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.
PA15-09
PAEX15-09
TO: Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Agencies with The Empire Plan or The Excelsior Plan
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Medicare & NYSHIP for PA Retirees, August 2015
DATE: July 30, 2015
A newly designed and revised Medicare & NYSHIP for PA Retirees booklet with DVD is at the printer and will soon be available.
This booklet provides important information about Medicare enrollment, Part B reimbursement, Medicare and NYSHIP claims coordination and Empire Plan Medicare Rx, a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. We have added our companion 30-minute video to the booklet, which explains Medicare enrollment and NYSHIP rules. Note: The Excelsior Plan does not include a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
The August 2015 version replaces the January 2014 version. Please recycle any copies you may have of the old version and also of the videos, as there have been some slight revisions.
Distribution
This publication is mailed to retirees as part of our monthly 65th birthday mailing that reminds them to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65. It can be a part of your new retiree packages. If you place an order online for the New Retiree Quick Order package, the booklet with DVD is included and will be mailed to the enrollee’s home.
We will send you a supply of five copies of this booklet with DVD to distribute to your enrollees.
Publications Available on Our Web Site: https://www.cs.ny.gov
Please check our web site for new publications. We generally post publications when we sign off for printing. Publications are available under Using Your Benefits.
Ordering Publications
You can order additional copies of this publication [PA0195 Medicare & NYSHIP for PA Retirees/August 2015] on HBA Online under Publications & Forms. Please wait until you receive your shipment before placing an order for more.
If you need help accessing HBA Online, email the AGS-ITS Enterprise Service Desk at its.sm.esd.ags@its.ny.gov. If you are unsure of how to order publications or have questions about this distribution, please call the EBD Communications Unit at 518-457-7577.