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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.

State Seal
DAVID A. PATERSON
GOVERNOR
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
NANCY G. GROENWEGEN
COMMISSIONER

NY09-37

TO: New York State Health Benefit Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division (EBD)
SUBJECT: Management/Confidential Group Life Insurance Plan Annual Update
DATE: August 4, 2009

Please advise employees who may be considering leaving State service through the Voluntary Severance Program (Program) that their eligibility to continue NYSHIP health insurance coverage and other benefits after they leave State service will not be affected by their participation in the Program. The NYSHIP requirements for continuing coverage as a retiree or vestee remain the same for employees who participate in the Program and those who meet those requirements are eligible to continue coverage accordingly. Participants not eligible to continue coverage as retiree or vestee will have COBRA continuation rights. 

Please encourage employees who are considering leaving State service through the Program to discuss their eligibility for benefits with you and to read plan materials for a complete description of their rights and responsibilities.  If applicable, enrollees should contact their union benefit fund for additional information on the benefits provided by those funds.