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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.

State Seal
GEORGE E. PATAKI
GOVERNOR
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
GEORGE C. SINNOTT
COMMISSIONER
DANIEL E. WALL
EXECUTIVE
DEPUTY COMISSIONER

PA98-09

TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM:
SUBJECT: Empire Plan Quarterly Experience Report
DATE: June 8, 1998

Enclosed are the First Quarter Empire Plan Experience Report for 1998 and the cover letter to Chief Executive Officers.

This report provides final 1997 experience, projected 1998 experience and projected premium rates for 1999.

June 8, 1998

Dear Chief Executive Officer:

Attached is the Participating Agency First Quarter Report for 1998. This report provides final 1997 Empire Plan experience, projected 1998 Empire Plan experience based on claims paid through March 1998 and projected 1999 premium rates.

The Empire Plan carriers have declared a combined surplus of $81.5 million or 4.7% of premium. A review of the annual experience of each of the carriers is included in the report.

Initial projections of 1998 experience, based on claims paid through March 1998, reflect a surplus of approximately $47.2 million or 2.8% of premium. The report includes details for each of the carriers and, as in the past, these projections will be revised in the next quarterly report based on actual claims experience for 1998.

The 1998 premium projections are included in Exhibit III. These projections reflect increases of approximately 6.4% in the gross rates and 8.7% in the net rates. The report explains the basis for these projections and future reports will include revisions based on actual claims data available.

Please note the "Keeping You Informed" section of the report which describes our involvement in the New York Blood Center's 1998 Blood Donor Campaign. If your agency is located in the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island or New York City areas, we would greatly appreciate your support of this important program. As indicated, we have planned a meeting for each area to brief agency representatives and promote participation. I hope you will be able to send a representative. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to include your agency in this effort.

I hope this report is informative and useful to you. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Robert W. DuBois, CEBS
Director
Employee Benefits Division

EMPIRE PLAN EXPERIENCE REPORT

JANUARY - MARCH 1998
produced for
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE
NEW YORK STATE
HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
by
the Employee Benefits Division
New York State Department of Civil Service
George C. Sinnott
President, New York State Civil Service Commission

NYS HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
PARTICIPATING AGENCY GROUP
EMPIRE PLAN EXPERIENCE REPORT
1ST QUARTER REPORT

1997 EMPIRE PLAN EXPERIENCE

The Empire Plan carriers have declared a composite dividend of $81.5 million or 4.7% of premium. The declared dividend is $30.6 million greater than the margin loaded in the 1997 rates. The 1997 annual experience reported by the insurance carriers is presented in Exhibit I while the individual carrier dividends are explained as follows

Blue Cross

Blue Cross declared a 1997 dividend of $30.7 million or 5.4% of premium. This represents an $13.2 million increase over the margin loaded in the 1997 rates and is attributable to modestly lower 1997 claim and retention costs than were projected when the rates were developed. The 1997 rating of this component of the Empire Plan was very good considering the uncertainties of the impact of the HCRA legislation as well as the per diem hospital reimbursement negotiations that set the inpatient liability effective January 1, 1997.

UnitedHealthcare Medical

UnitedHealthcare declared a composite 1997 dividend of $28.3 million or 3.8% of premium, a $6.1 million increase over the margin loaded in the 1997 rates. This modest increase is attributable to the overestimation of the Health Care Reform Act (HCRA) charge partially offset by an understatement of the Open and Unreported Claims Reserve as of December 31, 1996.

UnitedHealthcare Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program

UnitedHealthcare declared a 1997 surplus of $22.4 million or 22.1% of premium for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MHSA) Program. This is an increase of $19.9 million over the margin loaded in the 1997 rates and is the result of the continuous improvement in shifting unnecessary and inappropriate inpatient utilization to a lower cost outpatient setting. Also, both HCRA Bad Debt and Charity Assessment and retention are approximately $3 million lower than the 1997 rate development estimates.

Cigna

Cigna declared a 1997 dividend of $152,000, which represents an $8.5 million decrease from the margin loaded in the 1997 rates. This reduction is primarily attributable to an upturn in trend to 15.4% partially offset by higher than expected cash flow interest credits.

PROJECTED 1998 EMPIRE PLAN EXPERIENCE

Based on claims paid through March 31,1998, the Empire Plan carriers project a composite dividend of $47.2 million or 2.8% of premium. This represents an increase of $6.6 million from the margin loaded in the 1998 rates. The 1998 annual experience projected by the insurance carriers is reported in Exhibit II. Individual carrier projections are explained as follows:

Blue Cross

Blue Cross projects a 1998 dividend of $3.1 million or 0.6% of premium. This represents a decrease of $10.6 million from the margin loaded in the 1998 rates and is primarily attributable to a higher 1997 claim base and modestly higher projected 1998 trend in comparison to the factors used in the 1998 rate development.

