|
Special Option Transfer Period for NYSCOPBA-Represented
Employees: May 4 – June 4, 2012
In compliance with the recently ratified NYSCOPBA Collective Bargaining
Agreement, there will be a NYSHIP rate change effective July 1. As a result
of the rate change, there will be a Special Option Transfer Period through
June 4, 2012.
Health insurance rates effective July 1, are listed below:
Current health insurance rates are available at
www.buffalostate.edu/offices/hr/benefits.asp#health.
Employees who wish to change their health insurance plan during the Special
Option Transfer Period have until Monday, June 4, 2012. We encourage you to
complete and return the NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form to Cleveland
Hall 410 as soon as possible. This will avoid retroactive premium
adjustments and should allow you to receive new health plan identification
cards closer to the coverage effective date, July 1, 2012.
"Choices," a summary of health insurance plans, is available
online
or in Cleveland Hall 410. Also, the May 2012
Empire Plan and HMO Special Reports, describing the changes that affect
NYSHIP coverage as a result of the recently ratified contract, were sent
directly to your home. You may want to review all of these before you decide
to change insurance carriers or to remain with your current carrier for your
health insurance coverage.
No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance
option.
Please Note: The regular annual Option Transfer Period held at the end of
the calendar year, will be available and you will have the opportunity to
review health insurance plan options and rates for 2013 as you normally do.
Changes to Your Biweekly Premium Contribution Rate
New York State helps pay for your health insurance coverage. After the
State’s contribution, you are responsible for paying the balance of your
premium through biweekly deductions from your paycheck. As a result of the
recently ratified collective bargaining agreement,
effective October 1,
2011, the NYSHIP premium contribution sharing arrangement is changing for
enrollees represented by NYSCOPBA, as shown below:
|
Pay Grade |
Individual
Coverage |
Dependent
Coverage |
|
|
State
Share |
Employee
Share |
State
Share |
Employee
Share |
|
Grade 9 and Below |
88% |
12% |
73% |
27% |
|
Grade 10 and Above |
84% |
16% |
69% |
31% |
Since premium deductions for your NYSHIP coverage after October 1, 2011 have
already been taken, the increase in your biweekly cost of NYSHIP coverage
from October 2011 through June 2012 will be calculated to determine your
retroactive health insurance special adjustment. This special adjustment
will be applied to the paycheck dated June 20, 2012, the same paycheck in
which you will receive your retroactive payments, in accordance with the
2009-2016 agreement between the State and NYSCOPBA employees in law
enforcement positions. In addition to the special adjustment and payments,
the health insurance regular premium deduction amount will reflect the 2012
rates.
Health Insurance Opt-Out Program for NYSCOPBA-Represented Employees
Effective July 1, 2012, NYSHIP will offer an Opt-Out Program to NYSCOPBA-represented
employees. This program will allow eligible employees who have other
employer-sponsored group health insurance to opt out of their NYSHIP
coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. The annual incentive payment
is $1,000 for waiving Individual coverage or $3,000 for waiving Family
coverage. For the period of July 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012, the incentive
payment will be $38.47 per paycheck for individual coverage and $115.39 per
paycheck for family coverage. The incentive payments will be prorated and
reimbursed in your biweekly paycheck throughout the current year. Note: The
payments will be taxable income.
To be eligible for the program beginning July 1, 2012, you must have been
enrolled in NYSHIP by April 1, 2011 and remained enrolled through June 30,
2012. If you became newly eligible for NYSHIP benefits after April 1, 2011,
you must have been enrolled since your first date of eligibility.
If you are currently enrolled in NYSHIP and wish to participate in the
Opt-Out Program, you must elect to opt out during the Special Option
Transfer period which ends on June 4, 2012 and attest to having other
employer-sponsored group health insurance. You must complete and return the
NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form and the
2012 Opt-Out Attestation Form
to Cleveland Hall 410 by Monday, June 4, 2012. If you enroll in the program
and you are eligible for dental and vision coverage under the state plan,
your eligibility for dental and vision coverage will not be affected.
The complete Opt-Out Program description, including eligibility requirements
and enrollment forms, is available online and in Cleveland Hall 410.
Special Option Transfer Period for PEF Employees
In compliance with the recently ratified contract between the State of New
York and the Public Employee Federation (PEF), there will be a NYSHIP rate
change and changes affecting NYSHIP coverage effective October 1, 2011. As a
result of these changes, there’s a
Special Option Transfer Period for PEF employees, November 4 – December 5,
2011.
For health insurance rates effective October 1, 2011,
click here.
Since the premium deductions for October and November coverage have already
been taken, the increase in the cost of NYSHIP coverage for October and
November will be deferred and included in premium contributions for six
bi-weekly pay periods beginning with the check dated January 4, 2012. Once
these adjustments are taken, the premium deduction amount will return to the
2012 premium contribution rate.
PEF employees who wish to change their health insurance plan during the
Special Option Transfer Period have until Monday, December 5, 2011. We
encourage you to complete and return the
option
transfer form to Cleveland Hall 410 as soon as possible.
"Choices"
is a summary of health insurance plans. Also, the Empire Plan and HMO
Special Reports, describing the changes that affect NYSHIP coverage as a
result of the recently ratified contract, were sent directly to your home.
You may want to review all of these before you decide to change insurance
carriers or to remain with your current carrier for your health insurance
coverage.
The following changes are also available during the Special Option Transfer
Period:
Change of Coverage (Family to Individual)
Voluntary Cancellation of Coverage
No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance
option.
Please Note: The regular annual Option Transfer Period held at the end of
the calendar year, will be available and you will have the opportunity to
review health insurance plan options and rates for 2012 as you normally do.
For questions, please contact the Employee Benefits Office at ext. 4821.
Special Option Transfer Period for CSEA and M/C Employees In compliance with the recently ratified contract between the State of New
York and CSEA, there will be a NYSHIP rate change and changes in NYSHIP
coverage effective October 1, 2011. The terms of the agreement have also
been administratively extended to M/C Employees. As a result of these
changes, there will be a Special Option Transfer Period for CSEA and M/C
employees during the month of September.
For CSEA and M/C Classified health insurance rates effective October 1,
2011, click here.
For M/C health insurance rates effective October 1, 2011,
click here.
For current health insurance rates, click here.
Employees who wish to change their health insurance plan during the Special
Option Transfer Period have until
Friday, September 30, 2011. We encourage you to complete and
return the option transfer form to Cleveland Hall 410 as soon as possible.
This will avoid retroactive premium adjustments and should allow you to
receive new health plan identification cards closer to the coverage
effective date, October 1, 2011.
"Choices" is a summary
of health insurance plans. Also, the Empire Plan and HMO Special Reports,
describing the changes that affect NYSHIP coverage as a result of the
recently ratified contract, were sent directly to your home. You may want to
review all of these before you decide to change insurance carriers or to
remain with your current carrier for your health insurance coverage.
The following changes are also available during the Special Option Transfer
Period:
Change of Coverage (Individual or Family)
Voluntary Cancellation of Coverage
No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance
option.
Please Note: The regular annual Option Transfer Period held at the end of
the calendar year, will be available and you will have the opportunity to
review health insurance plan options and rates for 2012 as you normally do.
For questions, please contact the Employee Benefits Office at ext. 4821.
|
