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
PA01-08
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: May 2001 Empire Plan Report
DATE: April 17, 2001
We will soon mail the May 2001 Empire Plan Report for Participating Agencies with Core plus Medical and Psychiatric Enhancements and the May 2001 Empire Plan Report for Participating Agencies with Medical Enhancement and Core only benefits.
The Empire Plan Report includes:
Empire Plan Information
Web Sites, Disease Management Programs, Prior Authorization of Prescription Drugs, The Empire Plan NurseLineSM, Medicare
Empire Plan News and Reminders
Mailings, Blue Cross Name Change, Participating Provider, Benefit Card, Claims, Benefit Statement
Empire Plan Certificate Amendments
Empire HealthChoice, Appeals, Infertility Benefits, Mammograms, Medicare COB
Distribution of Reports
The Reports will mail to enrollee homes in May. We will send you a supply of the Reports equal to 15 percent of your enrollment.
Publications available on EBD Web site
The Empire Plan Reports are available on the EBD Web sites, NYSOnline (www.cs.state.ny.us. Click on Employee Benefits.) and EBDOnline. If you need help accessing PA-MARKET, please ask the Help Desk or your processor.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of these publications by using the Publications Supply Order Form enclosed with this memo. All of the most recent publications are listed, but they will not be available right away. Please wait until you receive your supply before you place an order.
Important Reminder
Whenever you distribute a NYSHIP General Information Book or a NYSHIP General Information Book and Empire Plan Certificate, please be sure to include all Reports and Amendments issued after the date on the Book/Certificate. The enrollee will then have a complete package of NYSHIP benefit information.
If you are unsure of how to order publications or have questions about this distribution, please call the Communications Unit at 518-457-7577.
Distribution of Reports
The Reports will mail to enrollee homes in April and May. We will send you a supply of the Reports equal to 15 percent of your enrollment (10% for the Retiree Report) as we mail each version.
Publications available on EBD Web site
The Empire Plan and HMO Reports are available on the EBD Web sites, NYSOnline (www.cs.state.ny.us. Click on Employee Benefits.) and EBDOnline. If you need help accessing PA-MARKET, please ask the Help Desk or your processor.
Another Mailing: 2001 Meetings and More (retirees only)
Back by popular demand in April, we will mail Empire Plan retirees a schedule of Health Benefits Meetings for 2001 and Empire Plan phone numbers. HMO enrollees will receive the same schedule plus HMO phone numbers. We will send you a small supply for your new retiree packages.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of these publications by using the Publications Supply Order Form enclosed with this memo. 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.
Important Reminder
Whenever you distribute a NYSHIP General Information Book or a NYSHIP General Information Book and Empire Plan Certificate, please be sure to include all Reports and Amendments issued after the date on the Book/Certificate. The enrollee will then have a complete package of NYSHIP benefit information.