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
PA03-10
PA03-01
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Processing Change for a Deceased Enrollee
DATE: May 8, 2003
Effective May 2, 2003, the Employee Benefits Division made a change to the effective date rules for the Deceased transaction on the New York State Benefits Eligibility and Accounting System (NYBEAS) .
Previously when an enrollee deceased the extended benefits started on the 1st of the 2nd month following the date of event and ended the 1st day of the 2nd month following the beginning of the extended benefits. The enrollees account was charged for the month of death and the following month, the next two months of coverage were free to both the surviving dependent(s) and the agency. Ex: Enrollee deceased 1/17/03, active coverage would end 2/28/03, extended benefits would begin 3/1/03 and end 4/30/03 and if eligible the survivor would be able to pick up Survivor coverage 5/1/03.
With the new effective date rules, the extended benefits will begin the 1st day of the 1st month following the date of event and will end the 1st day of the 3rd month following the beginning of the extended benefits. The enrollees account will only be charged for the month of death and the next three months will be free to both the surviving dependent(s) and the agency. Ex: Enrollee deceased 1/17/03, active coverage would end 1/31/03, extended benefits would begin 2/1/03 and end 4/30/03 and if eligible the survivor would be able to pick up Survivor coverage 5/1/03.
If you have any questions concerning this change in effective date rules, contact the PA Processing Unit at 518-457-2364.