UnitedHealthcare Medical

UnitedHealthcare projects a composite 1998 dividend of $23.0 million or 3.0% of premium representing a $3.8 million increase over the margin loaded in the 1998 rates. There are no material variances in the quarterly estimates and those made at renewal.

UnitedHealthcare Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program

UnitedHealthcare projects a 1998 surplus of $7.6 million or 9.6% of premium for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MHSA) Program. This represents an increase of $5.8 million over the margin loaded in the 1998 rates and is primarily attributable to projected claim reductions incurred in 1998.

Cigna

Cigna estimates a 1998 dividend of $13.4 million or 4.0% of premium. This represents a $7.6 million increase over the margin loaded in the 1998 rates and is attributable to a modestly lower claim base than what was projected at the time the 1998 rates were developed.

PROJECTED 1999 PREMIUM RATES

Exhibit Ill presents the projected 1999 Empire Plan gross and net rates assuming the application of $129.1 million in dividend to all payors. Empire Plan gross premium is projected to increase approximately 6.4% with a net premium increase of 8.7%. The higher rate increase of net premium in relation to the increase in the gross premium reflects the decreased level of dividend application in 1999.

Effective January 1,1999, new contracts are expected to be awarded for the Prescription Drug and Managed Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs. It is not yet known what impact, if any, these contract awards may have on projected 1999 rates. Each Participating Agency should assess its financial situation in using the quoted range of rates.

The projected net rate increase for the MediPrime group is higher than the projected rate Increase for the PlanPrime group. Such difference is primarily attributable to the leveraging of the prescription drug trend on the MediPrime rates. Prescription drug costs, which have no Medicare offset, are trending at 15.5% and make up approximately 54% of total premium for a MediPrime enrollee compared to 17% for a PlanPrime enrollee. In addition, the reduction of prescription drug dividends in 1999 from the 1998 levels compounds the deviation in the rates of increase between MediPrime and PlanPrime groups.

The underlying trend assumptions used by the carriers for the projected 1999 Participating Agency Rates are as follows:

Component Trend
Blue Cross 3.4%
UnitedHealthcare Medical Core 4.9%
UnitedHealthcare Medical Enhancement 7.8%
UnitedHealthcare MHSA Core 0.0%
UnitedHealthcare MHSA Enhancement 0.0%
Cigna 15.5%
Composite 6.8%

Although the industry is predicting an upturn in trend for 1998 and 1999, we are confident that through strong management and prudent plan design, Empire Plan trend will continue to be below industry averages.

For comparison purposes Exhibit IV presents the Individual and Family rate history for the Core Plus Medical and Psychiatric Enhancements option based on the Two Tier Empire Plan rate structure in effect prior to January 1,1996, while Exhibit V presents the five tier history from 1996 to projected 1999.

KEEPING YOU INFORMED

New York Blood Center 1998 Blood Donor Campaign

Commissioner George C. Sinnott has been invited to serve as the State Chairman of the 1998 Blood Donor Campaign conducted by the New York Blood Center. In this capacity, the Commissioner's role is to promote participation by State, local government and school district employees located in the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City areas which are serviced by the New York Blood Center.

The New York Blood Center is the largest independent blood collection and distribution organization in the country and provides blood and blood products to nearly 250 hospitals and more than 18 million people in its service areas in New York and New Jersey.

We are asking for your support and assistance in implementing this important program. If your agency is located in the Blood Center's service area, we invite you to participate in this program and to send a representative to a briefing session according to the following schedule:

Hudson Valley (Counties of Sullivan, Ulster. Dutchess. Putnam, Orange, Rockland. Westchester and Bronx)
Wednesday, July 8, 1998
General Motors Training Center
425 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY
10:30 A.M.

Long Island (Counties of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens)
Thursday, July 9, 1998
EAB
400 Oak Street, Garden City, NY
10:30 A.M.

New York (Counties of Richmond, New York and Kings)
Thursday, July 16, 1998
New York Blood Center
East 67th Street, Manhattan (Between 1st and 2nd Avenue)
10:30 A.M.

We hope a representative of your agency will be able to participate in this meeting. Please call our office at (518) 485-1771 to confirm attendance and obtain additional details.

Medicare Risk HMOs

The Communications Unit has revised the November 1997 Special Report for PA Retirees and Dependent Survivors to explain Medicare Risk HMOs. This report was mailed to retiree homes in early May of 1998 and a small supply was sent to PA Health Benefits Administrators. Additional copies of this publication may be obtained by contacting our Communications Unit at (518) 457-7577.

