The Labor Management Healthcare Fund, which provides healthcare to around 26,000 public employees, had contracted with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for the past 20 years, according to the Buffalo News.
The fund provides healthcare to workers in Erie County, N.Y. government, school district employees, and employees of several other cities in the area.
John Greenan, chair of the fund’s board of trustees, told the Buffalo News Univera’s proposal was “very aggressive on cost,” but the wellness services Univera offered ultimately led the fund to select the Buffalo-based insurer.
“Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has appreciated our long-standing partnership with [Labor Management Healthcare Fund] and believe there will be opportunities to continue serving their members in the future,” a spokesperson for Highmark told Becker’s.
A spokesperson for Univera declined to comment to Buffalo News.
Univera is part of The Lifetime Healthcare Companies, which also operates Excellus BCBS.
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