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.
KATHY HOCHUL
Governor
REBECCA A. CORSO
Acting Commissioner
PAEX21-17
TO: Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Agencies (PAs) with the Excelsior Plan
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Reissuance of Excelsior Benefit Cards
DATE: December 17, 2021
Effective January 1, 2022, a new federal law requires the inclusion of annual out-of-pocket costs on employee health insurance benefit cards and this requirement impacts all NYSHIP plans.
On December 20, 2021, new Excelsior benefit cards will be mailed for all enrollees and covered dependents. The benefit card vendor is working from a list based on the information in NYBEAS on December 8, 2021; therefore, enrollments and changes with a process date of December 9, 2021, or later will receive the newly designed benefit card as part of the regular weekly production schedule.
Enrollees can begin using the new benefit cards immediately and securely shred or destroy all other cards. Enrollees do not need to activate this card or place a call to the Department or the Empire Plan administrators prior to use.
The new benefit cards will include annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum information. To accommodate differences in these amounts, there will be two versions of the cards (Individual and Family). The cards have also been redesigned to incorporate Plan and administrator logos, the group number and bin number as well as the Department of Civil Service website.
The new Excelsior Individual coverage benefit cards will appear as follows:
The new Excelsior Family coverage benefit cards will appear as follows:
If you have questions regarding the new Excelsior benefit cards, please call the HBA Helpline at (518) 474-2780.