“I give without a specific reason; it feels like the natural thing to do. In the grand scheme, the more I give, the more I receive, and that’s how I believe the universe works. I find my purpose when my community flourishes.”
—Yanick Jenkins

We warmly invite you to share your reasons for giving, and we’ll feature them in the Daily. Please send your thoughts to campaign co-chairs Wendy Paterson, dean of the School of Education, or Maria C. Garrity, senior systems programmer in Information Technology. Let’s maintain our momentum, as together, we can achieve this! To donate, please go to the e-pledge system and click “Forgot user ID or password” to begin the process, even if you are rolling over your pledge from last year. This instructional video and documentation can further guide you. Thank you.

The annual Option Transfer Period—the time to choose the health insurance option you want for 2024—closes Friday, December 29. The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) offers employees the choice of the Empire Plan or a NYSHIP-approved health maintenance organization (HMO) serving the area where they live or work.

The “Choices” booklet explains the available NYSHIP options if you are considering changing your health insurance option for 2024 or wish to review your current option. You can find the Choices booklet and other option transfer publications on the NYSHIP Online website. Select your group and plan when prompted, then select Health Benefits and Option Transfer, and choose Rates and Health Plan Choices for the most up-to-date option transfer information.

There is also a 2024 online NYSHIP Option Transfer Guide with helpful information and tools.

Rate information was sent directly to enrollees' homes. Information is also available on the Human Resource Management website.

Copies of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage for the individual health plans can be obtained by phone at (877) 769-7447 or on the Employee Benefits Division website.

If you have coverage under another employer-sponsored health insurance program, you may be eligible to opt out of NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. If you are interested in participating in the Opt-Out Program for 2024, please contact the Employee Benefits Office. It is no longer necessary to re-enroll in the Opt-Out Program each year. No action is required for current Opt-Out enrollees who are still eligible and wish to remain in the program for 2024.

Except under limited circumstances, you cannot change options outside the annual Option Transfer Period, which ends on December 29, 2023.

Other changes permitted during the Option Transfer Period without a qualifying event:

• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel your coverage
• Change your tax-election option (pre-tax to after-tax or after-tax to pre-tax)

To change your health insurance option during the Option Transfer Period, please return the completed and signed Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) to the Employee Benefits Office (Cleveland Hall 403) by end of business (5:00 p.m.) Friday, December 29. You may also change your option online using MyNYSHIP. All changes will be effective Thursday, January 4, 2024.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

Please contact the Employee Benefits Office, (716) 878-4821, with questions.

The Young Adult Option 2024 open enrollment period for eligible adult children of New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) enrollees is November 30–December 29. NYSHIP allows a young adult child up to age 30 to purchase coverage through his or her parent’s group health insurance policy.

The Young Adult Option is for medical coverage only; dental and vision coverage are not included. Under the law, the young adult’s coverage is subject to all terms of the group policy; however, premiums are to be paid by the young adult or his or her parent, not the employer. The premium is the full cost of individual coverage for the NYSHIP option selected.

Eligibility Criteria
The Young Adult Option is available to young adults who meet all the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a child, adopted child, or stepchild of a NYSHIP enrollee (including those enrolled under COBRA)
• Be age 29 or younger
• Be unmarried
• Not be insured by or eligible for coverage through the young adult’s own employer-sponsored health plan
• Live, work, or reside in New York State or the plan’s service area
• Not be covered under Medicare

In addition, the young adult does not need to live with the parent, be financially dependent on the parent, or be a student. A young adult’s eligibility for health insurance coverage through a former employer under federal COBRA or state continuation coverage does not disqualify the young adult from electing this option under NYSHIP. Children of the young adult are not eligible for coverage under this option but may be eligible for health insurance coverage under other programs, such as the Child Health Plus Program. The young adult’s parent does not need to have family coverage, nor is the young adult required to have been previously covered as a dependent under NYSHIP, to be eligible to enroll.

For more information or to enroll a young adult child, please visit the Department of Civil Service website.

Today is the last day to enroll in the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) for 2024. PEP allows eligible CSEA, UUP, PEF, and M/C employees to exchange previously accrued vacation or personal leave for a credit toward their biweekly New York State health insurance costs. Sick leave credits cannot be exchanged under this program.

To participate, eligible employees must file an election form with the Human Resource Management Office, Cleveland Hall 403, by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) today, December 11. Employees who participated in PEP for 2023 must file a new election form to re-enroll in the 2024 program. Details and enrollment forms can be found on the Human Resource Management website.

