About A Healthier Upstate Contributor
Posts by A Healthier Upstate Contributor
Member video: Going the extra mile for our members
For Medicare member Frank Pecora, making a call to Customer Care at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield meant finding medications he could afford. The 75-year-old is one of thousands who call the number on the back of their membership card and benefit from the expertise offered by customer care advocates who answer questions on everything from medical…Read More »
Be safe outdoors – What you need to know about Lyme disease
Summer is a time to work in the garden, visit the dog park, or hit the bike path. It is also a time to be aware of tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease, and ways to avoid them. Infected ticks can be found across the Northeast, including in upstate New York. “Lyme disease is a bacterial…Read More »
With the support of my leader, I found time in my busy schedule for development
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Customer Care supervisor Malerie Serley’s development journey began shortly after joining the company in 2019. “I joined the organization without any knowledge about health insurance,” Malerie explains. She started as a Customer Care advocate. “The reason I pushed my development was because I knew Excellus BCBS was a great company to work…Read More »
Breaking Down Barriers
Affordable and Accessible Care for All The ACCEL Clinic, a healthcare facility located at the Economic Opportunity Program in Elmira, NY, is providing affordable care to community members when they need it most. They couldn’t afford their blood pressure checks For Glenda and Woody Aikens, residents of West Elmira, the cost of weekly co-pays to…Read More »
Leigh Ann can do it and have fun!
My Lifetime Story: Taking Steps Towards Health Equity
As part of Melissa Klinko’s professional development, she was able to enroll in an online Harvard business course, fully sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, that specifically focused on addressing and reducing health care disparities. Little did she know that this experience would open her eyes to the underlying causes of these disparities and provide her with…Read More »
Richard models inclusion, diversity, equity and access.
Maternal Mental Health Month: Meet the Bright Beginnings team
Each year, May marks the start of Maternal Mental Health Month. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Maternal Mental Health refers to a mother’s overall emotional, social, and mental well-being, both during and after pregnancy. We recognize this month to spread awareness, support, and to encourage the availability of resources for mothers throughout the…Read More »
Local doctors, local decisions
Did you know that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is supported by a team of local Medical Directors? That’s right, a team of 27 doctors who live and work right here in our communities serve as Medical Directors for the health plan. This diverse group includes medical, dental and behavioral health specialists. Their work ensures that every…Read More »
‘Working here had a hand in saving my life,’ says Excellus BCBS employee
Since the age of 12, type 1 diabetes has been a part of Tayla Riccio’s life, often altering the course of her day and shaping her choices. “I have a rarer form of type 1,” explains Tayla, a customer care advocate at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “My blood sugar can drop for no reason, it just…Read More »