Mailing Lists Updates

Please be sure to inform us of any changes in the names and addresses of Chief Executive Officers and Health Benefits Administrators for your agency. Updated information may be sent to the attention of:

Mr. Stephen Kavanaugh
Assistant Director
Employee Benefits Division
NYS Department of Civil Service
State Office Campus, Building #1
Albany, New York 12239

Exhibit I

1997 PROJECTED EMPIRE PLAN EXPERIENCE
In (000's)

BLUE CROSS

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL - Core

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL -
NY Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL -
PA Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL -
Combined

UnitedHealthcare MHSA - Core

UnitedHealthcare MHSA -
NY Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MHSA -
PA Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MHSA -
Combined

CIGNA

TOTAL

A Premium (1)

565,133
593,436
83,442
76,252
753,130
82,383
10,375
8,543
101,301
312,010
1,731,574

B Incurred Claims (2)

503,868
523,171
74,341
54,578
652,090
52,722
5,118
4,291
62,131
298,306
1,516,395

C Administrative Expense (3)

30,615
58,406
7,944
6,429
72,779
13,767
1,618
1,354
16,739
13,552
133,685

D Gain/(Loss) (A-B-C)

30,650
11,859
1,157
15,245
28,261
15,894
3,639
2,898
22,431
152
81,494

(1) Earned Premium - Premium which pays for coverage for the period reported (accrual basis).
(2) Incurred Claims - Represents the cost of covered services provided during the period reported by the insurance company (accrual basis).
(3) Administrative Expenses - All charges by the insurance carrier other than for the payment of claims. Includes carrier's cost to administer the program, interest charges, and retention.
Source: 1997 Final Experience Statements.

Exhibit II

1998 PROJECTED EMPIRE PLAN EXPERIENCE
In (000's)

BLUE CROSS

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL - Core

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL -
NY Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL -
PA Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MEDICAL -
Combined

UnitedHealthcare MHSA - Core

UnitedHealthcare MHSA -
NY Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MHSA -
PA Enhancement

UnitedHealthcare MHSA -
Combined

CIGNA

TOTAL

A Premium (1)

539,158
602,628
90,206
63,152
755,986
66,005
8,007
5,576
79,588
338,709
1,713,472

B Incurred Claims (2)

503,512
533,791
74,907
45,674
654,372
48,417
4,530
3,938
56,885
313,059
1,527,828

C Administrative Expense (3)

32,536
63,562
8,983
6,111
78,656
12,571
1,413
1,085
15,069
12,216
138,477

D Gain/(Loss) (A-B-C)

3,141
5,275
6,316
11,367
22,958
5,017
2,064
553
7,634
13,434
47,167

(1) Earned Premium - Premium which pays for coverage for the period reported (accrual basis).
(2) Incurred Claims - Represents the cost of covered services provided during the period reported by the insurance company (accrual basis).
(3) Administrative Expenses - All charges by the insurance carrier other than for the payment of claims. Includes carrier's cost to administer the program, interest charges, and retention.
Source: 1998 1st Quarter Report.

Exhibit III

EMPIRE PLAN
Participating Agency Premium Rates
Comparison of 1998 and Projected 1999 Rates
CORE ONLY

Plan Prime - Individual

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

233.78
238.10
1.8%
213.42
223.82
4.9%

Best Estimate

233.78
246.96
5.6%
213.42
232.68
9.0%

Pessimistic

233.78
254.08
8.7%
213.42
239.80
12.4%

Plan Prime - Family

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

483.20
491.38
1.7%
438.81
459.36
4.7%

Best Estimate

483.20
509.75
5.5%
438.81
477.73
8.9%

Pessimistic

483.20
524.59
8.6%
438.81
492.57
12.3%

MediPrime - Individual

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

161.07
173.63
7.8%
144.57
164.70
13.9%

Best Estimate

161.07
177.56
10.2%
144.57
168.63
16.6%

Pessimistic

161.07
180.42
12.0%
144.57
171.49
18.6%

MediPrime - Family 1

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
2001

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

411.20
427.62
4.0%
370.65
400.98
8.2%

Best Estimate

411.20
441.04
7.3%
370.65
414.40
11.8%

Pessimistic

411.20
451.63
9.8%
370.65
424.99
14.7%

MediPrime - Family 2

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

337.71
362.40
7.3%
301.00
341.12
13.3%

Best Estimate

337.71
370.90
9.8%
301.00
349.62
16.2%

Pessimistic

337.71
377.22
11.7%
301.00
355.94
18.3%

(1) Represents premiums charged by the carriers.
(2) Represents cost to a participating agency.