For program details, please select your bargaining unit:

• CSEA Program Description (PDF, 190 KB) and Enrollment Form (PDF, 545 KB)
• UUP and M/C Program Description (PDF, 130 KB) and Enrollment Form (PDF, 620 KB)

The annual Option Transfer Period—the time to choose the health insurance option you want for 2024—ends Friday, December 29. The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) offers employees the choice of the Empire Plan or a NYSHIP-approved health maintenance organization (HMO) serving the area where they live or work.

The “Choices” booklet explains the available NYSHIP options if you are considering changing your health insurance option for 2024 or wish to review your current option. You can find the "Choices" booklet and other option transfer publications on the NYSHIP Online website. Select your group and plan when prompted, then select Health Benefits and Option Transfer, and choose Rates and Health Plan Choices for the most up-to-date option transfer information.

There is also a 2024 online NYSHIP Option Transfer Guide with helpful information and tools.

A limited number of "Choices" booklets are also available in the Employee Benefits Office. Please call (716) 878-4821 if you wish to receive a paper copy. Rate information was sent directly to enrollees' homes. Information is also available on the Human Resource Management website.

Copies of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage for the individual health plans can be obtained by phone at (877) 769-7447 or on the Employee Benefits Division website.

If you have coverage under another employer-sponsored health insurance program, you may be eligible to opt out of NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. If you are interested in participating in the Opt-Out Program for 2024, please contact the Employee Benefits Office. It is no longer necessary to re-enroll in the Opt-Out Program each year. No action is required for current Opt-Out enrollees who are still eligible and wish to remain in the program for 2024.

Except under limited circumstances, you cannot change options outside the annual Option Transfer Period, which ends on December 29, 2023.

Other changes permitted during the Option Transfer Period without a qualifying event:

• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel your coverage
• Change your tax-election option (pre-tax to after-tax or after-tax to pre-tax)

To change your health insurance option during the Option Transfer Period, please return the completed and signed Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) to the Employee Benefits Office (Cleveland Hall 403) by end of business (5:00 p.m.) Friday, December 29. All paperwork must be dated between November 30 and December 29, the Option Transfer Period. You may also change your option online using MyNYSHIP. All changes will be effective Thursday, January 4, 2024.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

If you have questions, please contact the Employee Benefits Office, (716) 878-4821.

The annual Option Transfer Period—the time to choose the health insurance option you want for 2024—runs through Friday, December 29. The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) offers employees the choice of the Empire Plan or a NYSHIP-approved health maintenance organization (HMO) serving the area where they live or work.

The “Choices” booklet (PDF, 9 MB) explains the available NYSHIP options if you are considering changing your health insurance option for 2024 or wish to review your current option. You can find the “Choices” booklet and other option transfer publications on the NYSHIP Online website. Select your group and plan when prompted, then select Health Benefits and Option Transfer, and choose Rates and Health Plan Choices for the most up-to-date option transfer information.

There is also a 2024 online NYSHIP Option Transfer Guide with helpful information and tools.

A limited number of “Choices” booklets will also be available in the Employee Benefits Office. Please call (716) 878-4821 if you wish to receive a paper copy. Rate information will be sent directly to enrollees' homes. Information is also available on the Human Resource Management website.

Copies of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage for the individual health plans can be obtained by phone at (877) 769-7447 or on the Employee Benefits Division website.

If you have coverage under another employer-sponsored health insurance program, you may be eligible to opt out of NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. If you are interested in participating in the Opt-Out Program for 2024, please contact the Employee Benefits Office. It is no longer necessary to re-enroll in the Opt-Out Program each year. No action is required for current Opt-Out enrollees who are still eligible and wish to remain in the program for 2024.

Except under limited circumstances, you cannot change options outside the annual Option Transfer Period, which ends December 29, 2023.

Other changes permitted during the Option Transfer Period without a qualifying event:

• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel your coverage
• Change your tax-election option (pre-tax to after-tax or after-tax to pre-tax)

To change your health insurance option during the Option Transfer Period, please return the completed and signed Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) to the Employee Benefits Office (Cleveland Hall 403) by end of business (5:00 p.m.) Friday, December 29. All paperwork must be dated between November 30 and December 29, the Option Transfer Period. You may also change your option online using MyNYSHIP. All changes will be effective Thursday, January 4, 2024.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

Please contact the Employee Benefits Office, (716) 878-4821, with questions.

