Excellus asks customers to come forward to claim $2.36 million in uncashed checks

DeWITT, N.Y. — Thousands of New Yorkers have yet to cash more than $2.36 million in checks that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its parent company issued them in 2012.

The possible claimants include hundreds of people and companies in Central New York, Excellus said in a news release issued Monday.

Rochester–based Excellus is the largest health insurer in Central New York.

If the claimants don’t cash the checks by the end of August, Excellus is required to turn the money over to New York, the nonprofit said.

Excellus has set up an unclaimed funds web page (excellusbcbs.com/unclaimedfunds) where people can search by their last name to see if they have any uncashed checks with the company. It also offers instructions on how to claim and receive the funds.

“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.”

The health insurer speculates that it allocated most of the uncashed checks to members and providers who may have forgotten to cash the check, moved and not left a forwarding address, or died.

To claim a check prior to Aug. 31, current Excellus BlueCross BlueShield 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 (877) 757-3850.

The health insurer will mail checks to claimants after Aug. 31.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com