KATHY HOCHUL
Governor
TIMOTHY R. HOGUES
Commissioner
NY25-33
TO: New York State Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Revised Online Empire Plan Certificates for CSEA, M/C; Legislature, NY Retirees, PBA, PEF, PIA, UCS and UUP Effective January 1, 2025
DATE: December 30, 2025
Updates to the Empire Plan Certificates for NY retirees and NY employees in CSEA, M/C; Legislature, PBA, PEF, PIA, UCS and UUP with amendments through January 1, 2025, are now available. They are only available online on the NYSHIP website at nyship.ny.gov and HBA Online.
Certificates were previously printed and posted online for each group:
|
Group |
Date of Previous Printed Certificate |
Date of Previous Online Certificate |
|
CSEA |
July 1, 2023 |
December 31, 2023 |
|
M/C; Legislature |
July 1, 2023 |
December 31, 2023 |
|
NY Retirees |
July 1, 2023 |
December 31, 2023 |
|
PBA* |
January 1, 2019 |
December 31, 2023 |
|
PEF |
January 1, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
|
PIA** |
January 1, 2021 |
December 31, 2023 |
|
UCS |
July 1, 2023 |
December 31, 2023 |
|
UUP |
January 1, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
* Updated Certificates with changes affecting Empire Plan coverage that took effect on April 1, 2025, will be created during the 2026 amendment round.
** Updated Certificates with changes affecting Empire Plan coverage that took effect on August 1, 2025, will be created during the 2026 amendment round.
Updated Certificates for NY employees in DC-37 and NYSCOPBA (changes effective July 1, 2024) and for NY employees in APSU and C-82 (changes effective January 1, 2025) are available on the NYSHIP website and HBA Online and will be mailed to enrollees. See HBA Memo NY25-32 for more information on these groups.
Amendments to The Empire Plan since the publication of each group’s last Certificate are also available on the NYSHIP website and HBA Online. The amendments have been incorporated into the online versions of the Certificate, and the previous version for each group has been archived online for reference only.
Distribution
The updated Certificates for CSEA, M/C; Legislature, NY retirees, PBA, PEF, PIA, UCS and UUP will not be printed or available to order at this time and may only be accessed on the NYSHIP website and HBA Online. Updated Certificates will be printed and mailed to enrollees on a group-by-group basis once new contracts have been ratified and implemented or collectively bargained changes have been administratively extended.
Until such time, the respective printed Certificates for each group will continue to be available to order as standalone publications or as part of group Quick Order Packages. An insert will be included in each copy that notes that the most updated version of the Certificate is available online. The updated online PDF can be printed as well.
If you need help accessing HBA Online, contact the ITS Service Desk at 844-891-1786, fixit@its.ny.gov or chat.its.ny.gov. If you are unsure of how to order publications or have questions about this distribution, please email the EBD Communications Unit at communications@ny.gov.