STATEWIDE PURCHASING ALLIANCE OF NEW YORK · BROOME COUNTY PURCHASING ALLIANCE
2027 SPANY-BCPA Announcement
Fourteen Excellus Medicare Blue PPO designs · Effective January 1, 2027
Municipalities can access educational materials, brokers can download marketing resources, and protected documents can be submitted securely through our HIPAA Encrypted Document Submission Portal.
Plans 11 through 14 are additional choices, not replacements.
| PLAN & MEDICAL COPAY | PRESCRIPTION DESIGN | 2026 RATE PMPM | 2027 RATE PMPM | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAPD PLANS · MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE COMBINED | ||||
| Plan 1·$0 Copay | $0 / $5 / $20 (1x) | $546.10 | $587.06 | +7.5% |
| Plan 2·$10 Copay | $0 / $10 / $20 (1x) | $443.98 | $477.27 | +7.5% |
| Plan 3·$0 Copay | $10 / $20 / $35 (2x) | $454.73 | $488.84 | +7.5% |
| Plan 4·$0 Copay · Includes Dental | $0 / $1 / $1 (1x) | $583.73 | $627.51 | +7.5% |
| Plan 7·$15 Copay | $5 / $15 / $30 (1x) | $430.00 | $462.25 | +7.5% |
| Plan 8·$25 Copay | $5 / $20 / $40 (1x) | $408.50 | $439.13 | +7.5% |
| Plan 11·$10 CopayNEW | $10 / $25 / $40 (1x) | Not offered | $413.14 | New for 2027 |
| Plan 12·$20 CopayNEW | $10 / $25 / $40 (1x) | Not offered | $391.26 | New for 2027 |
| MA-ONLY PLANS · MEDICAL COVERAGE, PRESCRIPTION ARRANGED SEPARATELY | ||||
| Plan 5·$0 Copay · Includes Dental | Arranged separately | $246.18 | $264.65 | +7.5% |
| Plan 6·$0 Copay | Arranged separately | $160.18 | $172.19 | +7.5% |
| Plan 9·$15 Copay | Arranged separately | $193.50 | $208.01 | +7.5% |
| Plan 10·$25 Copay | Arranged separately | $177.38 | $190.68 | +7.5% |
| Plan 13·$20 CopayNEW | Arranged separately | Not offered | $170.39 | New for 2027 |
| Plan 14·$10 CopayNEW | Arranged separately | Not offered | $148.50 | New for 2027 |
Rates for Plans 1 through 10 reflect the 7.5% maximum renewal increase permitted under the current multi-year agreement. Plans 11 through 14 are new for 2027 and have no prior-year rate. The medical copay shown beside each plan name is the primary care and specialist office visit copay, which are set at the same amount on each plan. Prescription figures are the 30-day retail tiers; the multiplier indicates the 90-day supply copay. Plans 4 and 5 include dental benefits. MA-Only prescription coverage is arranged separately by the employer and is not administered by the health plan.
WHAT IS NEW FOR 2027
$150 Fitness Allowance
An annual allowance toward a nonparticipating fitness club or exercise center through Silver&Fit.
$299 Standard Hearing Aid
A new Standard hearing-aid copay through TruHearing, in addition to the existing $499 Advanced and $799 Premium levels.
$75 Hearing Exam Out of Network
An out-of-network copay for a routine hearing examination.
$75 Non-TruHearing Allowance
An allowance toward hearing aids obtained through non-TruHearing providers.
RATE PROTECTION
The existing multi-year agreement limits annual renewal increases to no more than 7.5% through 2027.
The cap is a ceiling on the annual increase rather than a guarantee of a lower rate, and each 2027 renewal above was set at that ceiling. Negotiations for the next agreement begin in March 2027. The terms that apply from 2028 forward will be communicated once that agreement is settled.
