2023 NYSHIP Option Transfer Period, Dependent Status Updates, Opt Out Program & Tax Change Election Period

We have received notice that the health insurance rates for 2023 have been established. The deadline for changing health insurance options is December 30, 2022. 

1. NYSHIP’s new Option Transfer Guide, now available on NYSHIP Online, provides easy access to option transfer-related information and instructions, as well as tools and additional resources to assist you in your research. Compare benefits and costs, access PDF versions of current Option Transfer publications and download forms with just a few quick clicks. To access the guide, click on the link above. 

To change your health insurance option for 2023, you must complete a NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form, located here. Changes will be effective January 5, 2023.

Below are the rates for the Empire Plan. Rate changes will be reflected in your January 4, 2023 paycheck. If you are currently enrolled in an HMO, please check the following link for your health insurance rate NYSHIP ratified rates for 2023.

 *For all non-UUP New York State employees in titles allocated or equated to Salary Grade 9 and below, United University Professions (UUP) represented employees and Management Confidential (MC) with an annualized salary less than $47,024, the State will pay 88 percent of the cost of the premium for individual coverage and 73 percent for the additional cost of family coverage. For all non-UUP New York State employees in titles allocated or equated to Salary Grade 10 and above, UUP and MC employees with an annualized salary equal to $47,024 or more, the State will pay 84 percent of the cost of the premium for individual coverage and 69 percent for the additional cost of family coverage.

2. Per the recently published Empire Plan Report

It is important for you to keep the Civil Service Department up to date with changes in your life (ie. address changes, marital status, dependents, etc.) to ensure you receive timely and appropriate information about your health insurance coverage. As per the above rates, individual coverage is less costly compared to family coverage, therefore, if you no longer have a qualifying dependent, please notify the HR Benefits Office ASAP to minimize your bi-weekly costs. By keeping your information up to date and only covering dependents who are eligible, you help to keep costs down for both you and the program. Note: If you are divorced or your marriage has been annulled, your former spouse is not eligible for coverage as a dependent as of the date of the divorce, even if a court orders you to maintain coverage. 

If you fail to inform the HR Benefits Office of dependent eligibility changes, you may be responsible for repaying all health insurance claims for ineligible dependents as early as the date they became ineligible. 

3. 2023 Opt Out Program

New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) will again offer the Opt-Out Program, which allows eligible employees who have other employer-sponsored group health insurance, to opt out of their NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. This program is available to employees represented by CSEA, PEF, APSU, NYSCOPBA, and Managerial Confidential. As a reminder this program is no longer available to UUP employees. On an annual basis, employees who elect to participate in the Opt-Out Program will receive incentive payments totaling $1,000 for opting out of Individual coverage, or $3,000 for opting out of Family coverage. The incentive payments will be prorated and reimbursed through the employee’s biweekly paychecks throughout the year.

To be eligible for the Opt-Out Program, an employee must meet the following criteria:

• The employee must currently participate in the Opt-Out Program; OR
• The employee must have been enrolled in NYSHIP as a State Employee on April 1, 2022, or on the date first eligible for NYSHIP if the date is after April 1, 2022, through the end of the plan year; AND
• The employee must provide information and attest to having other employer-sponsored group health insurance in effect for the Opt-Out period.

If you are currently in the Opt Out Program you do NOT need to re-enroll. If you are interested in participating in this program, you must complete the appropriate forms PS 404 and PS 409 and return them to the Office of Human Resources Office by December 30, 2022.

4. 2023 Tax Change Election Period

Enrollees in the NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) may elect to participate or decline participation in the Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) for the upcoming plan year. Current PTCP enrollees may also make changes to their coverage, which impacts the NYSHIP deduction for the upcoming plan year, without a qualifying event.

If enrolled in PTCP, your share of the health insurance premium is deducted from your wages before taxes are withheld, which may lower your taxes. Enrollment in PTCP also restricts changes that can be made to the NYSHIP coverage (e.g., switching to individual coverage) to situations in which a qualifying event takes place. Not enrolling in PTCP allows greater flexibility to make changes to NYSHIP coverage throughout the plan year.

Your paycheck shows whether you are enrolled in PTCP.

If you are enrolled in PTCP, your paycheck stub shows “Regular Before-Tax Health” in the “Before-Tax Deductions” section.

If you are not enrolled in PTCP, your paycheck stub shows “Regular After-Tax Health” in the “After-Tax Deductions” section. Your health insurance premium is deducted from your wages after taxes are withheld.

For more information about PTCP and the allowable coverage changes while enrolled in PTCP, please refer to the PTCP Change Chart and PTCP Fact Sheet.

NO ACTION IS REQUIRED TO KEEP YOUR CURRENT PTCP STATUS.

If you wish to change your PTCP selection for 2023, you must file a completed NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form (with sections 1-9 & 14 completed) and return to the HR office, 201 Culkin by December 30, 2022.

Please submit the forms by either dropping them off in 201 Culkin or electronically to devin.higgins@oswego.edu. Please do not enter date of birth or any social security numbers on the form to protect your confidentiality. If there are any issues with the forms, HR will reach out directly to the employee.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Human Resources at 315-312-2230 or hr@oswego.edu.

Please visit the HR announcements page for the most up-to-date information from the college’s Human Resources and Payroll Offices.

Dated Posted: 12/1/2022