Excellus announces more than $2.6 million in unclaimed funds

DeWITT, N.Y. — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its parent company are seeking people and companies who have not cashed more than $2.66 million in checks.

The nonprofit said, “hundreds of people and companies in Central New York, and thousands across the state” have money from the insurer that they haven’t claimed, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

Excellus is Central New York’s largest health insurer. The company issued the checks to members and providers in 2013, but recipients never cashed them.

If the recipients don’t claim the funds by the end of August, Excellus is required to turn the money over to New York State.

A complete list of names of people and companies with checks to claim, along with instructions on how to claim the funds, is available online at ExcellusBCBS.com/unclaimedfunds.

“This is money that was paid for claims or refunded premiums,” Jim Reed, regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, said in the release. “We want to make sure that our members and providers have one more chance to claim it before it goes to the state.”

Most of the checks that have yet to be cashed were allocated to Excellus members and providers, “who may have forgotten to cash the check, moved and not left a forwarding address, or died,” the health insurer said.

To claim a check prior to Aug. 31, current Excellus members can call the phone number listed on their member identification card.

Former members, or those calling on behalf of the estate of a family member, can call Excellus at (800) 499-1275.

Checks will be mailed to claimants after Aug. 31.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com