Excellus BCBS Recognized by Forbes as one of the Nation’s Best Employers for Diversity

SYRACUSE, NY – Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has been recognized by Forbes as one of the best employers in the United States for diversity.

The health plan was honored among 500 organizations, with 1,000 or more employees, on the list of Forbes Best Employers for Diversity 2024.

“Inclusion, diversity, equity and access are core to who we are and what we do every day,” said Excellus BCBS President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Reed. “This recognition is evidence of the ways our employees contribute to an environment where each of us can feel seen, valued and empowered to be our best selves.”

This is the second consecutive year Excellus BCBS has made the list. The nonprofit health insurer ranked No. 25 among all employers nationally and No. 5 among employers in the insurance industry. 

"I couldn’t be prouder of our employees for the way they show up each and every day,” said Excellus BCBS Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Sady Alvarado-Fischer. “Inclusion, diversity, equity and access is everyone's responsibility, and I’m excited that the dedication, passion, and work of so many throughout our organization are having a positive impact."

The companies on the Best Employers for Diversity 2024 list were identified through an independent survey of 170,000 U.S.-based employees.

The following criteria were used in the evaluation:

• Employees were asked to give their opinions on a series of statements regarding age, gender, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQIA+ and overall diversity in their current workplace.
• Participants were also given the chance to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stand out either positively or negatively regarding diversity.
• Research was carried out to evaluate how companies fared across a range of diversity-related best practices including representation, accountability, communication, and internal and external initiatives.

The Best Employers for Diversity 2024 award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., a global data and business intelligence platform established in Germany in 2007. The full list is available on the Forbes website.

Excellus BCBS was recognized by Forbes earlier this year with a No. 8 ranking on their 2024 list of America’s Best Midsize Employers.

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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company's mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 4,200 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.