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
PA06-05
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: January 2006 Empire Plan Reports and Empire Plan At A Glance
DATE: March 1, 2006
We will mail the January 2006 Empire Plan Reports (including The Empire Plan At A Glance dated January 1, 2006) for employees of Participating Agencies with Core Empire Plan Benefits and for employees of Participating Agencies with Core Plus Enhancements in early March.
The Reports vary by group.
The Empire Plan Report includes:
Empire Plan Benefit News
Annual Deductible and Coinsurance Maximum, Hearing Aids
Reminders
Language Line Services, Claims Deadlines, Medicare, Participating Provider Directory
The Empire Plan At A Glance 2006
A summary description of Empire Plan benefits for 2006
Reporting On Centers of Excellence (PA Plus Only)
A description of the benefits of Centers of Excellence for cancer, transplants and infertility
Empire Plan Copayment Cards (PA Plus Only)
An easy reference of Empire Plan programs and copayments
Note: PA CORE received Reporting On Centers of Excellence and Empire Plan Copayment Cards with their September 2005 Amendments.
Distribution of Reports
These publications will be mailed to enrollee homes in early March. We will send you a supply equal to 3 percent of your enrollment.
Publications available on our web site: www.cs.state.ny.us
Please check this web site for 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, The Empire Plan At A Glance, Reporting On Centers of Excellence and Empire Plan Copayment Cards as stand-alone (separate) publications by using the Publications Supply Order Forms enclosed with your shipments. Or, instead of faxing the form, you may order on HBA Online (formerly known as ebd_online). From the Department of Civil Service homepage, www.cs.state.ny.us, select the Benefits Programs button from the left hand navigation. Then click on HBA Online. Open Publications & Forms, then open NYSHIP Publication Order Forms. If you need help accessing HBA Online, please call the Help Desk or your processor. Please wait until you receive your shipments 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.