HealthBenefits
Updated January 20, 2012 - Health Benefits Homepage

Davis Vision Administers NYS Vision Benefits

UPDATE 1/10/12: Effective January 1, 2012, Davis Vision has become the administrator of the NYS Vision Plan.  Posted here are an information packet and benefit summary distributed by the Department of Civil Service to all agency Health Benefit Administrators (HBAs). The packet contains useful information, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about vision benefits, the provider network, and contact information.

UPDATE 12/15/11: The Davis Vision contract has been approved by the appropriate state agencies. Members will receive an informational packet from Davis in mid-December.

The state has conditionally awarded the contract for the NYS Vision Plan to Davis Vision.  Once approved by the appropriate state agencies, the five-year contract with Davis Vision will take effect January 1, 2012.

Members should be quite familiar with Davis Vision.  Prior to the state awarding the contract to the current vendor, EyeMed Vision Care, Davis Vision had administered the NYS Vision Plan for 23 years. Davis Vision is a U.S. company, based in New York State, and has been operating in the state since 1964.  The Davis Vision customer service call center is located in Latham, New York.

While there will be no change to the level of benefits members receive, they will notice some differences when Davis Vision begins administering the vision plan.  Examples of these differences include:

·      A different network of participating vision care providers – the Davis network is different from EyeMed’s and will include more participating (par) vision care provider locations than it did when Davis Vision previously administered the plan.

·      A different selection of eyeglass frames – at the vast majority of par vision care provider locations, members will have two options when choosing frames:

 o   Members will once again be able to receive a paid-in-full benefit by choosing frames from the Davis “Tower Collection”; or, if they prefer,

o   Members will now be able to choose any available frame and receive an allowance of up to $130, paying any remaining balance out-of-pocket.

In other words, members will have what they currently have with EyeMed (an allowance of up to $130) plus what they previously had when Davis Vision administered the vision care plan (the “Tower Collection”).

All Davis Vision eyeglasses are covered by a one-year breakage warranty.

        Davis Vision will provide benefits for all covered services performed and eyewear dispensed on or after January 1, 2012.  This applies even if you had your exam prior to January 1, 2012. Therefore, to receive the in-network level of benefits, you must use a Davis Vision network vision care provider.   

More specific information regarding the changes members can expect will be distributed prior to January 1, 2012.

      Empire Plan Covers HPV Vaccine for Boys

The The Empire Plan now covers vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in boys and young men up to age 21. The series of three vaccines can be started as early as age 9.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. At least half of sexually active people will get it at some point in their lives. The HPV vaccine is already recommended for females between the ages of 9 and 26 to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends girls also get the vaccine at age 11 or 12.