The Empire Plan is a unique health insurance plan designed especially for public employees in New York State. Empire Plan benefits include inpatient and outpatient hospital coverage, medical/surgical coverage, Centers of Excellence for transplants, infertility and cancer, home care services, equipment and supplies, mental health and substance abuse coverage and prescription drug coverage.
ELIOT SPITZER
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
NANCY G. GROENWEGEN
COMMISSIONER
PE07-41
PA07-33
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefit Administrators Participating Employer Health Benefit Administrators
FROM: Robert W. DuBois, Director of the Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Policy Memo 133
DATE: December 27, 2007
Enclosed is Policy Memo 133, issued December 5, 2007, which announces the newly prohibited practice of eligibility restriction based on spousal eligibility for NYSHIP through another employer. A NYSHIP PA or PE cannot deny NYSHIP family coverage to an otherwise eligible employee based on the fact that the employee’s spouse is also eligible for NYSHIP coverage through a different employer.
Policy Memo 133 provides references to relevant statutory and regulatory authority, as well as the background and discussion surrounding the policy determination. Any questions regarding this Policy should be directed to the Employee Benefits Division.