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.
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
COMMISSIONER
NY09-01
PE09-01
TO: Health Benefits Administrators of New York State Agencies; Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Employers
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: On the Road with The Empire Plan, January 2009
DATE: January 9, 2009
Updated Publications
We are happy to announce that a new version of On the Road with The Empire Plan for Actives (blue cover) is at the printer and will be shipped to agencies in January. An insert page is also being printed for On the Road with The Empire Plan for Retirees (maroon cover).
On the Road with The Empire Plan for Actives replaces the June 2008 version for all groups. Please remove copies of the old publication from your shelves and recycle them when you receive your shipments. The January 2009 version includes information about the new Empire Plan Mental Health and Substance Abuse Insurer/Administrator, UnitedHealthcare/OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions. The attached insert page for On the Road with The Empire Plan for Retirees includes the same information and replaces page 14 of this June 2008 publication.
Distribution
We will not be mailing these publications to enrollee homes. We will send you a supply of each equal to 2 percent of your enrollment to distribute to your Empire Plan enrollees who may be traveling or have college students away from home and for use at health fairs. These publications are included in our new hire and new retiree packages, which are only available to order on HBA Online.
Publications Available on Our Web Site: www.cs.state.ny.us
Please check the web site for new publications. We generally post publications when we sign off for printing. These publications will be available on HBA Online under Publications & Forms and on NYSHIP Online. Click on Using Your Benefits and then Publications.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of these publications (AL0874 EP Road Active/REV/January 09; AL0844 Insert EP Road Retiree/REV/January 09) by using the Publications Supply Order Forms enclosed with your shipment. Or, instead of faxing the form, you can order on HBA Online under Publications & Forms. If you need help accessing HBA Online, please call the Help Desk or your processor. Please wait until you receive your shipments before ordering.
If you are unsure of how to order publications or have questions about this distribution, please call the Communications Unit at 518-457-7577.
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