Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of New York Introduces Low-Cost Health Plan for Uninsured
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Central New York's largest health insurer, on Wednesday launched a new low-cost health insurance plan for uninsured residents who cannot afford private coverage but are not eligible for state-funded assistance programs, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports. The insurance plan, ValuMed Plus, covers physician office visits, maternity services, chiropractic care, hospital services and emergency care but does not offer prescription drug coverage. Beneficiaries are charged a copayment based on services received, including $15 for a primary care doctor visit, $20 for a specialist visit and $250 for an inpatient hospital visit. To qualify for ValuMed Plus, individuals and families must have annual incomes lower than 250% of the federal poverty level and must be ineligible for government health insurance. The plan initially will target residents of Onondaga, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego and Cayuga counties. Excellus BCBS officials say ValuMed Plus will be offered in other New York counties later this year and early next year. "We are expanding the safety net to catch people who otherwise would fall through the cracks," Excellus BCBS regional President James Smith said (Mulder, Syracuse Post-Standard, 9/23).
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