Page 18 - Work Force March 2023

EBF vision plans have eye-opening lenses choices
CSEA members with an EBF vision plan include state Executive Branch employees, government employees, Unified Court System employees, local government employees with our Silver, Gold, Platinum and Member Plus Vision Plans (formerly Solstice) and eligible retirees.
Refer to your contract or visit EBF’s website at cseaebf.com and use the Benefit Search Tool to find out exactly what vision benefits you have.
You have choices when it comes to the material of your eyeglass lenses. Which material is best for you?
Glass lenses
Glass lenses are known for
their clarity and precision – think microscopes, binoculars and camera lenses. They are also resistant to scratches.
However, glass lenses will shatter with hard impact, which can be
dangerous and can cause injury to your skin and eyes. For this reason, glass lenses are not advisable
in eyeglasses for children and, depending on the provider, may not be available at all.
Glass lenses are also heavier than other materials, which can make eyewear uncomfortable to wear for prolonged periods. In addition, there is no inherent
ultraviolet protection in glass lenses.
Plastic lenses
Plastic lenses
have been around since the 1940s. While the clarity of plastic lenses is not as good as glass, most wearers cannot notice a difference.
Plastic lenses are lighter and less expensive than other materials. They are easy to form to fit almost any eyeglass frame and do not shatter upon impact. Plastic lenses also accept tint more easily than
glass or polycarbonate. Lenses made from plastic tend to be thicker and scratch more easily. These lenses also lack UV protection without an extra coating.
Polycarbonate lenses
Polycarbonate lenses first appeared on the market in the 1980s.
Polycarbonate
is a specially designed flexible
plastic that is highly impact resistant. They
have become the material of choice for
children, athletes, and active adults. When used in eyewear, these
lenses offer the thinnest and lightest weight options for the wearer. They are easily formed to fit almost every frame. Polycarbonate lenses offer built-in ultraviolet protection with no additional coating required.
While extremely durable, scratch resistant coating is suggested to
prolong the wearability of these lenses. While most users will not notice, polycarbonate lenses can cause slight distortions in peripheral vision. These lenses are more expensive than plastic or glass.
EBF vision plans
All EBF vision plans cover glass, plastic, or polycarbonate lenses at a participating vision provider. Scratch resistant coating and tinting are also covered. Talk to your provider about which material might be best for you.
To find a participating vision provider, use the Provider Search Tool on the EBF website.
your behalf when provided with all necessary information. If you have a non-network claim submission, make sure you complete the requested subscriber information on the claim form, include the original billing
or receipt (if requested), and don’t forget to sign the claim form.
Deadline for Empire Plan claims is April 30
Empire Plan enrollees have until April 30, 2023 (120 days after the end of the calendar year) to submit medical expenses incurred during the 2022 plan year to:
United HealthCare Service Corp. P.O. Box 1600
Kingston, N.Y. 12402-1600 Claims fax: 845-336-7716
Online submission: https://nyrmo. optummessenger.com/public/ opensubmit
For the Empire Plan Basic Medical Program, the Home Care Advocacy Program (HCAP) and for non- network physical therapy or chiropractic services.
Empire Blue Cross
NYS Service Center
P.O. Box 1407 – Church Street Station
New York, N.Y. 10008-1407 Claims fax: 866-829-2395 Online claim forms: www. empireblue.com/nys/resources- forms
For Empire Plan and non-network inpatient or outpatient hospital services.
Beacon Health Options, Inc.
P.O. Box 1850
Hicksville, N.Y. 11802
Claims fax: 855-378-8309
Online form: www.achievesolutions. net/achievesolutions/en/ empireplan/Home.do
For non-network mental health and substance abuse services.
CVS Caremark
Customer Care Correspondence P.O. Box 6590
Lee’s Summit, M.O. 64064-6590 For prescriptions filled at non- participating pharmacies or at participating pharmacies without using your New York Government Employee Benefit Card.
Enrollees can call the Empire Plan at 1-877-7NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) with questions or to obtain claim forms. As a reminder, when using the Empire Plan’s toll-free telephone number, please pay extra attention to the choices offered by the automated system.
Network providers/pharmacies will submit claims directly to the appropriate insurance carrier on
18 The Work Force
March 2023