RATE STATUS AS STATED ON THE EXCELLUS RATE SHEETS
Excellus Health Plan, Inc. · Medicare Advantage Employer Group · Broome County Purchasing Alliance · PROPOSED Monthly Premium Rates Effective January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027. Rates are for a fully insured financial arrangement and must be an exclusive arrangement. Rates include broker commission consistent with the amount in the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield / Univera broker commission policy. If enrollment were to change by more than +/- 10% in total, the Health Plan reserves the right to adjust the rates. For MA-Only plans, commercial prescription coverage is carved out and is not administered by the Health Plan. Health Plan rates shall align with Medicare payment rates and methodologies as defined by CMS, including but not limited to prospective payment systems for Part A and B providers. The Health Plan reserves the right to modify the rates if CMS makes regulatory changes to Medicare payment rates and methodologies that impact the Health Plan's Medicare Advantage and Part D revenue or costs.
Compare It Against What You Have Today
Rates and plan designs only become meaningful when compared with the coverage a municipality provides today.
SPANY prepares a factual, line-by-line comparison of a public employer's current retiree coverage based on the provided Summary Plan Descriptions, against the 2027 BCPA options. The comparison is prepared at no cost and without obligation.
WHAT THE COMPARISON INCLUDES
| AREA REVIEWED | WHAT IS PLACED SIDE BY SIDE |
|---|---|
| Premiums | The current premium next to the BCPA premium, stated PMPM |
| Total annual employer cost | Annual cost under each arrangement, using the employer's actual retiree count |
| Medical cost sharing | Deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and copays |
| Prescription benefit structure | Tier structure, retail and mail supply pricing, annual out-of-pocket limits |
| Provider access | Network structure under each arrangement, including out-of-area coverage |
| Dental, vision, hearing and fitness | What is included, what is optional, and allowance levels |
| Rate protection and renewal treatment | How each arrangement handles renewal increases year over year |
THE PROCESS
SPANY prepares the comparison for the municipality and its broker to evaluate.
The purpose of this comparison is to highlight the differences in coverages and premiums.
Each group is responsible for reviewing all Summary Plan Descriptions for more specific coverage details.
THREE ITEMS ARE NEEDED TO BEGIN
ONE
Current Plan Summary
The benefit summary for the retiree plan offered today.
TWO
Current Rates or Renewal
The current premium and, if available, the renewal received.
THREE
Medicare-Eligible Retiree Count
The number of Medicare-eligible retirees currently covered.
Groups seeking a January 1, 2027 effective date must submit to join the BCPA by October 15, 2026.
Only the three items above are needed to begin. No census containing individual protected health information is required for the initial comparison.
PLAN DESIGN AND PRICING
BCPA pricing is community-rated. An individual municipality's claims experience does not set its BCPA rate, and every participating employer is quoted the same standardized plan pricing for the same plan design.
TO REQUEST A COMPARISON
Visit SPANY.ORG or contact Jacob P. Bulman
Director of Client Operations · [email protected] · (607) 206-6513
Together.
How the Alliance Is Built
The BCPA was developed specifically for New York public employers and their Medicare-eligible retirees. Four features define how the program works in practice.
FLEXIBILITY
- No minimum BCPA group size
- No minimum participation requirements
As long as the plan(s) are made available to ALL MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE RETIREES
- Plans may be offered voluntarily
- One plan or multiple plans may be offered
- BCPA coverage may sit alongside another retiree option
- January 1 and July 1 effective dates
STABILITY
- Community-rated pricing
- An individual municipality's claims experience does not set its BCPA rate
- Standardized plan pricing
- Multi-year rate protection
- Greater budget predictability
The current agreement limits annual renewal increases to no more than 7.5% through 2027.
