Page 19 - Work Force November 2018

Important dates to remember for 2019 health expenses
Option transfer period will begin soon
NYSHIP enrollees should start thinking about their health care expenses for next year.
Do you currently participate in
the Flex Spending Account or the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP)? If you don’t, now is the
ideal time to get more information about these cost-saving benefits
as enrollment begins in October (enrollment is time sensitive and ends in November).
Flex Spending Account Open Enrollment Period: Oct. 9 to Nov. 9, 2018
The Flex Spending Account is a negotiated employee benefit for state employees. A flex spending account offers a way to pay for your dependent care or health care expenses with pre- tax dollars.
Visit the Flex Spending Account website at
www.flexspend.ny.gov for more information about eligibility and program rules or call 1-800-358-7202. If you are currently enrolled in the Flex Spending Account program, you must re-enroll to continue your participation in 2019.
PEP Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 to Nov. 16, 2018
The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) allows eligible full and part-time state employees to exchange
previously accrued vacation and/or personal leave in return for a biweekly credit to be applied toward their NYSHIP premium.
CSEA was successful in negotiating an increase to the PEP amounts for 2019. For 2019, CSEA active state members can receive up to a $600 credit (about $23 biweekly) or a $1,200 credit (about $46 biweekly) determined by salary grade and number of days forfeited.
PTCP Election Period: Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 2018
The Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) allows enrollees to have their share of the health insurance premium deducted from their paycheck before taxes are withheld. The PTCP Election Period is your only opportunity during the plan year to change your PTCP status, unless you experience a PTCP qualifying event.
In addition to the above, the Option Transfer Period dates are scheduled to be announced in November. The Option Transfer Period is the time
of year when enrollees can change NYSHIP options for the 2019 plan year. New York State will be posting NYSHIP Rates & Deadlines once the rates have been approved.
Please contact the CSEA Health Benefits Department at 1-800-286-5242 with any questions.
It’s that time of year to start thinking about your 2019 health insurance options. The annual NYSHIP option transfer period will be held after the 2019 health insurance premiums are approved.
During the option transfer period, CSEA-represented state enrollees may change their health insurance plans for 2019.
You should have received the Planning for Option Transfer flyer in the mail in late September. The flyer describes the requirements and enrollment procedures
for several benefits and programs including the
Young Adult Option
Enrollment, the Pre-
Tax Contribution
Program (PTCP)*and
the Opt-Out Program,
if applicable. This is
an important reminder containing benefit and
program deadlines.
The publication Health
Insurance Choices for 2019 will be mailed once the rates are approved. Choices, which is the Option Transfer guide, provides details of benefits, services and programs available to NYSHIP enrollees, which include The Empire Plan and NYSHIP — approved Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Procedures for changing options, tips on how to decide which coverage may be best for you and your family and updates on plan changes are also included in Choices.
If you currently participate in a NYSHIP HMO, please be aware that many plans will be making important changes for the 2019 plan year, which
may include co-payment increases, so watch your mail for letters regarding 2019 changes. You can expect
to see this publication following
rate renewals no later than early December. Please watch for more information in The Work Force as the option transfer period draws near.
As a reminder, NYSHIP enrollees with retiree benefits (Retirees, Vestees, Dependent Survivors and Enrollees) covered under Preferred List Provisions of NYS government and COBRA enrollees with their
NYSHIP benefits are permitted to change health insurance
options, at any time, but just once during a
12-month period. This policy allows retirees more flexibility and time to consider personal factors
affecting their health insurance option.
Option transfer publications, including rate
flyers, will be available on NYSHIP online at www.cs.ny.gov/employee- benefits. Select your group and plan, if prompted, and then choose Health Benefits & Option Transfer; click on Rates and Health Plan Choices and the NYSHIP Plan Comparison. Select your group (CSEA) and the county in which you live and work. Check the box next to the plans you wish to compare and click Compare Plans to generate the comparison table.
* The PTCP Enrollment Period is your only opportunity during the plan year to change your PTCP status, unless you experience a PTCP qualifying event.
Attention: Private Sector Local Presidents Important Election Information
The term of office for current private sector local officers will expire on June 30, 2019. Elections for office must be conducted and completed before the new term begins on July 1, 2019.
A letter was sent by the Statewide Election Committee (SEC) on September 17 to each private sector local president (or, where applicable, to
the CSEA administrators) requesting each Executive Board to select 1) a Chairperson and Election Committee
or 2) an Election Meeting Chair (for locals with 150 members or less), prior to Oct. 15, 2018. An Election Data Form was also enclosed to be completed and returned with a copy of the Executive
Board meeting minutes reflecting the committee appointments.
If this SEC request has not
been complied with, please do so immediately. Failure to return the Election Data Form will omit your
local from receiving important election information, including materials needed to hold an election.
Please refer to the September letter for procedural requirements. You may contact the SEC at 1-800-342-4146, ext.1447 or sec@cseainc.org, if you,
as a private sector local president
or administrator, did not receive this important letter.
VOTE
General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 6 Your VOTE is your VOICE
November 2018
The Work Force 19