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
PA04-06
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: NYSHIP General Information Book and Empire Plan Certificate for PA CORE PLUS ENHANCEMENTS
DATE: May 13, 2004
New book/certificate for Participating Agencies with Empire Plan Core Plus Enhancements
We are happy to announce that the May 1, 2004 NYSHIP General Information Book and Empire Plan Certificate for Participating Agencies with Empire Plan Core Plus Enhancements is at the printer.
This book combines and replaces the July 1, 2000 version and all Empire Plan Reports and Certificate Amendments updating it through December 2003. Please remove those old materials from your shelves and recycle them when you receive your supply of the new book.
Distribution: For NEW enrollees only
We are not mailing this book to enrollees' homes. Enrollees may continue to use the Empire Plan documents they have now. To keep Empire Plan costs down, we are printing only enough copies for you to give to new hires. Please be sure to give a copy of the book and the March 2003 HIPAA Notice of Amendment [AL0416] to each employee who enrolls in the Empire Plan with Core Plus Enhancements after May 1, 2004.
When the PA Plus benefit package changes, we will issue a new book/certificate for all enrollees that will be mailed to enrollee homes.
Reordering
The July 1, 2000 book/certificate and updates to it will no longer be available for reorder. To reorder the May 1, 2004 book/certificate, please use the Publications Supply Request Form enclosed in your shipment carton. Or, instead of faxing the form you may order on PA-MARKET. From the homepage, open Publications and Forms, then open NYSHIP Publication Order Forms. If you need help accessing PA-MARKET, please call the Help Desk or your processor. Please wait until you receive your shipment of the new book [GIB-EP/PA-PLUS/5-04] before you place an order. And, please order only the quantity needed for new hires.
Publications available on the Internet
Please check the Web site for new publications. We generally post publications when we sign off for printing. To find the new book on the PA-MARKET Web site, go to www.cs.state.ny.us/ebdonline and choose Publications and Forms. Or, go to the Department of Civil Service Web site, www.cs.state.ny.us, and click on Employee Benefits, then choose Publications and Forms.
If you have questions about this publication, please call the Communications Unit at (518) 457-7577.