Did you know?
...and other useful information
Brought to you by the Local 648 Women's Committee
Cancer Services
YOU MUST CALL to participate
You must call The Empire Plan toll free at 1-877-7-NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) and choose United HealthCare or call the Cancer Resources Center toll free at 1-866-936-6002 to participate in the Centers of Excellence for Cancer Program.
Paid-in-full benefits are available for cancer services at a designated Center of Excellence when arranged through United HealthCare. Assistance in locating cancer centers, nurse consultations and a travel, lodging and meal allowance for you and one travel companion are available under the Centers of Excellence for Cancer Program; save original receipts for reimbursement.
If you do not use a Center of Excellence, you will receive inpatient/outpatient hospital coverage and medical/surgical coverage:
- from a participating provider subject to copayment, or
- from a non-participating provider subject to Basic Medical benefit provisions, or
- from a Basic Medical Discount Program provider.
Transplants Program
YOU MUST CALL for prior authorization
You must call The Empire Plan toll free at 1-877-7-NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) and choose Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield for pre-authorization of the following transplants provided through the Centers of Excellence for Transplants Program: bone marrow, peripheral stem cell, cord blood stem cell, heart, liver, lung, kidney, heart/lung and pancreas/kidney.
Paid-in-full benefits for the following transplant services when authorized by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and received at a designated Center of Excellence: pre-transplant evaluation, inpatient and outpatient hospital and physician services and up to twelve months of follow-up care. A travel, lodging and meal allowance is available under the Centers of Excellence for Transplants Program; save original receipts for reimbursement.
If a transplant is authorized but you do not use a designated Center of Excellence, the benefit will be provided in accordance with The Empire Plan hospital and/or medical/surgical coverage.
If you choose to have your transplant in a facility other than a designated Center of Excellence, or if you require a pancreas, small bowel or multivisceral transplant, you may still take advantage of the Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield case management services for transplant patients if you enroll in the Centers of Excellence for Transplants Program. A case management nurse will help you through the transplant process.
To enroll in the program and receive these benefits, The Empire Plan must be your primary insurance coverage.
Retirement Credit Buy-Back Information
Click the URL below for the information booklet. It includes information for buying back retirement credit for military service under article 20 RSSL.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/publications/1854-servcredit.htm
State Employee Leave for Breast Cancer Screening
Effective November 12, 2002
This law grants state employees up to 4 hours of excused leave, on an annual basis, to undertake screening for breast cancer. Such leave shall not be charged against any other leave that the employee may be entitled to.
State Employee Leave for Prostate Cancer Screening
Effective October 25, 2004
An annual leave benefit of four hours for prostate cancer screening is available to state employees. Travel time is included in the four-hour cap. Absence beyond the four-hour cap must be charged to leave credits. Employees who charged leave credits for prostate cancer screening after October 25, 2004 should contact Human Resources at x7-4249.
Prescription Drug Co-Pay Benefit
What Is This Benefit
Members who are enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program (either the Empire Plan or Health Maintenance Organization) are entitled to reimbursement once annually for NYSHIP prescription drug co-pays only for themselves and their dependents.
Only one claim per calendar year (January – December) is processed. Once your co-pays reach $300, the next $100 in prescription drug co-pays is reimbursable. To obtain the maximum benefit of $100, wait until your co-pay expenses reach $400 before filing your claim.
If you do not accumulate $400 before the end of the year, submit your claim AFTER DECEMBER 31 for what you did pay over $300. The deadline for submission is March 31st of the following year for the co-pays accumulated during the previous Calendar Year.
Submit your completed form with ORIGINAL RECEIPTS or an itemized PHARMACY PRINTOUT clearly indicating the co-pay amount, and a photocopy of your Empire Plan or HMO insurance card. Cash register receipts, cancelled checks & credit card receipts are not acceptable.
Click on the link below for the proper form. (Requires Adobe Acrobat to view the form)
http://www.cseaebf.com/library/library.php?FID=16
Request a Social Security Statement
The Social Security Statement is a valuable document that estimates your future Social Security benefits and tells you how to qualify for those benefits. This service allows you to transmit your request for a Social Security Statement using an online form.
https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6/isss/bp-7004home.jsp
Revised January 3, 2008