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
JOHN F. BARR
EXECUTIVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
PA04-18
TO: New York State Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: October 2004 Empire Plan Report for Participating Agencies
DATE: October 1, 2004
We will soon begin mailing the October 2004 Empire Plan Reports for Participating Agencies with CORE Plus benefits and Participating Agencies with CORE benefits.
The Empire Plan Report includes:
Empire Plan Benefit Changes
Hospital Benefits Program: Network/Non-network Hospitals, Copayments, Hospital Extension Clinics; Benefits Management Program: Hospital Coverage; Medical/Surgical Benefits Program: Copayment, Deductible and Coinsurance, Prostheses and Orthotic Devices, External Mastectomy Prostheses, Hearing Aids (CORE Plus only), Basic Medical Provider Discount Program, Centers of Excellence for Cancer Program; Infertility Benefits Maximum; Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program: Copayments, Substance Abuse Lifetime Maximum; Prescription Drug Program Copayments.
New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) Changes
Domestic Partner Eligibility, Disability Retirement
Empire Plan Reminders
The Empire Plan Nurselinesm, Your Plan is The Empire Plan, Claims Deadlines, Participating Provider Directory, Bills for Services, Guaranteed Access to Network Benefits
NYSHIP Reminder
Medicare Enrollment
Special Section
The Empire Plan At A Glance 2005
Distribution of Reports
The Report for Participating Agencies with CORE Plus benefits will be mailed to enrollee homes in October. The Report for Participating Agencies with CORE benefits will follow. We will send you a supply of the Reports equal to 3 percent of your enrollment as we mail these versions.
Publications available on EBD web site: www.cs.state.ny.us/ebdonline
Please check this web site for copies of new publications. We generally post publications when we sign off for printing. That means you can see the publications before enrollees start receiving them.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of the Reports and the Empire Plan At A Glance as a stand-alone (separate) publication by using the Publications Supply Order Forms enclosed with your shipment. Or, instead of faxing the form you may order on PA-MARKET. From the homepage, open Publications & 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 shipments of the new reports 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.