Your groups—no matter how small—will now have an attractive choice of Empire dental products.

Empire's Preventive Care, Preventive Care Plus and Comprehensive Care dental products are now open to groups with 2 – 4 enrollees, down from the previous 5+ minimum.

Please remember these underwriting guidelines:

• The group must have 2 enrollees in the dental program.
• The group must choose only one plan for its employees. Multiple dental plans/options are not allowed for groups with 2 – 4 enrollees.
• Groups with 2 – 4 dental enrollees must also have an Empire hospital and medical product to be eligible for one of the dental products.
• The Preventive, Preventive Care Plus and Comprehensive Care dental products are available only in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties.

Our Progressive dental product will continue to be offered to groups with 2 – 4 enrollees. No changes have been made to the underwriting guidelines for purchasing this product.

As always, these dental products have no employer contribution requirements. Their rates are the same for groups with 2 – 4 enrollees as for groups with 5+ enrollees.

For more information on how to quote Empire's dental plans to your groups, please call your Empire Sales representative, or contact Broker Relations at 1-877-222-7666.

When you provide Empire with all current demographic information such as the age, industry code and location of your clients, your attention to detail allows us to accurately establish costs for our New Jersey HMO.

Remember that upon renewal, a change in demographics could result in a substantial change in rates.

If you have any questions concerning the quoting process, please call Broker Relations at 1-877-222-7777.

We're Sending 30 of Our Finest to Florida's New Ocean-Front Ritz Carlton Hotel.

From May 23 through May 26, our top 30 producers will have the chance to experience the extravagance and excitement of Miami's new South Beach at the world-class Ritz-Carlton hotel.*

Empire will determine which brokers are "top sellers" and notify them in March. If you're chosen, you'll participate in a cutting-edge seminar with plenty of time to kick back, step out and explore the pleasures of this exciting tropical resort.

Are You a Contender?

• You must be one of the 30 leading producers of Empire BlueCross BlueShield contracts for the period from February 1, 2003, through January 31, 2004.
• Top producers from each of the following regions will be chosen:
• Albany/Mid-Hudson
• North Metro
• New York City
• Long Island
• New Jersey

* Promotion is subject to change or may be withdrawn at Empire's discretion.

Our Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee regularly reviews the formulary to ensure that it reflects the needs of our members and providers. New and existing drugs are added to or deleted from the formulary on the basis of safety, efficacy and cost, as appropriate.

The following chart reflects recent updates. For the most up-to date formulary, log on to www.empireblue.com and click on the "Broker" tab.





Members who continue to take medications that are removed from the formulary will either be covered at the non-formulary co-payment level or not covered at all depending on their pharmacy plan. Individual exceptions may apply. These formulary changes will not affect members who have a 2-tier open plan.

FYI Concerning Generic Drugs.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, generic drugs have the same active ingredients and are just as safe and effective as their brand-name equivalents. Members pay the lowest co-payment when their doctor prescribes generics.

Be sure to encourage your groups to have Empire members ask their doctors for generic alternatives.

Members with questions can contact Member Services at the phone number on the back of their ID card, or they can register and log on to Online Member Services at www.empireblue.com.