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
NY12-16
TO: New York State Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: NYSHIP Rate Changes Effective July 1, 2012 flyer, May 2012 Empire Plan Special Report, May 2012 NYSHIP HMO Special Report, and July 1, 2012 Empire Plan At A Glance with Copayment Cards for NYSCOPBA (NU 21)
DATE: May 2, 2012
We will soon mail the NYSHIP Rate Changes Effective July 1, 2012 flyer [May 2012; NY0966], the May 2012 Empire Plan Special Report [NF0485], May 2012 NYSHIP HMO Special Report [NY0967], and July 1, 2012 Empire Plan At A Glance [NF0487] for Employees of the State of New York in Law Enforcement (NU 21) who are represented by the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA). These publications describe the changes affecting NYSHIP coverage effective October 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012 as a result of the collective bargaining agreement ratified on March 2, 2012. As a result of these changes, there will be a Special Option Transfer Period from May 4, 2012 - June 4, 2012.
You received a memo from the Division that provides complete details for Health Benefits Administrators regarding the rate change and how the Special Option Transfer Period will be administered. Please hold any questions you may have about the rate change and option transfer until you have carefully reviewed memo NY12-19.
The NYSHIP Rate Changes flyer includes:
New rates for July 1, 2012; the Special Option Transfer Deadline (June 4, 2012) and payroll deduction dates.
The Empire Plan Special Report includes:
Negotiated Changes Effective October 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012; Special Option Transfer Period; NYSHIP Changes; Empire Plan Changes and Preventive Care Coverage Chart (insert)
The NYSHIP HMO Special Report includes:
Negotiated Changes Effective October 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012; Special Option Transfer Period; NYSHIP Changes: Biweekly Premium Contribution Rate; Updated Life Expectancy Table; Health Insurance Opt-out Program
The July 1, 2012 Empire Plan At A Glance includes:
A brief description of Empire Plan benefits beginning on July 1, 2012. This version replaces the January 1, 2012 publication for this group ONLY. The January 2012 version still applies to NYSCOPBA enrollees who have not settled their contract. Encourage enrollees to use this guide together with their Empire Plan Certificate and Amendments. Updated copayment cards will be included with the At A Glance mailing to enrollees' homes.
Distribution of Reports
Each publication will be mailed to enrollee homes in early May. We will send you a supply of each publication equal to one percent of your NYSHIP NYSCOPBA (NU 21) enrollment at the same time. We will also include five copies of the Preventive Care Coverage Chart with the Empire Plan Special Report.
Mail files for these publications were pulled from NYBEAS on April 26. Any enrollee not on the file will NOT receive the mailings. You may, however, order a Quick Order (QO) Package on HBA Online for a new hire as it will include these publications. Otherwise, you should include a copy of each publication in the package of information you give to new hires.
Publications available on our web site: https://www.cs.ny.gov
Please check our web site for new publications. We generally post publications when we sign off for printing. That means you can see the publications before enrollees start receiving them.
Ordering Publications
To order additional copies of these publications during the Special Option Transfer Period, please use the Special Order Form enclosed with the dropshipment of the NYSHIP Rate Changes flyer and fax it to the Communications Unit at (315) 272-2444. For orders after the Special Option Transfer Period, go to HBA Online and select Publications & Forms to order online.
If you need help accessing HBA Online, please call the Civil Service Help Desk at 1-800-422-3671 or 518-457-5406. Call the EBD Help Line at 518-474-2780 with questions about NYSHIP benefits.
If you are unsure how to order publications or have questions about the distribution, please call the Communications Unit at 518-457-7577.