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
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
JERRY BOONE
COMMISSIONER
NY13-11
TO: New York State Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: NYSHIP Health Benefit Publications for Employees Represented by UUP, Effective September 1, 2013
DATE: June 24, 2013
We have begun to mail the NYSHIP Rate Changes Effective September 1, 2013 flyer; June 2013 Empire Plan Special Report; June 2013 NYSHIP HMO Special Report; and the September 1, 2013Empire Plan At A Glance with Copayment Cardsand 2013 Empire Plan Preventive Care Coverage Chart. These apply to employees represented by United University Professions (UUP).
These publications describe changes affecting NYSHIP coverage effective September 1, 2013 as a result of the collective bargaining agreement between UUP and New York State, ratified on June 4, 2013. As a result of these changes, there will be a Special Option Transfer Period from August 1, 2013 through August 30, 2013.
You will receive 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 Special Option Transfer until you have received and carefully reviewed memo NY13-12.
The NYSHIP Rate Changes flyer (NY1034) includes:
New rates for September 1, 2013; the Special Option Transfer Deadline (August 30, 2013) and payroll deduction dates.
The June 2013 Empire Plan Special Report (NY1035) includes:
Special Option Transfer Period; Biweekly Premium Contribution Rate Changes; Updated Life Expectancy Table; Opt-out Program; Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP); Negotiated Changes Effective September 1, 2013; and Federal Health Care Reform Changes.
The June 2013 NYSHIP HMO Special Report (NY1036) includes:
Special Option Transfer Period; Biweekly Premium Contribution Rate Changes; Updated Life Expectancy Table; Opt-out Program and Program Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP).
The September 1, 2013Empire Plan At A Glance (NY1032)with Copayment Cards (NY1033) and 2013 Empire Plan Preventive Care Coverage Chart (AL1258) include:
Useful information to serve as a guide to The Empire Plan benefits for new employees, conferences and health fairs. The At A Glance is best used together with the Empire Plan Certificate.
Distribution
These publications will begin to mail to enrollees' homes in late June. We will send you a supply of each publication equal to 1 percent of your enrollment. We will also include five copies each of the Preventive Care Coverage Chart and UUP Copayment Cards.
Mail files for these publications were pulled from NYBEAS on June 6, 2013. Any enrollee not on file as of that date will not receive these 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 appropriate publication in the package of information you give to new hires.
Publications Available on Our Web Site: https://www.cs.ny.gov
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. Select Using Your Benefits and then Publications.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of these publications on HBA Online under Publications & Forms. Please wait until you receive the new publication before placing an order.
If you need help accessing HBA Online, please call the GGC Service Center at Civil Service at 1-800-422-3671 or 518-457-5406. Call the EBD Help Line at 518-474-2780 with questions about NYSHIP benefits.A 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.