The Daily Bulletin Archive

Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) Open Enrollment Period
Eligible CSEA, PEF, UUP, and M/C employees who are enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) may forfeit vacation or personal leave in exchange for a credit toward health insurance premiums in 2014. A complete PEP description, including eligibility requirements and enrollment forms, is available on the Human Resource Management website. The open enrollment period ends Friday, November 29.

Annual Period for NYSHIP Enrollees to Make Changes to Their Coverage
NYSHIP enrollees have until Saturday, November 30, to make the following changes for 2014 without a qualifying event:

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

Note: Unless you are a new employee or have a qualifying event, the 10-week waiting period still applies to enroll in health insurance for the first time, or to add previously eligible dependents to your coverage.

Employees who wish to make the above changes to their coverage are encouraged to complete and return the NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form to Cleveland Hall 410 as soon as possible.

Annual Option Transfer Period
Eligible NYSHIP enrollees have 30 days from the date the 2014 rates are published to:

• change their NYSHIP health plan; employees may choose from the Empire Plan or one of two health maintenance organizations: Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY or Independent Health;
• change from a NYSHIP health plan to the Opt-Out Program;
• change from the Opt-Out Program to a NYSHIP health plan.

The Employee Benefits Office will announce the new health plan rates and deadline dates in the Daily Bulletin as soon as they are published. The New York State Employee Benefits Division will also mail information about the 2014 rates and deadline dates to enrolled employees' home addresses. "Choices," a comparison booklet of the insurance plans, will be available on the Human Resource Management website and in the Employee Benefits Office by early December. 

Representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, Independent Health, and the Empire Plan will be at the NYS Health Benefits Fair on Tuesday, December 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210 to answer questions about current health insurance plans and anticipated changes in coverage for 2014.

Please call the Employee Benefits Office at ext. 4821 with questions.