The Daily Bulletin

NYSHIP enrollees in the Pre-tax Contribution Program (PTCP) have until Monday, November 30, to make the following changes for 2016 without a qualifying event:

• Change pre-tax status for insurance deductions
• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel health insurance

Note: Without a qualifying event, a waiting period still applies to enroll in health insurance for the first time or to add previously eligible dependents to an existing plan. For additional information, please review the Pre-tax Contribution Program Fact Sheet (PDF).

Employees who wish to make the above changes to their coverage are encouraged to complete and return the NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF) to Cleveland Hall 410 as soon as possible.

Please note: This is not yet the time frame to change health insurance carriers. Eligible NYSHIP enrollees will have 30 days from the date the 2016 rates are published to

• change their NYSHIP health plan; employees may choose from the Empire Plan or one of the health maintenance organizations: Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY or Independent Health;
• change from a NYSHIP health plan to the Opt-Out Program;
• change from the Opt-Out Program to a NYSHIP health plan.

The Employee Benefits Office will announce the new health plan rates and deadline dates in the Daily Bulletin as soon as they are published. The New York State Employee Benefits division will also mail information about the 2016 rates and deadline dates to enrolled employees' home addresses. The 2016 "Choices" booklet, a comparison of the insurance plans, will be available on the Human Resource Management website by early December.

Representatives from the Empire Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, and Independent Health will be at the NYS Health Benefits Fair on Thursday, December 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210 to answer questions about current health insurance plans and anticipated changes in coverage for 2016.

Please call the Employee Benefits Office at 878-4821 with questions.