Exhibit II

EMPIRE PLAN
Participating Agency Premium Rates
Comparison of 1998 and Projected 1999 Rates
CORE PLUS MEDICAL ENHANCEMENT

Plan Prime - Individual

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

265.36
269.87
1.7%
244.95
252.20
3.0%

Best Estimate

265.36
280.40
5.7%
244.95
262.73
7.3%

Pessimistic

265.36
289.20
9.0%
244.95
271.53
10.9%

Plan Prime - Family

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

546.09
554.65
1.6%
501.61
515.36
2.7%

Best Estimate

546.09
576.35
5.5%
501.61
537.06
7.1%

Pessimistic

546.09
594.52
8.9%
501.61
555.23
10.7%

MediPrime - Individual

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

167.82
180.43
7.5%
151.35
168.15
11.1%

Best Estimate

167.82
184.71
10.1%
151.35
172.43
13.9%

Pessimistic

167.82
187.93
12.0%
151.35
175.65
16.1%

MediPrime - Family 1

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
2001

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

449.26
465.91
3.7%
408.71
432.03
5.7%

Best Estimate

449.26
481.35
7.1%
408.71
447.47
9.5%

Pessimistic

449.26
493.95
9.9%
408.71
460.07
12.6%

MediPrime - Family 2

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

350.95
375.72
7.1%
314.34
347.25
10.5%

Best Estimate

350.95
384.92
9.7%
314.34
356.45
13.4%

Pessimistic

350.95
391.94
11.7%
314.34
363.47
15.6%

(1) Represents premiums charged by the carriers.
(2) Represents cost to a participating agency.

Exhibit III

EMPIRE PLAN
Participating Agency Premium Rates
Comparison of 1998 and Projected 1999 Rates
CORE PLUS MEDICAL & PSYCHIATRIC ENHANCEMENTS

Plan Prime - Individual

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

267.89
272.31
1.6%
246.07
253.44
3.0%

Best Estimate

267.89
282.97
5.6%
246.07
264.10
7.3%

Pessimistic

267.89
291.90
9.0%
246.07
273.03
11.0%

Plan Prime - Family

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

552.00
560.34
1.5%
503.78
517.88
2.8%

Best Estimate

552.00
582.35
5.5%
503.78
539.89
7.2%

Pessimistic

552.00
600.82
8.8%
503.78
558.36
10.8%

MediPrime - Individual

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

167.91
180.52
7.5%
151.34
168.15
11.1%

Best Estimate

167.91
184.80
10.1%
151.34
173.92
14.9%

Pessimistic

167.91
188.03
12.0%
151.34
175.66
16.1%

MediPrime - Family 1

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
2001

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

452.73
469.25
3.6%
409.76
433.31
5.7%

Best Estimate

452.73
484.87
7.1%
409.76
450.42
9.9%

Pessimistic

452.73
497.65
9.9%
409.76
461.71
12.7%

MediPrime - Family 2

 

Gross Rates(1)
1998

Gross Rates(1)
1999

Gross Rates(1)
% Change

Net Rates(2)
1998

Net Rates(2)
1999

Net Rates(2)
% Change

Optimistic

351.98
376.71
7.0%
314.25
347.29
10.5%

Best Estimate

351.98
385.96
9.7%
314.25
359.52
14.4%

Pessimistic

351.98
393.04
11.7%
314.25
363.62
15.7%

(1) Represents premiums charged by the carriers.
(2) Represents cost to a participating agency.

Exhibit IV

EMPIRE PLAN
PA GROUP RATES
1985-1998 Monthly Rates

Core plus Med. & Psych. Enh.

Individual

Year Gross Rate % Changes Net Rate % Change

1985

95.71
 
92.85
 

1986

91.97
-3.9%
91.45
-1.5%

1987

103.14
12.1%
101.65
11.1%

1988 (1)

142.01
37.7%
141.52
39.2%

1989

168.72
18.8%
168.05
18.7%

1990 (2)

179.50
6.4%
167.09
-0.6%

1991 (3)

202.09
12.6%
185.09
10.8%

1992

198.85
-1.6%
181.81
-1.8%

1993

214.30
7.8%
194.64
7.1%

1994

213.83
-0.2%
197.39
1.4%

1995

214.70
0.4%
193.54
-2.0%

1996 (4)

219.20
2.1%
192.27
-0.7%

1997

219.87
0.3%
198.37
3.2%

1998

227.35
3.4%
204.38
3.0%

1999

242.31
6.6%
224.79
10.0%

Individual Average Percent Increase

  Gross Rate % Changes Net Rate % Change
From Inception
7.3%
7.0%
Most Recent 10 Years
3.8%
3.0%
Most Recent 5 Years
2.6%
2.7%

 

Family

Year Gross Rate % Changes Net Rate % Change

1985*

203.97
 
197.57
 

1986

195.31
-4.2%
194.30
-1.7%

1987

222.39
13.9%
219.20
12.8%

1988 (1)

324.13
45.7%
323.06
47.4%

1989

383.42
18.3%
381.95
18.2%

1990 (2)

403.75
5.3%
380.15
-0.5%

1991 (3)

464.39
15.0%
417.36
9.8%

1992

445.64
-4.0%
407.76
-2.3%

1993

479.37
7.6%
426.35
4.6%