New Vision Care and Empire Plan Benefit Books

Davis Vision began sending updated Vision Care Program Books to enrollees’ homes on August 2nd. Many enrollees have not received an updated benefit book since July 1993, when PEF transitioned from the Public Employees Benefit Fund (PEBF) Vision Care Plan to the New York State Vision Care Program administered by Davis Vision. You should discard your old benefit book, as well as notices of benefit changes implemented on 9/1/95 and 10/1/00 , and replace them with the new 2002 benefit book.

If you do not receive the new vision care benefit book, you should contact Davis Vision at (518) 220-6300 in the Capital District or 1-800-999-5431 outside the Capital District.

In addition to the updated vision benefit book, members enrolled in the Empire Plan will receive the June 1, 2002 NYSHIP General Information Book and Empire Plan Certificate (benefit book). The book/certificate is being mailed directly to enrollees’ homes. Distribution of the book/certificate began on 8/9/02 . The new book/certificate replaces the 1996 version and all Empire Plan Reports and Amendments updating it.

If you do not receive the new book/certificate, you should contact your agency’s health benefits administrator (HBA). The HBA is usually located in the Personnel Office; you can also find a list of HBA phone numbers on the Civil Service/Employee Benefits Division web site at http://www.cs.state.ny.us./ebd/ebdonlinecenter/hbad/index.cfm?majorgroup=NY.