The Daily Bulletin Archive

Each November, enrollees in the NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) may elect to participate or decline participation in the Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) for the upcoming plan year. During November, current PTCP enrollees may also make changes to their coverage, which affect the NYSHIP deduction for the upcoming plan year, without a qualifying event.

• Change pre-tax status for health insurance deductions
• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel health insurance

If you are enrolled in the PTCP, your share of the health insurance premium is deducted from your wages before taxes are withheld, which may lower your taxes. Enrollment in the PTCP also restricts changes that can be made to the NYSHIP coverage (e.g., switching to individual coverage) in situations when a qualifying event takes place. Not enrolling in the PTCP allows greater flexibility to make changes to NYSHIP coverage throughout the plan year.

Your paycheck shows whether or not you are enrolled in the PTCP.

• If you are enrolled in the PTCP, your paycheck stub shows Regular Before Tax Health in the Before Tax Deductions section. Your health insurance premium is deducted from your wages before taxes are withheld.
• If you are not enrolled in the PTCP, your paycheck stub shows Regular After Tax Health in the After Tax Deductions section. Your health insurance premium is deducted from your wages after taxes are withheld.

November 1–30 is the only time you can change your Pre-Tax Contribution Program election.

For more information about the PTCP and the allowable coverage changes while enrolled in the PTCP, please refer to the PTCP Change Chart  (PDF, 129 KB) and PTCP Fact Sheet (PDF, 334 KB).

If you wish to change your PTCP selection for 2017, you must file a completed NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 253 KB) (with sections 1–9 and 13 completed) with the Benefits Office, Cleveland Hall 410, by Wednesday, November 30.

No action is required to keep your current PTCP status.