RETIREE ACCESS
- Nationwide Passive PPO structure
- In-network and out-of-network benefits
- Access to participating Medicare Blue PPO providers and other eligible Medicare providers willing to accept and bill the plan
- Vision, hearing, fitness and other supplemental benefits
PARTNERSHIP AND ADVOCACY
- Broker-friendly program
- Dedicated onboarding and implementation support
- Objective plan comparisons
- Ongoing employer and retiree assistance
- A program developed specifically for New York public employers and their Medicare-eligible retirees
ALLIANCE SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION
Dedicated Support for BCPA Retirees - Unique to The Alliance
WHAT THE DEDICATED TEAM DOES
- Conducts Enrollment Meetings with the Municipality and its Retirees to properly inform each member of its benefits
- Works directly with SPANY when additional coordination is required
- Assists with benefits, troubleshooting claims and claims appeals, provider questions and plan administration
- Remains available throughout the plan year, not only during implementation
STRONGER TOGETHER
The Alliance allows eligible public employers to approach Medicare retiree coverage collectively rather than in isolation.
Collective participation strengthens the program's scale, stability, representation and future negotiating leverage. Rates are negotiated for the Alliance as a collective, and every group shares equally in the savings, no matter the group size.
Stronger
Together.
Plans 11 Through 14
| BENEFIT | PLAN 11 · MAPD | PLAN 12 · MAPD | PLAN 13 · MA-ONLY | PLAN 14 · MA-ONLY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium PMPM | $413.14 | $391.26 | $170.39 | $148.50 |
| Annual medical deductible | None | None | None | None |
| Medical out-of-pocket maximum | $1,250 | $1,250 | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| Primary care & specialist visit | $10 copay | $20 copay | $20 copay | $10 copay |
| Inpatient hospital | $100 / admission | $100 / admission | $100 / admission | $100 / admission |
| Emergency room | $65 copay | $65 copay | $65 copay | $65 copay |
| Urgent care | $10 copay | $20 copay | $20 copay | $10 copay |
| Outpatient surgery / ASC | $50 copay | $50 copay | $50 copay | $50 copay |
| Skilled nursing · days 21 to 100 | $221 / day | $221 / day | $221 / day | $221 / day |
| Prescription coverage | $10 / $25 / $40 (1x) | $10 / $25 / $40 (1x) | Arranged separately | Arranged separately |
| Routine vision exam & eyewear | $10 · $100 allowance | $20 · $100 allowance | $20 · $100 allowance | $10 · $100 allowance |
| Routine hearing exam & aids | Exam covered · $299 / $499 / $799 | Exam covered · $299 / $499 / $799 | Exam covered · $299 / $499 / $799 | Exam covered · $299 / $499 / $799 |
| Dental | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
In-network cost sharing shown; out-of-network benefits are exactly the same on every plan. Prescription figures are the 30-day retail tiers, with a 90-day supply at one copay. MA-Only prescription coverage is arranged separately by the employer. Full plan documents for all fourteen plans are available on request and at SPANY.ORG.
NEXT STEP
Request an Objective Comparison
See how your current retiree coverage compares with the 2027 BCPA options. Visit SPANY.ORG or contact Jacob P. Bulman at [email protected].
Stronger
Together.
SPANY and its administration of the BCPA help public employers preserve meaningful retiree benefits by providing stable, flexible and sustainable coverage options.
FIND YOUR SPANY CONTACT
Connect With the SPANY Team
Statewide Purchasing Alliance of New York · Broome County Purchasing Alliance
Our team works directly with public employers, brokers and retirees throughout the evaluation, enrollment and ongoing service process. Contact the team member who best matches your region or area of need.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Douglas Bulman
President
OPERATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION
Kevin McManus
Vice President of Operations
CLIENT OPERATIONS
Jacob Bulman
Director of Client Operations
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPPORT
Bradley Cook
School District Liaison
REGIONAL BROKERAGE SUPPORT
CENTRAL NEW YORK
Michael Bulman
Brokerage Manager, Central New York
NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK
Joseph Bulman
Brokerage Manager, Northeastern New York
PLAN INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
SPANY.ORG
Supporting New York public employers and their retirees through stronger purchasing, objective analysis and dedicated service.
SPANY and BCPA: We are Stronger Together.