’08 Empire Plan claims due March 31

Empire Plan enrollees take note:  Time is running out for filing claims for covered medical services and items received in 2008.

March 31 is the last day to submit your 2008 claims to:

• United HealthCare for the Empire Plan Basic Medical Program, the Home Care Advocacy Program (HCAP), and for non-network physical medicine services;
• ValueOptions for non-network mental health and substance abuse services; and
• Medco for prescriptions filled in 2008 at non-participating pharmacies or without using your Empire Plan Benefit Card

If the Empire Plan is your secondary insurer, you must submit claims by March 31, or within 90 days after your primary health insurance plan processes your claim, whichever is later. If you are covered under the Empire Plan as both an enrollee and as a dependent, you may submit secondary claims to the Empire Plan for expenses not reimbursed under your primary coverage, such as copayments (including prescription drug copayments), deductibles and coinsurance amounts.

Claims submitted after the deadline will be rejected. The carriers will only reconsider their denial of these claims if you provide documentation indicating it was not reasonably possible for you to meet the deadline (for example, due to illness).

Ask your agency Health Benefits Administrator for claim forms, or call the Empire Plan toll-free telephone number 1-877-7NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447).  Or, just download the forms using the NYS Department of Civil Service website, www.cs.state.ny.us.

From the home page, click on “Benefit Programs” and follow the prompts to access NYSHIP Online.  Then click on “Using Your Benefits”.

Mail completed claim forms with supporting bills, receipts and, if applicable, a Medicare Summary Notice or statement from your other primary insurer to:

• United HealthCare
  P.O. Box 1600
  Kingston, New York 12402-1600

• ValueOptions
  P.O. Box 778
  Troy, New York 12181-0778

• The Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program

c/o Medco
P.O. Box 14711

Lexington, KY 40512