Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, which carries health insurance on many people in St. Lawrence County, says it has more than a million dollars in checks from 2009 that are unclaimed by individuals and companies.

According to the company, more than 9,100 members and providers in New York state have forgotten more than $1.1 million in checks issued by Excellus Health Plan, including by its Excellus BlueCross BlueShield division. This isn’t money left in their pockets, but is in the form of unclaimed checks issued in 2009 to members and providers.

A complete list of names of people and companies with checks to claim is available on the company’s website at excellusbcbs.com/forgottenfunds. Printed legal notices listed by county will be placed this week in regional daily or weekly newspapers across New York state.

Every year, the state requires insurers like Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to make a list of unclaimed checks that are at least three years old. The names are then placed in advertisements in local papers in an attempt to find the people who have money to claim. If the property is not claimed by the end of August, the money is then turned over to the Comptroller of the State of New York.

“This is money that was paid for claims or refunded premiums. If the money remains unclaimed, it will go to the state,” said Christopher C. Booth, president and chief executive officer. “It rightfully belongs to our members or providers, and we want to make sure they have one more chance to claim it before it goes to the state.”

Most of the funds that have yet to be redeemed were allocated to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield members and providers. Checks may not have been cashed for a number of reasons. The member may have moved and not left a forwarding address, a member may have died, or the member simply forgot about the money.

To claim a check prior to Aug. 31, people may contact customer service or provider services. Those who are health plan members can call the phone number listed on the member identification card.

Those who are no longer a health plan members, or if you are calling on behalf of the estate of a family member, call Excellus BlueCross BlueShield at (877) 757-3850.