Option Transfer, Opt Out Program, Tax Change Period
2021 Option Transfer
We have received notice that the health insurance rates for 2021 have been established. The deadline for changing health insurance options is December 31, 2020. The 2021 Health Insurance Choices booklet, which outlines the benefits of each plan, is available here.
To change your health insurance option for 2021, you must complete a NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form, located here. Changes will be effective January 7, 2021.
Below are the rates for the Empire Plan. Rate changes will be reflected in your December 23, 2020 paycheck. If you are currently enrolled in an HMO, please check the following link for your health insurance rate: for UUP, CSEA, NYSCOPBA, and M/C employee please check the following link NYSHIP ratified rates for 2021 and for PEF and PBA employees rates can be found at the following link NYSHIP unratified rates for 2021.
2021 Empire Plan Rates UUP/CSEA/NYSCOPBA/MC PEF/PBA
Individual (salary Grade 9 or below) $ 46.30 $ 47.36
Individual (salary Grade 10 or above) $ 61.73 $ 63.14
Family (salary Grade 9 or below) $ 199.61 $ 204.76
Family (salary Grade 10 or above) $ 237.76 $ 243.86
2021 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. If you are currently in the Opt-Out Program you do NOT need to re-enroll this year. If you are currently in the Opt-Out program, payment will not be in your December 23, 2020, but will start again for your January 6, 2021 paycheck.
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, 2020, or on the date first eligible for NYSHIP if the date is after April 1, 2020, 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 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 31, 2020.
2021 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 impact 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 pay check shows whether or not 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 2021, you must file a completed NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form (with sections 1-9 & 14 completed) and submit according to below instructions by December 31, 2020.
Please submit all required forms according to ONE of the options below:
- Submit the forms by drop off in the mail slot on door of 201 Culkin Hall; OR
- Send through inter-campus mail to 201 Culkin Hall; OR
- Submit electronically to melissa.newman@oswego.edu
If submitting electronically, please do not enter date of birth or any social security numbers on to 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.
Date Posted: 12/1/2020