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
COMMISSIONER
DANIEL E. WALL
EXECUTIVE
DEPUTY COMISSIONER
PA00-22
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: December 2000 Empire Plan Reports
DATE: December 1, 2000
We will soon begin mailing the December 2000 Empire Plan Reports for Participating Agencies.
The Reports vary by option. For some, the Empire Plan Report includes:
Empire Plan Benefit Changes
Health Exams, Hearing Aids, Transplants Program
Empire Plan News and Reminders
Participating Provider Program, Pediatric Immunizations, Basic Medical Annual Deductible and Coinsurance Maximum, Claims Deadlines, Medicare
Amendments
NYSHIP General Information Book changes and Empire Plan Certificate amendments for benefits effective 2000 through 2001.
Correction Stickers
Please note the following corrections to the July 1, 2000 NYSHIP General Information Book and Empire Plan Certificate for Active Employees, Retirees, Vestees and Dependent Survivors and their Dependents enrolled through PARTICIPATING AGENCIES with CORE Plus Medical and Psychiatric Enhancements:
On page 139, in the summary of copayments for services by Empire Plan Participating Providers, Radiology, Single or Series; Diagnostic Laboratory Test...$10. (This is correctly stated in bold type on page 71 in the UHC Certificate.)
On page 140, in the list of Important Telephone Numbers, the Medicare telephone number is 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227).
Stickers for enrollees to use to correct their July 1, 2000 books will be inserted in the Report for PA Core Plus Medical and Psychiatric Enhancements. We will send you an extra supply of the correction stickers for you to place in books you hand out to new hires. Thank you for your help.
Distribution of Reports
The Reports will mail to enrollee homes in December. We will send you a supply equal to 15 percent of your enrollment as we mail each version.
Publications available on EBD Web site
Please check this Web site for copies of new publications. We generally post publications when we sign off for printing. That means you can see the publications before employees start receiving them.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of these publications by using the Publications and Order Forms page and choosing a group under "NYSHIP Publication Order Forms". All of the most recent publications are listed, but they will not be available right away. Please wait until you receive your supply of a specific group version before you place an order.
If you are unsure of how to order publications or have questions about this distribution, please call the Communications Unit at 518-457-7577.