Department of Civil Service

PE26-13

TO: Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Employers
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Open Enrollment for Plan Year 2027
DATE: August 13, 2026

Beginning in December 2026, NYSHIP will offer Open Enrollment in place of Option Transfer.

Open Enrollment is currently scheduled to run from December 1 to 31, 2026, but dates may vary depending on the timing of annual rate approval. During Open Enrollment, employees can make the following changes for the 2027 plan year:

• Enroll in NYSHIP for the first time with no waiting period or qualifying event^*
• Change between The Empire Plan and a NYSHIP HMO (if applicable)
• Switch from Individual to Family coverage or add previously eligible dependents to existing Family coverage with no waiting period or qualifying event^*
• Switch from Family to Individual coverage
• Enroll in the Young Adult Option (YAO)

* Represents a change in NYSHIP policy.

The process for submitting health plan option change requests will remain the same.

Health Insurance Choices

Health Insurance Choices for 2027 includes information about health plan options and benefits available to NYSHIP enrollees (both active employees and retirees). It will be available at nyship.ny.gov in mid-October and will not be mailed to enrollee homes.

Rates and Information

The NYSHIP Rate Schedule Register for Participating Employers for 2027 provides the full cost Participating Employers are charged for NYSHIP premiums and will be added to the Easy Reference page on HBA Online as soon as rates are available. NYSHIP enrollees with retiree benefits^** are permitted to change health plans once during a 12-month period. Rates and Information for 2027 will include the most common rates for each plan option for retirees of Participating Employers. Once rates have been approved, the publication will be mailed to all enrollees to whom these rates apply and posted on the NYSHIP website. Participating Employers will notify active employees of 2027 NYSHIP rates separately.

** NYSHIP enrollees with retiree benefits include retirees, vestees, dependent survivors and preferred list enrollees, their covered dependents, and COBRA enrollees.

NYSHIP’s Plan Comparison Tool

The Plan Comparison Tool on the NYSHIP website lets enrollees compare NYSHIP plans in their area. After selecting their group and location, enrollees can generate a comparison of any of the following for the plans available to them:

• Medical and hospital care benefits
• Prescription drug, mental health and substance use coverage
• Copayment and coinsurance amounts
• Coverage limits and out-of-pocket maximums
• Incentive and support programs offered

Information Online

Enrollees can access all Open Enrollment resources on the NYSHIP website at nyship.ny.gov. Publications will also be available on HBA Online at cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/hba.

Order Printed Copies

To order printed copies of Choices or Rates and Information, please use the ordering system on HBA Online at cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/hba. If you need help accessing HBA Online, contact the HBA Helpline at 518-474-2780. If you have any questions about Open Enrollment publications or distribution, please email the Communications Unit at communications@cs.ny.gov.

Open Enrollment Webinar for HBAs

The Employee Benefits Division will present information about NYSHIP’s transition from Option Transfer to Open Enrollment and answer questions during a Microsoft Teams webinar on Thursday, September 10, from 3 to 4 p.m. To register, please visit the following URL:

events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/30add873-1388-4a39-b4af-a2e14221fa4f@f46cb8ea-7900-4d10-8ceb-80e8c1c81ee7

This webinar is optional and separate from the mandatory webinar hosted annually by the Employee Benefits Division each fall. Details about the mandatory webinar will be shared via a separate memo.