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.
ELIOT SPITZER
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
NANCY G. GROENWEGEN
COMMISSIONER
NY07-17
TO: New York State Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Medicare for Disability Retirees Publication
DATE: October 5, 2007
We are happy to announce a newly revised Medicare for Disability Retirees publication (September 2007) for New York State agencies. This publication replaces the February 2003 version of Medicare for Disability Retirees. If you still have this publication on your shelves, please remove and recycle it.
In the process of updating this publication, it has been brought to our attention that agency Health Benefits Administrators may require some additional information regarding its intended audience. Unlike some of our other retiree publications, Medicare for Disability Retirees is intended for a subset of the retiree population, not every new retiree.
It should be distributed only to those enrollees who may or will receive a retirement due to disability.
Intended Audience
The purpose of the Medicare for Disability Retirees publication is to explain Medicare eligibility prior to age 65. If enrollees, or their dependents, become eligible for Medicare before age 65 because of a disability and they have a non-active status, they must have Medicare in place at the time they retire or leave State service. Eligibility includes people younger than age 65 who have been classified by Social Security as disabled for more than 24 months. For enrollees or dependents who have end-stage renal disease and are in need of dialysis or a kidney transplant, different rules may apply. It is important to check with The Empire Plan carriers or HMOs directly for information specific to the enrollee’s or dependent’s particular situation.
Publications Available on the Web
Please check our web sites for new publications. We generally post publications when they are approved for printing. This means you can see the publications before enrollees start receiving them. To view publications on HBA Online, go to www.cs.state.ny.us/ebdonline. Click on Publications & Forms. You and your enrollees can also view new publications on NYSHIP Online. Go to www.cs.state.ny.us. Click on Benefit Programs, NYSHIP Online, select the group if prompted. Choose Using Your Benefits to find new publications.
Distribution
We are sending you five copies to distribute to employees leaving State employment on disability retirement. If you exhaust this supply, please order more using the Publications Supply Request Forms enclosed with your shipment. Or, instead of faxing the form you can order on HBA Online. From the home page, choose Publications & Forms, and then NYSHIP Publication Order Forms. Choose any NY Active group and look for [AL0722 Medicare for Disability Retirees/September 2007]. If you need help accessing HBA Online, please call the Help Desk at 1-800-422-3671 or your processor. Please wait until you receive your shipment before you place an order.
If you have any questions about ordering this publication, please call the Communications Unit at 518-457-7577. If you have any questions about NYSHIP policies on Medicare for disability retirees, please call the Program Services Unit of the Employee Benefits Division at 518-474-2780.