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
PA02-17
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Medicare flyer for new retirees
DATE: October 21, 2002
Medicare flyer for new Retirees is at the printer
We are happy to announce that the October 2002 flyer, What Participating Agency Retirees Need to Know about Medicare and NYSHIP, is at the printer and will be shipped to agencies soon.
This flyer reinforces the NYSHIP requirement that retirees and their dependents must have Medicare Part A and Part B in effect by the first day of the month in which they reach age 65 (or younger if disabled) or they will drastically reduce their health insurance coverage. It reminds employees who are already over 65 at retirement, or have a dependent already 65 at the time the employee retires, that Medicare becomes primary to the Empire Plan beginning the first day of the month after employer group coverage ends.
Distribution
We will send you a supply equal to 5% of your NYSHIP enrollment or a minimum of five copies. Please give a copy to each employee starting retirement and any retirees who contact you for advice on enrolling in Medicare.
Reordering
To reorder this flyer, please use the Publication Supply Request Form that was sent with this memo. Or instead of faxing the form you may order on PA-MARKET. Open Publications & Forms, then open NYSHIP Publication Order forms. Select Participating Agencies, then “Order Online” and follow instructions. Please wait until you receive your copies of the new flyer [Medicare for PA Retirees/10-02] before you place an order.
Publications available on the Internet
Please check the Web site for new publications. We generally post publications when we begin printing. To find the new flyer on the PA-MARKET, go to Publications & Forms.
If you have questions about this publication, please call the Communications Unit at (518) 457-7577.