Option Transfer Begins Nov. 1
Get Ready to Choose Health Benefits for 2002
The annual Option Transfer Period begins on November 1st. Option Transfer Period is the time for you to make important decisions about your health care benefits. In addition to changing your health plan, you are allowed to make the following changes during the month of November:

1. Change your Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) status. The PTCP allows you to have your health insurance premiums deducted from your pay before taxes are taken out. This lowers your taxable income and gives you more spendable income. You were automatically enrolled in this program when you became eligible for health insurance, unless you declined to participate. If you are enrolled in the PTCP, your health insurance deduction will be under the heading "Before Tax Deductions" on your pay stub. If you declined enrollment in the PTCP, your health insurance deduction will be under the heading "After Tax Deductions."

2. If you are enrolled in the PTCP, November is the month that you can voluntarily cancel your coverage or change to Individual coverage without a qualifying event.

3. Change the federally qualified status of your domestic partner.

4. Elect to participate in the Health Option Program (HOP) for the year 2002. Participating employees earn sick leave at a reduced biweekly rate which results in three fewer days of sick leave earned over the calendar year in exchange for a reduction of up to $310.50 in biweekly health insurance premiums.

If you are considering changing your health plan during the Option Transfer Period, do your research now. Don't wait until the rates are sent to you or you may find you don't have enough time to obtain all of the information you need.

Empire Plan or HMO?

Do you need help choosing the health plan that's right for you? Check out these sources of additional information.

Your Personnel Office – In November, your agency Health Benefits Administrator will receive a supply of Choices. The Choices booklet explains the health plan options available to you and provides a benefit summary for each plan. If you are interested in the Empire Plan, ask for The Empire Plan At A Glance 2001. An Empire Plan Participating Provider Directory should also be available for reference purposes.

NYS Department of Civil Service (DCS) – Choices and other Option Transfer publications will be available online as soon as they are approved for printing. Rates will also be posted promptly upon approval. The DCS web site address is www.cs.state.ny.us. Click on "Employee Benefits" and then "Option Transfer". This site also includes a link to the Empire Plan Participating Provider Directory.

NYS Department of Insurance (DOI) – use the 2001 New York Consumer Guide to Health Insurers to learn how to choose a plan and to compare the plans available to you. In addition to allowing you to compare plans based on the number of complaints, grievances, and utilization review appeals, this guide also offers a comprehensive review and comparison of the major quality-of-care indicators and other performance measures. Call 800-342-3736 or go to the DOI web site at www.ins.state.ny.us. Click on "Consumers" and then "Health".

National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) - NCQA sets standards for the quality of care and service that health plans provide to their members. Health plans that meet these standards receive NCQA Accreditation, which is nationally recognized as a seal of approval. Use NCQA's health plan report card to compare HMOs. Go to the NCQA web site at www.ncqa.org. Click on "Health Plan Report Card". Or, call 888-275-7585 to get the accreditation status of an HMO.

Consumer Reports – the October 2001 issue rated seven of the HMOs participating in the state health insurance program based on a survey of the magazine's subscribers. The article titled HMO or PPO: Are you in the right plan? It is also available online at www.consumerreports.org
Click on "HMOs and PPOs".