Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield | Shop Now Great Rates
Are you thinking of buying an insurance plan from Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield or from any other health insurance company in New York for that matter? Vista Health Solutions lists all reputable health insurance companies in your area, including Empire, so you can compare them side by side to find the plan that best meets your needs. At Vista Health, we make it our mission to help you locate a quality and reliable health plan to suit your needs, as fast and convenient as possible.
Just enter your zip code above in the quoting engine to see the available plans, including Empire, in your area of New York State. You will then be able to compare them side by side before you decide which one suits you. Call our customer service department at (888)215-4045 If you need help from one of our experienced representatives who are standing by to assist you with a smile.
About Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
In 1934, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield started out as a hospital insurance provider in New York City. It is a subsidiary of the largest medical benefits provider named WellPoint. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield is unique as it owns and manages its network locally. Thus, they offer customized health insurance plans with broad access to medical care at the most cost-effective rates.
General Contact Information
If you would like to reach Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, the most common departments are listed below or you can visit them online
- Medicaid 800-600-4441
- Child Health Plus 844-430-1699
- Essential Plan 800-300-8181
- Medicare 800-300-8181
Types of Health Insurance Plans Sold by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
Being one of the oldest and most notable health insurance companies in New York, Empire offers the following types of plans which allow the ability to control both cost and freedom. For a detailed summary of each plan type, be sure to visit our FAQ page
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance markets
Empire Blue Cross-sells (or provides) health plans to these markets in the New York State
- Individual Health Insurance
- Group Health Insurance
- Catastrophic health insurance
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Child Health Plus
- Essential Plan
County listing of where Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Health plans are sold vs other New York State Health Insurance Carriers
County Aetna Affinity Anthem CDPHP Crystal Run Emblem Empire Excellus Fidelis HealthFirst HealthNow ENY HealthNow WNY Humana Independent Metroplus Molina MVP Oscar Oxford Univera United WellCare YourCare
Albany 
Allegany
Bronx
Broome
Cattaraugus
Cayuga
Chautauqua
Chemung
Chenango
Clinton
Columbia
Cortland
Delaware
Dutchess
Erie
Essex
Franklin
Fulton
Genesee
Greene
Hamilton
Herkimer
Jefferson
Kings
Lewis
Livingston
Madison
Monroe
Montgomery
Nassau
New York
Niagara
Oneida
Onondaga
Ontario
Orange
Orleans
Oswego
Otsego
Putnam
Queens
Rensselaer
Richmond
Rockland
Saratoga
Schenectady
Schoharie
Schuyler
Seneca
St. Lawrence
Steuben
Suffolk
Sullivan
Tioga
Tompkins
Ulster
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Westchester
Wyoming
Yates
Special Programs offered by Empire Health
Health Insurance companies often provide healthy lifestyle programs to members. Below are the more common discount programs offered by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Empire Health Assessment
- Tobacco Coaching
- Gym Reimbursement
- Virtual Well Being
- 24-hour nurse line
- Healthy Lifestyle Resources
- Personal Care Rebates
Complaints against Empire and Other Health Insurance Carriers by consumers
Yearly, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in NYS receives complaints from consumers against their health insurance provider. These types of complaints usually involve issues like payment, reimbursing for medical and hospital care, coverage related issues, network usage benefits related to usage, rates, and premium matters. This is the most recent complaint table which was filed in 2019. This table was sourced from the New York Consumer Guide to Health Insurers
| Carrier | Ranking 1=Best 13=Worst | Total Complaints | Upheld Complaints | Premium Collected | Complaint Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital District Physicians Health Plan | 2 | 9 | 1 | 541.47 | 0.0018 |
| Community Blue (HealthNow) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 183.02 | 0 |
| Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc. | 8 | 338 | 193 | 124.76 | 1.547 |
| Excellus Health Plan | 4 | 14 | 6 | 397.21 | 0.0151 |
| HIP Health Maintenance Organization | 7 | 668 | 400 | 2,501.09 | 0.1599 |
| Independent Health Association, Inc. | 3 | 18 | 2 | 228.96 | 0.0087 |
| MVP Health Plan, Inc. | 5 | 38 | 17 | 584.97 | 0.0291 |
| UnitedHealthcare of New York, Inc. | 6 | 79 | 35 | 792.96 | 0.0441 |
| Aetna Life Insurance Company | 12 | 1,300 | 455 | 1,975.90 | 0.2303 |
| CDPHP Universal Benefits, Inc. | 3 | 9 | 4 | 508.5 | 0.0079 |
| CIGNA Health and Life Insurance Company | 9 | 180 | 102 | 1,157 | 0.0881 |
| Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. | 10 | 423 | 227 | 2,549.34 | 0.089 |
| Excellus Health Plan, Inc. | 5 | 88 | 27 | 2,866.75 | 0.0094 |
| Group Health Incorporated | 13 | 1,515 | 1,111 | 806.75 | 1.3771 |
| HealthNow New York Inc. | 4 | 42 | 14 | 1,502.44 | 0.0093 |
| Independent Health Benefits Corporation | 1 | 11 | 1 | 565.62 | 0.00`8 |
| MVP Health Services Corporation | 2 | 10 | 3 | 734.03 | 0.0041 |
| Nippon Life Insurance Company of America | 6 | 11 | 3 | 62.67 | 0.0479 |
| Oscar Insurance Corporation | 11 | 132 | 39 | 298.8 | 0.1305 |
| Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. | 7 | 1,054 | 319 | 6,590.88 | 0.0484 |
| UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York | 8 | 289 | 106 | 1,966.61 | 0.0539 |
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Individual Insurance plans offered for Sale
A listing of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield plans sold through the NY State of Health. For additional information or if you’re interested in purchasing a plan, contact us at (888)215-4045
- Bronze Gatekeeper X ST HSA
- Silver Gatekeeper X ST
- Gold Gatekeeper X ST
- Platinum Gatekeeper X ST
- Catastrophic Gatekeeper ST
- Essential Plan 1
- Essential Plan 1 Plus
- Essential Plan 2
- Essential Plan 2 Plus
- Essential Plan 3
- Essential Plan 4
List Of Empire Hospitals and network size per county
The following list of hospitals is specific to all empire plans that are sold on the NY state of health exchange If you have an Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield plan or are thinking of purchasing one, before choosing a hospital, please contact the insurance carrier to confirm that the hospital is part of the network and associated with the empire health plan you have or are considering
| County | Hospital | Primary Care Physician Count | Specialist Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | Albany Medical Center Hospital, 43 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY, 12208, Albany Medical Center South Clinical Campus, 43 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY, 12208, Albany Memorial Hospital, 600 Northern Blvd, Albany, NY, 12204, St Peter's Hospital, 315 S Manning Blvd, Albany, NY, 12208, | 840 | 1,675 |
| Bronx | BronxCare Health System - Concourse Division, 1276 Fulton Ave, Bronx, NY, 10456, BronxCare Health System - Fulton Division, 1276 Fulton Ave, Bronx, NY, 10456, Calvary Hospital, 1740 Eastchester Rd, Bronx, NY, 10461, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 E 210th St, Bronx, NY, 10467, Montefiore Medical Center - Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 E 210th St, Bronx, NY, 10467, Montefiore Medical Center - Henry & Lucy Moses, 111 E 210th St, Bronx, NY, 10467, St Barnabas Hospital, 4422 3rd Ave, Bronx, NY, 10457, | 2,493 | 5,390 |
| Clinton | Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center, 75 Beekman St, Plattsburgh, NY, 12901, | 120 | 230 |
| Columbia | Columbia Memorial Hospital, 71 Prospect Ave, Hudson, NY, 12534, | 119 | 305 |
| Delaware | Delaware Valley Hospital Inc, 1 Titus Pl, Walton, NY, 13856, Margaretville Memorial Hospital, 42084 State Highway 28, Margaretville, NY, 12455, | 48 | 145 |
| Dutchess | Northern Dutchess Hospital, 6511 Spring Brook Ave, Rhinebeck, NY, 12572, St Francis Hospital - Beacon, 60 Delavan Ave, Beacon, NY, 12508, Vassar Brothers Hospital, 45 Reade Pl, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, | 566 | 1,999 |
| Essex | Elizabethtown Community Hospital, 75 Park St, Elizabethtown, NY, 12932, Moses Ludington Hospital, 1019 Wicker St, Ticonderoga, NY, 12883, | 35 | 79 |
| Fulton | Nathan Littauer Hospital, 99 E State St, Gloversville, NY, 12078, | 70 | 138 |
| Greene | The Pines at Catskill, 154 Jefferson Hts, Catskill, NY, 12414, | 56 | 146 |
| Herkimer | Little Falls Hospital, 140 Burwell St, Little Falls, NY, 13365, | 26 | 21 |
