Page 18 - Work Force October 2016

Retiring soon? Check out EBF’s retiree dental and vision benefits
The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) has launched a valuable new source of information for retiree benefits on the EBF website. It is for employees who have EBF benefits and those planning retirement.
Visit cseaebf.com and select the “Retiree Benefits” button from the
left side of the home page menu. Features include general guidelines for participation by employer, information about the EBF Retiree Dental and Vision plans, dental and vision plan comparisons and a search tool to check your benefits you may qualify for in retirement. Participation varies by employer.
COBRA and retiree program options will be mailed to participants covered by the EBF once your employer has notified the EBF of your termination date due to retirement.
EBF includes information on the retiree programs you are eligible for with your COBRA election notice. All information is mailed to the address on file. IMPORTANT: This mailing is time sensitive. If you have moved, please update your address with CSEA and EBF separately.*
EBF does not administer COBRA for all employers who have negotiated EBF benefits. Please refer to the “Search Your Retiree Benefits” area
on the Retiree Page for additional information.
*Call EBF at 800-323-2732 and select the COBRA/Retiree Department to update your address or visit our website to quickly update your address at cseaebf.com and click the “Change of Address” button on the right side of the home page.
New York state
If you are a New York state employee in the Administrative (ASU), Institutional (ISU), Operational (OSU) or Department of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) bargaining units, dental and vision benefits do not continue into retirement. Dental and vision benefits do not become part of your health insurance and they must be purchased separately. They are not included in Medicare.
Unified Court System
If you are employed by the Unified Court System, dental and vision benefits have been negotiated for you into retirement. A Plan Summary for Unified Court System Retirees will automatically be mailed to you upon receipt from your employer of your retirement date. You may also
download a copy from our website by clicking the UCS Employees button from the homepage and selecting the UCS Retirees PDF.
Local government
If you are employed by a local government political subdivision such as a county, city, town, village, public authority or school district, visit the “Search Your Retiree Benefits” area
of the Retiree Page or check with
your employer’s personnel office to find out what benefits you carry into retirement.
For employees without computers or access to the internet, contact EBF at 800-323-2732 and select COBRA/ Retiree from the phone menu.
NYSHIP Dependent Eligibility Audit
Final Phase: Removal of Non-Verified Dependents
2017 Flex Spending Account Program open enrollment
NYSHIP’s dependent eligibility verification project impacts all NYSHIP enrollees with family health insurance (The Empire Plan and NYSHIP HMOs). The audit helps to ensure that every participant who receives NYSHIP health
benefits is entitled to
those benefits.
Health Management
Systems, Inc. (HMS)
has completed the
NYSHIP Dependent
Eligibility Verification
Audit (DEVA) for
active New York State
Agency enrollees and
their covered dependents.
Enrollees were required to provide proof of eligibility for their covered dependents by August 19, 2016 and were notified of a grace period which extended their reporting deadline to Sept. 7, 2016.
Beginning Oct. 2, 2016, New York state will initiate the removal of unverified dependents from NYSHIP coverage retroactive to Jan. 1, 2016. Medicare primary dependents will be terminated in accordance with CMS
guidelines.
NOTE: There will be a
90-day reinstatement period available through Dec. 6,
2016. Enrollees in receipt of a “Notice of Cancellation of Coverage” from NYSHIP
and wish to appeal should contact HMS directly at
1-866-252-0635 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Appeals for reinstatement must be received by HMS no later than Dec. 6, 2016; you may fax documentation to 1-877-223-8478 or upload documentation via VerifyOS.com (HMS reference number from correspondence will be required).
This information is for New York state active employees represented under the state executive branch contract.
The open enrollment period to participate in the 2017 Flex Spending Account Program, which includes the Health Care Spending Account and/
or the Dependent Care Advantage Account will run between Oct. 3, 2016 and Nov. 7, 2016.
Visit www.flexspend.ny.gov to learn more about both programs or enroll online. Questions should be directed to fsa@goer.ny.gov or call 1-800-358-7202.
ATTENTION: PUBLIC SECTOR LOCAL AND UNIT PRESIDENTS
Important Election Information:
The term of office for current Public Sector Local and Unit officers will expire on June 30, 2017. Elections for office must be conducted and completed before the new term begins on July 1, 2017.
A letter was sent by the Statewide Election Committee (SEC) on Sept.
7 to each Local and Unit President requesting each Executive Board to select 1) a Chairperson and Election Committee or 2) an Election Meeting Chair (available to Locals and Units with 150 members or less), prior
to Oct. 15, 2016. Each Local and
Unit President was provided with
and asked to return one completed Election Data Form along with Executive Board meeting minutes reflecting the appointments. If this has not been completed, please do
so immediately. Please refer to the SEC’s September letter for procedural requirements.
Any questions pertaining to
the Sept. 7 mailing, or the election process in general, can be answered by contacting the SEC at 1-800-342- 4146, ext. 1447 or sec@cseainc.org.
18 The Work Force
October 2016