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
TIMOTHY R. HOGUES
Commissioner
NY25-02
TO: New York State Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Revised Online December 31, 2023, Empire Plan Certificates for APSU, C-82, DC-37, NYSCOPBA, PBA and PIA
DATE: January 24, 2025
Updates to the Empire Plan Certificates for employees of the State of New York in APSU, C-82, DC-37, NYSCOPBA, PBA and PIA with amendments through December 31, 2023, are now available. They are only available online on the NYSHIP website and HBA Online. The updated Empire Plan Certificates for NY Retirees and employees of the State of New York in CSEA, M/C; Legislature and UCS with changes effective July 1, 2023, and for employees of the State of New York in PEF and UUP with changes effective January 1, 2024, are available on the NYSHIP website and were mailed to enrollee homes. See HBA Memo NY 25-01 for more information.
Amendments detailing changes to The Empire Plan are available on the NYSHIP website and HBA Online. The amendments have been incorporated into the online versions of the Certificate and the previous version for each group has been archived online for reference only.
Certificates were printed and posted online for each group:
|
Group |
Date of Printed Certificate |
Date of Previous Online Certificate |
|
APSU** |
January 1, 2021 |
January 1, 2022 |
|
C-82** |
January 1, 2023 |
N/A |
|
DC-37* |
January 1, 2019 |
January 1, 2022 |
|
NYSCOPBA* |
June 1, 2019 |
January 1, 2022 |
|
PBA*** |
January 1, 2019 |
January 1, 2022 |
|
PIA |
January 1, 2021 |
January 1, 2022 |
* Updated Certificates with changes affecting Empire Plan coverage that took effect on July 1, 2024, are being created and will be printed and mailed to enrollees.
** Updated Certificates with changes affecting Empire Plan coverage that took effect on January 1, 2025, are being created and will be printed and mailed to enrollees.
*** Updated Certificates with changes affecting Empire Plan coverage that will take effect on April 1, 2025, will be created during the 2025 amendment round.
Impact on Publication Orders
The December 31, 2023, Certificates for these groups will not be printed or available to order at this time. Updated Empire Plan Certificates will be printed and mailed to enrollees on a group-by-group basis once new contracts have been ratified and implemented or collectively bargained changes have been administratively extended.
Until such time, the respective printed Certificate for each group will continue to be available to order as standalone publications or as part of group Quick Order Packages. An insert will be included in each copy that notes that the most updated version of the Certificate is available online. A copy can be printed from the online PDF as well, if necessary.
If you need help accessing HBA Online, contact the ITS Service Desk at 844-891-1786, fixit@its.ny.gov or via chat at https://chat.its.ny.gov. 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.