HEALTH NOTES


Questions about health benefits? Ask for help


By LORRAINE SIMPKINS Confused about where to turn for help


with health-benefit questions or problems? Both PEF and the state offer help for PS&T employees. Your employer administers all of your


health benefits, including dental and vision. Each state agency has a health benefits administrator (HBA) to help its employees. In addition, PEF has health benefits


staff in its Contract Administration Department to help active PS&T employees. Retirees must contact the state


Department of Civil Service Employee Benefits Division for help with health- benefit questions. Call 518-457-5754 or 1-800-833-4344, weekdays, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST.


What HBAs do Employees with questions about


health, dental or vision care coverage, should contact their HBA, usually located in their agency’s personnel office. An online telephone directory for


agency HBAs is listed at www.cs.state.ny.us. Select “Benefit


Th Coor • Providing eligible employees with


forms for special program features such as requests for a waiver of premium due to disability, dual-annuitant sick-leave credit, and coverage for a disabled dependent (forms also available at NYSHIP Online); and • Referring employees to the


Programs,” follow the instructions to access “NYSHIP Online,” and then click on “Using Your Benefits.” HBA services for employees include: • Distributing health-benefit


information, including publications on insurance benefits and plan requirements (also available at NYSHIP Online); • Determining the eligibility of an


employee and his or her family for coverage; • Maintaining files documenting the


employee’s personal and job data, dependent data, and making necessary enrollment changes; • Informing an employee of the


procedures for continuing coverage when his or her employment/payroll status changes (e.g. termination, retirement, authorized leave without pay);


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How PEF can help Through the Joint Committee on


Health Benefits, PEF works with the state to review and oversee the various employee health plans including dental and vision. If you have contacted your agency HBA


but are not satisfied with the outcome, call PEF’s health benefits staff in Albany at 1-800-342-4306, ext. 283. Also call PEF if you have any health-


benefit complaints or suggestions for improvements. PEF also provides benefits information


on the PEF website at www.pef.org. Use the link for “Health Benefits” on the left side of the home page.


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