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.
GEORGE E. PATAKI
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
DANIEL E. WALL
COMMISSIONER
JOHN F. BARR
EXECUTIVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
PA05-08
TO: Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Agencies
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Medicare Part D, NYSHIP and Initial Enrollee Mailing
DATE: June 23, 2005
The next phase of the federal Medicare Part D program, which provides prescription drug coverage to Medicare enrollees, takes effect on January 1, 2006. The Employee Benefits Division recognizes that, as your agency’s HBA, you may be asked questions about the program, particularly regarding how it will impact NYSHIP coverage. This memo will give you some resources for general information about the program and help you respond to some of these questions.
We have posted some additional information in the format of questions and answers on the site in the “You Should Know” section of PA-MARKET. As more resources and information about the program become available, we will continue to post them on the site and inform you via broadcast messages and HBA memos.
In June and July, the Employee Benefits Division will mail a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program letter to all active and retired NYSHIP enrollees who are or have a dependent that is either 64 or older or eligible for Medicare due to disability. Although we do not expect you to answer detailed or personal questions about this complicated issue, a copy of the letter is attached so you are aware of what enrollees will receive. Enrollees receiving the letter will be instructed to call Social Security or Medicare if they have questions and contact numbers are provided. If you receive questions, you should refer enrollees to these numbers.
Since Retiree Benefit Statements will not be done this year, a form is enclosed with the letter to verify some NYBEAS data that we will require to implement Medicare Part D. A postage-paid envelope is enclosed with the letter for the enrollee to return to EBD if they have any corrections. If you get any of these forms, please ask the enrollee to use the envelope provided to return it properly or, if all else fails, contact your processor for instructions.