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.
ANDREW M. CUOMO
Governor
LOLA W. BRABHAM
Acting Commissioner
NY19-11
PE19-06
TO: New York State Health Benefits Administrators; Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Employers
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Medicare and NYSHIP for NY/PE Retirees, April 2019
DATE: April 26, 2019
The newly updated NY/PE Medicare and NYSHIP publication is now available online. This publication provides important information about Medicare enrollment and NYSHIPrules, the consequences of enrolling in more than one Medicare product at a time, Part B reimbursement, Medicare and NYSHIP claims coordination, Medicare Advantage HMOs and Empire Plan Medicare Rx.
The April 2019 version [AL1649] replaces the August 2016 version [AL1426]. Please recycle any copies you may have of the old version.
Distribution
This publication is mailed monthly to retirees as part of the 65th Birthday mailing, which reminds retirees to enroll in Medicare before they turn 65. The version included in this mailing will also contain a copy of our new 12-minute Medicare video, which is posted on NYSHIP Online on the Medicare page. The monthly mail file is pulled from NYBEAS for any enrollee who will be turning 65 in five months. The version available in inventory to order will not include the DVD. We will send you two copies of this standalone publication.
Publications Available on NYSHIP Online: www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits You can also access the publication online under Using Your Benefits from the NYSHIP Online home page. It is also available on the Medicare page, along with the video.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of this publication on HBA Online under Publications & Forms. Please do not order copies until you have received your shipment.
If you need help accessing HBA Online, contact the ITS Service Desk at 844-891-1786, fixit@its.ny.gov or via chat at https://chat.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.