Department of Civil Service

PE09-36

TO: Participating Employer Chief Executive Officers & Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Robert W. DuBois, Director of the Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: NYSHIP Regional Meetings
DATE: October 26, 2009

We are pleased to announce the 2009 NYSHIP Regional Meetings for Participating Employers.  Staff of the Employee Benefits Division will present updates of several important benefit and policy issues including recent State legislation affecting COBRA and the eligibility of young adult children, as well as an update on current projects, including the Dependent Eligibility Verification Project. The agenda will also include discussion of the 2009 Empire Plan financial experience and the latest information on the projected rates for 2010.

You are invited to attend one of the following sessions:
(Note:  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.)

• Thursday, November 12, 2009  -- 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  (Registration begins promptly at 10:00 a.m.)
  
  Hilton Times Square
  234 West 42nd Street
  New York, NY  10036

• Wednesday, November 18, 2009  -- 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  (Registration begins promptly at 9:30 a.m.)
  
  Desmond Hotel and Conference Center
  660 Albany-Shaker Road
  Albany, NY  12211

We hope that you will be able to attend one of the meeting sites listed above.  Registration is available online through HBA Online.  (If you have not established a user ID and password for HBA Online, please ask your agency health benefits administrator to submit your reservation.)  Instructions for accessing the registration page are listed below.  All reservations must be received by November 9th so that we may finalize luncheon arrangements and plan for adequate meeting materials.

Online Registration Instructions  (Please note:  Online Registration is the only registration method available for these meetings.)

1. Access the Department of Civil Service webpage at http://www.cs.state.ny.us.

2. On the homepage, click on “Benefit Programs” on the navigation bar on the left of the screen.

3. Select “HBA Online” on the resulting page.

4. Sign on with your HBA Online User ID and password.

5. Click on the red button, “Register Here for the 2009 PE Regional Meetings.” This will bring you to the registration site. You will find all of the information needed to register for the meeting of your choice, directions and map links to meeting sites.

6. After you have submitted your online registration, you may print a copy of the registration confirmation form for your records.

If you have any questions regarding the registration process, please call (518) 485-1771.  We look forward to seeing you at the 2009 NYSHIP Regional Meetings for Participating Employers