Health insurance choices for 2014 It’s that time of year to start thinking about your health insurance options. The annual NYSHIP Option Transfer period will be held after the 2014 health insurance premiums are approved. During the option transfer period, CSEArepresented state enrollees will have the ability to change their health insurance plan for the 2014 plan year. Enrollees will be able to choose from the Empire Plan or one of the NYSHIP-approved health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in their area. If an enrollee currently participates in the opt-out program and wishes to continue for 2014, they must elect to opt-out during the annual option transfer period. If you currently participate in a NYSHIP HMO, please be aware that many will be making important changes for the 2014 plan year. These changes may include co-payment increases, so please watch your mail for letters regarding the 2014 changes. Enrollees contemplating changing options may find it helpful to request a copy of the 2014 Choices guide from your health benefits administrator. Enrollees should review each of the options carefully to determine which health insurance plan will best meet their needs and the needs of their family. Please watch for additional information in The Work Force as the option transfer period draws nearer. The Joint Committee on Health Benefits will publish additional information on health insurance premiums for the 2014 plan year in an effort to assist you in making the most informed choices for you and your family’s health care needs. Special health insurance deductions Consider flexible spending accounts for 2014 health care expenses • The deadline for 2014 enrollment is Nov. 8, 2013 and is As the end of the calendar year approaches, enrollees should start thinking about their expenses for the following year. Do you participate in the Flex Spending Account? If you don’t, now is the ideal time to obtain additional information about this cost-saving benefit. The Flex Spending Account is a negotiated employee benefit that helps state employees save money on their taxes, by allowing them to pay for certain expenses with pretax dollars. There are two benefit programs under the Flex Spending Account to help you keep more of your paycheck. The Health Care Spending Account (HCSAccount), which allows employees to pay for health-related expenses (including medical, hospital, laboratory, prescription drug, dental, vision, and hearing expenses that are not reimbursed by your insurance or other benefit plans) and the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount), which allows employees to pay for dependent care (child care, elder care or disabled dependent care) required for an employee or spouse to work. Enrollees should carefully estimate eligible expenses in an effort to determine appropriate contribution amounts to your Flex Spending Account. Under federal law, any money that is deposited into your Flex Spending Account must be used for expenses incurred during the plan year in which it was CSEA has received inquiries that certain members working for New York state have recently had an additional (up to $100) “special health insurance deduction” deducted from their payroll. The special deduction is for retroactive premiums owed as a result of the state not deducting the accurate health insurance premium. Article 9.14 and 9.15 of the 2011- 2016 agreement between CSEA and the State of New York stipulates that employee health insurance premium contributions shall be based on the employee’s salary grade. However, there has been disagreement between CSEA and the state regarding the effective date of a new health insurance premium, which is the result of a change in salary due to a promotion or demotion. In an attempt to resolve the disagreement regarding the effective date of enrollees affected by a promotion or a demotion, the state has agreed that moving forward (effective May 1, 2013), premium contributions will be What you need to know about the HCSAccount strictly enforced. • HCSAccount minimum contribution is $100 and maximum annual contribution is $2,500. •Some examples of eligible expenses include chiropractic care, contact lenses, co-payments, deductibles, hearing aids, laser eye surgery, over-the-counter drugs (must be prescribed by a doctor), wheelchairs and more. • Visit www.flexspendny.gov or call 1-800-358-7202. contributed. More detailed information regarding the Flexible Spending Account programs, including enrolling online, frequently asked questions and information on how as stipulated in Article 9 of the contract; grade 9 and below will contribute 12 percent individual and 27 percent dependent portion; grade 10 and above will contribute 16 percent individual and 31 percent dependent portion. Before the current agreement, New York state only changed health insurance premiums based on salary grade information once a year (Oct. 1). For those members who have been at the wrong premium contribution (either paying too little or paying too much) as a result of the previous disagreement, the state will correct the file and change the enrollees to the appropriate premium contribution level effective May 1, 2013 (no additional retroactivity before May 1 will be approved). Enrollees with additional questions can contact their agency health benefits administrator or the CSEA Health Benefits Department at 1-800-286-5242. to calculate your out-of-pocket expenses can be obtained online at www.flexspend.ny.gov, or by calling 1-800-358-7202. October 2013 The Work Force 17
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To see the actual publication please follow the link above