Empire blue cross blue shield ny phone number

NY Allergy & Sinus Centers accepts Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield / Empire Health Plus (JLJ). If you have JLJ on your member ID card, you are enrolled in Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plus. It is your responsibility to know your benefits and coverage.

The information we receive may not always have the most accurate and updated benefit coverage. It may be helpful for you to contact your insurance provider’s member services department before coming to see the physician. Know what your individual plan covers before you visit NY Allergy & Sinus Centers.

Contact Empire Health Plus Member Services at 800-450-8753 or by calling the number on the back of your insurance card to verify your benefits and coverage.

What to Ask:

Explain to the representative that you are planning to visit a specialist at NY Allergy & Sinus Centers. 

1. Confirm that we are in-network with your insurance plan.

2. Ask about coverage for:

• An office visit with a specialist allergist
• Allergy testing performed in the office
• Allergy injections and other treatment
• CT scans
• Contracted prices for the above services (only if you have a deductible)
• Prescription coverage

If services are subject to your deductible you may want to request prices for such services.

Be sure to provide our call service agents your insurance identification number and plan when booking an appointment. Also, remember to bring your insurance card to your appointment. Know your policy holder’s name and date of birth in addition to our practice name and the office address in which you are visiting.

For any questions regarding your office visit and insurance, please call us at (212) 686-4448.

ALBANY, N.Y.--Empire BlueCross and Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) announced today that, beginning January 2019, consumers enrolled in its Medicare Advantage health plans will be able to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications and health-related products at CVS Pharmacy stores using their health plan’s allowance. The addition of CVS Pharmacy to Empire’s network of OTC retailers is part of the company’s continued commitment of making healthcare simpler for consumers and improving their health and well-being.

“Creating an enhanced healthcare experience for New Yorkers and giving them easier access to the products and services that aid consumers in leading healthier lives requires us to develop meaningful solutions for the individuals enrolled in our plans,” said Tomas Orozco, President of Empire’s Medicare business. “We are pleased to work together with CVS Pharmacy because we share the common goal of helping individuals manage their health in more effective ways. We believe that collaborations like this can make a tremendous difference for consumers who often are managing chronic medical conditions.”

With more than 490 stores in New York State, CVS Pharmacy provides a convenient shopping option for consumers enrolled in Empire’s Medicare Advantage plans. CVS Pharmacy carries a wide assortment of products and solutions that help consumers get well and stay well, including first aid supplies, support braces, pain relievers, and more. To use their OTC allowance at CVS Pharmacy, individuals must purchase the OTC medications and health-related items in-store.

“CVS Pharmacy is pleased to partner with Empire BlueCross and Empire BlueCross BlueShield to offer plan consumers increased access to the products they need to care for themselves,” said Emmanuel Kolady, Division Vice President, CVS Pharmacy. “This collaboration ensures that Empire Medicare Advantage plan consumers are able to purchase medications and other health-related products at one of hundreds of CVS Pharmacy locations in New York, helping them achieve their best health.”

Many of Empire’s 2019 Medicare Advantage plans offer a significant OTC allowance – as much as $960 annually. These types of benefits can be important to older adults who are often on a fixed income. According to the Social Security Administration, nearly a quarter of married seniors and four out of 10 unmarried older adults rely on their Social Security benefit, which averages just over $1,400 a month, for at least 90 percent of their income.

Empire also collaborates with other retailers to give consumers increased access to OTC medications and health-related products through the use of a plan’s OTC allowance. If a consumer would like to use one of these other retailers, the company will work with him/her to find the option that best fits his/her needs.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield is a plan (HMO and LPPO) with a Medicare contract. Empire BlueCross is an HMO DSNP plan with a Medicare contract and a coordination of benefits agreement with the New York State Department of Health.

About Empire BlueCross BlueShield

Empire BlueCross (Empire) is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. and Empire BlueCross HMO is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc. independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State. Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EmpireBCBS and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EmpireBlueCrossBlueShield.