The annual Option Transfer Period—the time to choose the health insurance option you want for 2024—is Thursday, November 30, through Friday, December 29. The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) offers employees the choice of the Empire Plan or a NYSHIP-approved health maintenance organization (HMO) serving the area where they live or work.

The "Choices" booklet (PDF, 9 MB) explains the available NYSHIP options if you are considering changing your health insurance option for 2024 or wish to review your current option. You can find the "Choices" booklet and other option transfer publications on the NYSHIP Online website. Select your group and plan when prompted, then select Health Benefits and Option Transfer, and choose Rates and Health Plan Choices for the most up-to-date option transfer information.

There is also a 2024 online NYSHIP Option Transfer Guide with helpful information and tools.

A limited number of "Choices" booklets will also be available in the Employee Benefits Office. Please call (716) 878-4821 if you wish to receive a paper copy. Rate information will be sent directly to enrollees' homes. Information is also available on the Human Resource Management website.

Copies of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage for the individual health plans can be obtained by phone at (877) 769-7447 or on the Employee Benefits Division website.

If you have coverage under another employer-sponsored health insurance program, you may be eligible to opt out of NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. If you are interested in participating in the Opt-Out Program for 2024, please contact the Employee Benefits Office. It is no longer necessary to re-enroll in the Opt-Out Program each year. No action is required for current Opt-Out enrollees who are still eligible and wish to remain in the program for 2024.

Except under limited circumstances, you cannot change options outside the annual Option Transfer Period, which ends December 29, 2023.

Other changes permitted during the Option Transfer Period without a qualifying event:

• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel your coverage
• Change your tax-election option (pre-tax to after-tax or after-tax to pre-tax)

To change your health insurance option during the Option Transfer Period, please return the completed and signed Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) to the Employee Benefits Office (Cleveland Hall 403) by end of business (5:00 p.m.) Friday, December 29. All paperwork must be dated between November 30 and December 29, the Option Transfer Period. You may also change your option online using MyNYSHIP. All changes will be effective Thursday, January 4, 2024.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

If you have questions, please contact the Employee Benefits Office, (716) 878-4821.

Learn skills and techniques that build confidence in speaking situations and provide a significant advantage in careers and life during the PSST workshop, led by Jay Beckley (B.S. and M.S. in communication), on Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Savage Theater and Communication Building 209.

Mr. Beckley spent his career coaching individuals, leading teams to succeed, and presenting to senior executives at the world’s best-known brands. He believes all speaking is public speaking and that any problem can be solved through communication. He knows that effective speaking skills and confidence can be learned and provide an advantage in all situations. In PSST, he hones the best practices from 25 years of presentation training to provide immediate, actionable, and lifelong skills. Please join us for this fun, interactive, and especially valuable training session.

Please register in advance. Open to all faculty, staff, and students.

The IRS has increased the contribution limits for the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and the Adoption Advantage Account for 2024.

Enrollees may now contribute a maximum of $3,200 to the HCSA or $16,810 to the Adoption Advantage Account.

The Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) lets you set aside any amount from $100 up to $3,200 for the 2024 plan year to pay for health care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance or other benefit plan; however, only medically necessary medical, hospital, dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents can be reimbursed by your HCSA.

The Adoption Advantage Account allows employees to set aside up to $16,810 in pre-tax dollars to pay for expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child. This benefit is available to M/C employees and those represented by CSEA, PEF, UUP, NYSCOPBA, and PBA.

Complete information on the Flex Spending Account can be found on the Governor's Office of Employee Relations website. If you wish to take advantage of this benefit, please submit your application for enrollment online or by phone at (800) 358-7202. You will need your NYS Employee ID number, which is located on your pay stub, to complete your application. The deadline for 2024 enrollment is Monday, December 11, at 11:59 p.m. and will be strictly enforced.

If you are enrolled for the 2023 plan year, you must re-enroll to continue your benefits in 2024. 

If you have already made your election and wish to make a change, you may do so through the website or by  phone by December 11, when the open enrollment period ends. Please be sure to enroll or modify your election by December 11.

Following the resignation of Senator Julian Cole, the vacated at-large Senate seat must be filled through an election, as there is more than one year remaining in the term.

All members of the college faculty are eligible to vote using the voting portal and Buffalo State credentials to access the ballot. The election closes at 11:59 p.m. today, December 1.

Candidates
Brian Cronk
Howard Reid
Mary Beth Sullivan

Please contact Kristen Mruk, special assistant to the provost and senate, (716) 878-5139, with general questions.