As many of you are aware, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (Excellus) is in contract discussions with both FamilyCare Medical Group (FCMG) and St. Joseph’s Health. If you have physicians associated with either FCMG or St. Joseph’s, you may have received a letter notifying you that these providers will be considered out-of-network if an agreement is not reached by Jan. 1, 2025. I recognize this is causing concern among some in our campus community.
It’s important to know that the University is not privy to the contract terms and negotiations between Excellus and providers, nor can we control a provider’s decision to participate in any network. However, I want to give you every assurance that we are closely monitoring the situation, discussing options with other large, local employers and in regular communication with Excellus. I have personally expressed my concerns to Excellus leadership and urged them to reach a resolution quickly and in a manner that is favorable to our faculty and staff.
If these providers make the decision to no longer participate with Excellus, they will be considered “out-of-network.” If you have health insurance through the University, here is what that would mean for you:
- If you are enrolled in the SUBlue or SUPro health plans, your services from either provider will still be covered, but as out-of-network, which means you will generally pay higher out-of-pocket costs.
- If you are enrolled in the SUOrange health plan, your services from either provider will not be covered and you will be responsible for paying the entire cost of the visit out-of-pocket.
During our upcoming upcoming Open Enrollment period later this month, you will have the opportunity to review your health plan options and consider moving to SUBlue or SUPro to ensure you have access to out-of-network coverage. In addition, we have arranged for Excellus representatives to be available on campus to meet and assist faculty and staff with their personal questions. Dates and locations will be announced during Open Enrollment, which is planned for Oct. 28-Nov. 8. Expect an email from me next week with more information and instructions about Open Enrollment, including a link to the Open Enrollment website.
As a reminder, Syracuse University operates as a self-insured health plan, which means that we pay for all medical claims, costs and fees. Faculty and staff share in the cost of the health plan in the form of deductibles, copays, coinsurance and paycheck contributions. As health care costs continue to outpace the general rate of inflation, we know it’s never been more important to manage costs through favorable and appropriate provider contract agreements.
This is why we will continue to advocate on behalf of our faculty and staff. I remain hopeful that agreements will be reached soon. Additional information and resources can be found on our HR website. If you have additional questions, please reach out to HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.
Sincerely,
Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer