Department of Civil Service

Many of you have told us how much you appreciate the Planning for Retirement video and that you looked forward to additional materials to help you with your many new retirees. Here, then, is an update of what is already available and a preview of what is coming:

Videos

We have added “Medicare & NYSHIP” to “Planning for Retirement” in our video library. Many of you saw this latest video at the HBA Institutes. Now you can order either video for your employees or new retirees.

We sent you a paper order form when we sent you the videos. The order form is available on HBA online. Look for the video section. Revisions of two companion publications, “Planning for Retirement” (November 2006), and “Medicare & NYSHIP for NY/PE Retirees” (May 2006) are available for order on your Publications Supply Order Form.

How to use the videos in a group setting

While we have made the video available for your employees to take home and watch with their families, you can also hold a group meeting yourself to address your agency’s needs. Please see “How to Use the Planning for Retirement video in a Group Setting”.

Pre-Retirement seminars

EBD Communications works closely with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations on the Pre- Retirement seminars. A schedule of these meetings can be found on the HBA online web site. Attendees are required to have written confirmation of attendance to be admitted. No walk-ins are permitted. Occasionally, agency demand outstrips seating capacity. When there are a larger number of eligible potential retirees and the agency would like to request an agency-specific health insurance speaker, please contact the EBD Communications Unit at (518) 457-7577 to request a speaker. Note that we cannot accommodate requests for less than 100 attendees due to staffing shortages and demand. If necessary, please consider combining efforts with another local agency.

Regional Retiree Meetings

Regional retiree meetings are held each fall, and we generally provide a schedule of these meetings during the summer. This year, meetings will begin in August and run through early December. EBD mails postcards to retirees announcing meetings in their area.

Welcome to EBD

As you know, when an employee retires, the Employee Benefits Division becomes their HBA. A significantly revised version of the publication, Welcome to EBD (December 2006) is now available and should be provided in your new retiree package.

Option Transfer for Retirees

As you know, retirees do not have an Option Transfer period, but your active employees who are soon to be retirees may not know this change will apply to them. Also, there are important things to be considered if your employee is in an HMO and moving out of State. Retiree CHOICES will answer many of these questions. Please be sure your new retiree has a current copy of Statewide Retiree CHOICES and the current Retiree Rate Flyer.

Medicare & NYSHIP

The revised Medicare & NYSHIP publication explains how NYSHIP coordinates coverage with Medicare. A companion video is also available. Please be sure to include both the print publication and the video in your new retiree package for any retiree nearing 65 at the time of retirement. Younger retirees will receive this information as part of our Happy 65th Birthday package, five months prior to their 65th birthday, so it’s not necessary to provide it.

Reporting On The Empire Plan

We have several Reporting Ons that will be useful to new retirees, as well as actives. They include: Asthma, Centers of Excellence, Diabetes, HCAP, Healthy Babies and Prescription Drugs.