or after will receive a letter from Empire informing them Empire is
no longer offering Med Supp Plans in NY. These applicants are encouraged to consider enrolling in an Empire
Medicare Advantage Plan where available. In counties where they do not offer an Empire plan, or the alternative does
not meet their needs, they have the option of enrolling in a competitor’s plan available in the market.
2023 Medicare Advantage New York
Medicare Supplement Market Exit
Frequently Asked Questions – May 2023
OVERVIEW – Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Empire BlueCross Medicare Supplement
Plan Offering Discontinued in New York
Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Empire BlueCross (Empire) will discontinue offering its
Medicare Supplement (Med Supp) Plans to Medicare eligible individuals in New York (NY)
effective July 1, 2023, and will no longer enroll new members as of that date but will continue to
serve existing members.
Members currently enrolled in an Empire Med Supp plan may keep their existing plan and you will
continue to receive commission for these members for as long as they continue to pay their
premiums.
Empire will continue to offer Medicare Advantage plans in certain parts of the state of NY as well
as prescription drug plans (Part D). Anyone currently enrolled in an Empire Med Supp plan will
not have to change their plan and will continue to have access to covered benefits.
Applications received prior to July 1, 2023 will be processed as usual. New applications received
July 1, 2023 and after will not be accepted by the plan. These applicants will receive a letter from
Empire informing them that we no longer offer Med Supp Plans in the NY market. They will be
encouraged to inquire about an Empire Medicare Advantage Plan in counties where available.
Questions & Answers
Does this mean that Empire will no longer serve the New York market?
No. Empire will continue to offer Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans in New York.
How will this affect those applications that have already been submitted to Empire for
enrollment?
All Med Supp applications received prior to July 1, 2023, for a July 1, 2023 effective date or earlier,
will be processed following current business rules.
Med Supp enrollment applications in NY received July 1, 2023 or after, for a July 1, 2023 effective
date or later, will be rejected. Applicants will receive a letter from Empire indicating their
application will not be processed for enrollment. We will advise those prospects to inquire about an
Empire Medicare Advantage Plan if available in their area. If the Empire MA Plan does not meet
their needs, there are other carriers in the market that offer Med Supp Plans.
Will Empire continue to offer prescription drug plans (Part D) and Medicare Advantage
plans in New York?
Yes, Empire will continue to offer prescription drug plans (Part D) and Medicare Advantage plans
in select areas.
Will I continue to receive commission payments for my existing book of Med Supp
business in NY?
Yes. You will continue to be paid commissions for current members as they will retain their
existing Med Supp Plans as long as they continue to pay their premiums.
What should I tell applicants who are enrolling with an effective date of July 1, 2023 or
prior?
Med Supp enrollment applications received by the plan prior to July 1, 2023 will follow the current
process for new Med Supp enrollments. The application must be received by the plan prior to July
1, 2023.
Member Impact
Will members who are currently enrolled in an Empire Med Supp plan lose their coverage?
No. There is no impact to current members. Members will retain their existing Med Supp Plans as
long as they continue to pay their premiums. They will continue to have access to all regular
customer service channels.
Will premium rates be impacted for members currently enrolled in a standard Empire Med
Supp Plan?
At this time there will be no impact to their premium rates. Empire evaluates its Med Supp Plans
annually and implements rate changes as needed, subject to approval from the New York
Department of Financial Services.
What plan choices are now available for eligible beneficiaries in NY?
Empire will continue to offer prescription drug plans (Part D) and Medicare Advantage plans in
select areas in NY. If an Empire product does not meet their needs, there are other carriers in the
market that offer Med Supp Plans.
Have questions? Please contact your Regional Sales Manager.
This is neither legal nor accounting advice. If you have questions, please consult a lawyer or accountant. The information included in this post was provided by the entity referenced herein.
