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.
ANDREW M. CUOMO
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
JERRY BOONE
COMMISSIONER
NY14-39
TO: New York State Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division (EBD)
SUBJECT: 2015 Health Insurance Opt-out Program Revision
DATE: December 2, 2014
The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) Opt-out Program special provisions for employees represented by CSEA and PEF will no longer be in effect for 2015. Therefore all employees represented by the negotiating units listed below, who have other employer group sponsored health insurance, will be eligible to opt-out of their NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment.
- Council 82
- CSEA
- DC-37
- NYSCOPBA
- PBANYS (APSU employees)
- PEF
- UUP
This program is also available to the following groups:
- Management/Confidential employees
- Employees of the Legislature
- Employees of the Unified Courts System
For the purpose of the Opt-out Program, other employer sponsored group health insurance coverage must be coverage provided through employment other than employment with the Executive, Legislative or Judicial branch of New York State government, including the State University of New York. Therefore, if the other coverage is through a NYS employee or retiree, participation in the Opt-out Program is not allowed.
For additional information regarding the Opt-out program, please refer to memo NY14-35.