| Kings | Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, 1 Brookdale Plz, Brooklyn, NY, 11212, Brooklyn Hospital Center - Downtown Campus, 121 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, Interfaith Medical Center - St John's Episcopal, 1545 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11213, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, 585 Schenectady Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 10th Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11219, Mount Sinai Brooklyn, 3201 Kings Hwy, Brooklyn, NY, 11234, New York Community Hospital of Brooklyn, 2525 Kings Hwy, Brooklyn, NY, 11229, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 506 6th St, Brooklyn, NY, 11215, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - University Hosptial of Brooklyn, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, Victory Memorial Hospital, 699 92nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11228, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, 374 Stockholm St, Brooklyn, NY, 11237, | 3,651 | 8,254 |
| Montgomery | St Mary's Hospital - Amsterdam, 427 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, NY, 12010, | 156 | 230 |
| Nassau | Franklin Hospital Medical Center, 900 Franklin Ave, Valley Stream, NY, 11580, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 27005 76th Ave, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, Mercy Medical Center, 1000 N Village Ave, Rockville Centre, NY, 11570, Nassau University Medical Center, 2201 Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow, NY, 11554, North Shore University Hospital - Glen Cove, 101 Saint Andrews Ln, Glen Cove, NY, 11542, North Shore University Hospital - Manhasset, 300 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY, 11030, North Shore University Hospital - Plainview, 888 Old Country Rd, Plainview, NY, 11803, North Shore University Hospital - Syosset, 221 Jericho Tpke, Syosset, NY, 11791, South Nassau Communities Hospital, 1 Healthy Way, Oceanside, NY, 11572, St Francis Hospital - Roslyn, 100 Port Washington Blvd, Roslyn, NY, 11576, St. Joseph's Hospital - Bethpage, 4295 Hempstead Tpke, Bethpage, NY, 11714, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, 26901 76th Ave, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, Winthrop University Hospital, 259 1st St, Mineola, NY, 11501, | 3,185 | 8,942 |
| New York | Cabrini Medical Center, 227 E 19th St, New York, NY, 10003, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 E 70th St, New York, NY, 10021, Lenox Hill Hospital, 100 E 77th St, New York, NY, 10021, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY, 10021, Mount Sinai Beth Israel - Petrie Division, 10 Nathan D Perlman Pl, New York, NY, 10003, Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl, New York, NY, 10029, Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl, New York, NY, 10029, Mount Sinai St Luke's, 1111 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY, 10025, New York - Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, New York - Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital, 525 E 68th St, New York, NY, 10021, New York - Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital, 5141 Broadway, New York, NY, 10034, New York Eye And Ear Infirmary, 310 E 14th St, New York, NY, 10003, NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn, 550 1st Ave, New York, NY, 10016, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, 550 1st Ave, New York, NY, 10016, NYU Medical Center - Tisch, 550 1st Ave, New York, NY, 10016, Rockefeller University Hospital, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY, 10021, St Vincent's Midtown Hospital, 415 W 51st St, New York, NY, 10019, SVCMC - St Vincent's Manhattan, 170 W 12th St, New York, NY, 10011, | 5,546 | 15,957 |
| Orange | Orange Regional Medical Center, 707 E Main St, Middletown, NY, 10940, St Luke's Cornwall Hospital - Cornwall, 19 Laurel Ave, Cornwall, NY, 12518, St Luke's Cornwall Hospital - Newburgh, 70 Dubois St, Newburgh, NY, 12550, | 694 | 1,830 |
| Otsego | Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital, 1 Norton Ave, Oneonta, NY, 13820, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital - Cooperstown, 1 Atwell Rd, Cooperstown, NY, 13326, | 166 | 440 |
| Putnam | Putnam Hospital Center, 670 Stoneleigh Ave, Carmel, NY, 10512, | 144 | 635 |
