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.
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
COMMISSIONER
DANIEL E. WALL
EXECUTIVE
DEPUTY COMISSIONER
PA95-07
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: 1995 General Information Book/Empire Plan Certificates for Participating Agencies with Core Only and for Participating Agencies with Core Plus Medical enhancements.
DATE: July 14, 1995
GOOD NEWS
GENERAL INFORMATION BOOK AND EMPIRE PLAN
CERTIFICATE ON PRESS!
We are pleased to announce that the NYSHIP General Information Book/Empire Plan Certificate for Core Plus Medical enhancements is now printing.
This book replaces the 1990 NYSHIP General Information Book, 1986 Empire Plan Certificate/Booklet and all Empire Plan Reports/Certificate Amendments updating these books. It contains the new Value Behavioral Health certificate which describes the mental health and substance abuse program benefits under the Empire Plan. The new book pulls together the 20 or so publications that now inform enrollees of their benefits.
We are also pleased to announce that the NYSHIP General Information Book/Empire Plan Certificate for Core Only is also now on press.
This book replaces the 1990 NYSHIP General Information Book, 1986 Empire Plan Certificate/Booklet and all Empire Plan Reports/Certificate Amendments updating these books. It contains the new Value Behavioral Health certificate which describes the mental health and substance abuse program benefits under the Empire Plan. The new book pulls together the 20 or so publications that now inform enrollees of their benefits.
Distribution:
The books for employees of Participating Agencies with Core Plus Medical enhancements will begin mailing to enrollee homes July 18 by third class guaranteed return postage. The books for employees of Participating Agencies with Core Only will begin mailing to enrollee homes July 23 by third class guaranteed return postage. We have enclosed a list of enrollees' names and addresses which we are using to mail these books. Please review the list and make corrections to the NYSHIP file, if necessary, following your normal procedure for address changes. If you have questions about this procedure, please call (518) 457-5766. If the book is not deliverable to the enrollee's address, we will return the book to you for timely distribution to the enrollee.
We will send agencies with Core Only and Core Plus Medical enhancements a supply of the books equal to 30% of enrollment by August 4. When you need to order more books, please use the attached Publications Supply Request Form. Enrollees in Participating Agencies with Core Plus Medical and Psychiatric enhancements should receive their books within the next week. Agencies with Core Plus Medical and Psychiatric enhancements should have their books by now.
Recycle old materials:
The new Empire Plan General Information Book/Certificates (GIB-EP/PA Core Only/95) and (GIB-EP/PA Core + Med/95) replaces the following materials:
Empire Plan Reports (look on the back page of each Report for the code)
PA Empire Plan Report Vol 6 Fall 88
PA Empire Plan Report Vol 7 Summer 89
Empire Plan Special Report Dec 89
EPR-PA-91 -1
EPR-PA-December 1991 Addendum
EPR-PA-B-92-1
EPR-PA-R-92-1
EPR-PA-R-92-1 Correction
EPR-PA-Core/Core + Med-92-2
EPR-PA-Psych/Med + Psych 92/2
EPR/PA-93-1
EPR-Rx-1 1/93
EPR-PA-Polywrap December 93
EPR-PA-Med/Med + Psych- 94-1
EPR-PA-Core/PA Psych-94-1
EPR-MC, Legis,CTS, Retirees, PE, PA-94-1
EPR-PA-Core/Psych-95- I
EPR-PA-Med/Med+Psych-95-1
Empire Plan Certificate/General Information Book
PA General Information Book 90-PA-1
Participating Agencies Core Plus Enhancements Certificate
Participating Agencies Core Only Certificate
Do not hand these obsolete materials out. Please recycle, if possible.
Publications Supply Request Form:
The attached Publication Supply Request Form is updated to allow all Participating Agencies to order the new book appropriate to their option. Obsolete materials have been removed. Please do not write anything in the borders or white space on the form. Please photocopy the form as needed and destroy previous copies of this form. If you are unsure how to order the publication you want, or if you have questions about this distribution, please call the Communications Unit at (518) 457-7577.
NYSHIP benefits are valuable. Clear, concise communications help employees get the full value of their NYSHIP coverage. We hope you find these new books helpful to you and your enrollees.