| Queens | Caritas Health Care - Mary Immaculate Hospital, 15211 89th Ave, Jamaica, NY, 11432, Caritas Health Care - St Johns Queens Hospital, 9002 Queens Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11373, Elmhurst Hospital Center, 7901 Broadway, Flushing, NY, 11373, Flushing Hospital Medical Center, 4500 Parsons Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11355, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, 8900 Van Wyck Expy, Jamaica, NY, 11418, New York - Presbyterian/Queens, 5645 Main St, Flushing, NY, 11355, New York - Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 5645 Main St, Flushing, NY, 11355, North Shore University Hospital - Forest Hills, 10201 66th Rd, Flushing, NY, 11375, Parkway Hospital, 7035 113th St, Forest Hills, NY, 11375, Peninsula Hospital Center, 5115 Beach Channel Dr, Far Rockaway, NY, 11691, St John's Episcopal - South Shore, 327 Beach 19th St, Far Rockaway, NY, 11691, SVCMC - St Joseph's, 15840 79th Ave, Flushing, NY, 11366, | 3,602 | 8,392 |
| Rensselaer | Samaritan Hospital - Troy, 2215 Burdett Ave, Troy, NY, 12180, Seton Health System - St Mary's Campus, 1300 Massachusetts Ave, Troy, NY, 12180, | 344 | 545 |
| Richmond | Richmond University Medical Center - Bayley Seton Campus, 75 Vanderbilt Ave, Staten Island, NY, 10304, Richmond University Medical Center - Main Campus, 355 Bard Ave, Staten Island, NY, 10310, Staten Island University Hospital - North, 475 Seaview Ave, Staten Island, NY, 10305, | 677 | 2,062 |
| Rockland | Helen Hayes Hospital, Route 9w, West Haverstraw, NY, 10993, Nyack Hospital, 160 N Midland Ave, Nyack, NY, 10960, | 617 | 1,186 |
| Saratoga | Saratoga Hospital & Nursing Home, 211 Church St, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, | 348 | 855 |
| Schenectady | Bellevue Woman's Center, 2210 Troy Schenectady Rd, Schenectady, NY, 12309, Ellis Hospital -McClellan Division, 1101 Nott St, Schenectady, NY, 12308, Sunnyview Hospital Rehab Center, 1270 Belmont Ave, Schenectady, NY, 12308, | 230 | 564 |
| Schoharie | Bassett Hospital of Schoharie County, 41 Grandview Dr, Cobleskill, NY, 12043, | 22 | 33 |
| Suffolk | Apex Rehabilitation & Care Center, 78 Birchwood Dr, Huntington Station, NY, 11746, Brunswick General Hospital, 366 Broadway, Amityville, NY, 11701, Eastern Long Island Hospital, 201 Manor Pl, Greenport, NY, 11944, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, 1000 Montauk Hwy, West Islip, NY, 11795, Huntington Hospital - Huntington, 270 Park Ave, Huntington, NY, 11743, John T Mather Memorial Hospital, 75 N Country Rd, Port Jefferson, NY, 11777, Long Island Community Hospital, 101 Hospital Rd, Patchogue, NY, 11772, Nesconset Nursing Center LLC, 100 Southern Blvd, Nesconset, NY, 11767, Peconic Bay Medical Center, 1300 Roanoke Ave, Riverhead, NY, 11901, Southampton Hospital, 240 Meeting House Ln, Southampton, NY, 11968, Southside Hospital, 301 E Main St, Bay Shore, NY, 11706, St Catherine of Siena Medical Center, 50 Route 25a, Smithtown, NY, 11787, St Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, 200 Belle Terre Rd, Port Jefferson, NY, 11777, University Hospital at Stony Brook, 101 Nicolls Rd, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, | 2,272 | 6,260 |
| Sullivan | Catskill Regional Medical Center - G Hermann, 8081 Route 97, Callicoon, NY, 12723, Catskill Regional Medical Center - Harris, 8081 Route 97, Callicoon, NY, 12723, | 208 | 631 |
| Ulster | Benedictine Hospital, 105 Marys Ave, Kingston, NY, 12401, Ellenville Regional Hospital, 10 Healthy Way, Ellenville, NY, 12428, HealthAlliance Hospital - Broadway Campus, 396 Broadway, Kingston, NY, 12401, | 258 | 826 |
| Warren | Glens Falls Hospital, 100 Park St, Glens Falls, NY, 12801, The Pines at Glens Falls Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, 170 Warren St, Glens Falls, NY, 12801, | 182 | 310 |
| Westchester | Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, 785 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY, 10605, Community Hospital At Dobbs Ferry, 128 Ashford Ave, Dobbs Ferry, NY, 10522, Lawrence Hospital Center, 55 Palmer Ave, Bronxville, NY, 10708, Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital, 12 N 7th Ave, Mount Vernon, NY, 10550, Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital, 16 Guion Pl, New Rochelle, NY, 10801, New York - Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital, 1980 Crompond Rd, Peekskill, NY, 10566, Northern Westchester Hospital Center, 400 E Main St, Mount Kisco, NY, 10549, Phelps Memorial Hospital, 701 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY, 10591, St John's Riverside Hospital - Andrus Pavillion, 2 Park Ave, Yonkers, NY, 10703, St Joseph's Medical Center, 127 S Broadway, Yonkers, NY, 10701, SVCMC - St Vincent's Westchester, 275 North St, Harrison, NY, 10528, White Plains Hospital Center, 41 E Post Rd, White Plains, NY, 10601, | 1,995 | 5,665 |