Benefits

NYSHIP or the Empire Plan is a comprehensive health insurance program for New York’s public employees and their families.

When calling The Empire Plan Customer Service line, there are four main parts:

The Medical/Surgical Program (Option 1) administered by UnitedHealthcare provides coverage for medical services, such as office visits, surgery, diagnostic testing and urgent care visits under the Participating Provider, Basic Medical and Basic Medical Provider Discount Programs. Coverage for physical therapy, chiropractic care and occupational therapy is provided through the Managed Physical Medicine Program. Option 1 also provides coverage for home care services, durable medical equipment, and related medical supplies through the Home Care Advocacy Program; the Prosthetics/Orthotics Network; Center of Excellence Programs for Cancer and for Infertility; and Benefits Management Program services, including Prospective Procedure Review for MRIs, MRAs, CT scans, PET scans, nuclear medicine tests, voluntary specialist consultant evaluation services, outpatient medical case management and the Empire Plan NurseLineSM for health information and support.

The Hospital Program (Option 2) administered by Anthem Blue Cross provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services provided by a hospital or skilled nursing facility and hospice care. This includes the Center of Excellence for Transplants Program. It also provides inpatient Benefits Management Program services, including pre-admission certification of hospital admissions and admission or transfer to a skilled nursing facility, concurrent reviews, discharge planning, inpatient medical case management, Site of Care Program for Infusions and the Building Healthy Families Program.

The Mental Health & Substance Use Program (Option 3) administered by Carelon Behavioral Health Provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance use care services.  It also provides pre-certification of inpatient and certain outpatient services, concurrent reviews, case management and discharge planning.

The Prescription Drug Program (Option 4) administered by CVS Caremark provides coverage for prescription drugs dispensed through Empire Plan network pharmacies, the CVS Mail Service Pharmacy, the CVS Specialty Pharmacy and non-network pharmacies.

For more information, visit the links below, or call 1-877-7-NYSHIP

• Summary of Benefits and Coverage
• NYSHIP - General Information Book and Plan Booklets
• Find a Provider

EmblemHealth

For more information about benefits offered through EmblemHealth, visit the links below
or call 1-800-859-4880

• Emblem Health website
  
• Guide to Benefits
• Emblem Health full plan 
• Find a Doctor
• Forms and Documents
• Grievance and Appeals or call 877-842-3625

The complaint appeal must be filed within 60 business days from the date you receive EmblemHealth’s decision.

By Mail:

EmblemHealth
Grievance and Appeals Dept.
PO Box 2844
New York, NY 

By Fax:

EmblemHealth
Grievance and Appeals Dept.
212-510-5320

We offer dental insurance through Ameritas. 

Ameritas Website
1350 Broadway, Suite 2201
New York, NY 10018 
Contact: 1-800-793-2537 

• Ameritas full plan 
• Click here to find a Provider
• Dental Claim Form 

Claim Forms may be mailed to:
Group Claims
PO Box 82595
Lincoln, NE 68501-2595
Fax: 402-467-7336

We offer life insurance benefits through JJ Stanis and Company, Inc 

For more information, call 516-465-3900 or visit their website. 

337 Oak Street Suite 406
Garden City, NY 11530
Fax: 516-465-3920

We offer vision insurance through the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund

EBF Website
1 Lear Jet Lane
Latham, NY 12110
Contact: 1-800-323-2732

Mail to:
PO Box 516
Latham, NY 12110-0516

• EBF Member Plus Vision Plan Summary
• Plan Overview with Rates
• Participating Providers Booklet 
• Plan Enrollment Form
• Proof of Dependency Form

OMNI

The district offers its employees the opportunity to enroll in a voluntary employee contribution 403(b) & 457(b) retirement plan through OMNI & TSACG Compliance Services.  A 403(b) & 457 (b) plan is supplemental employee retirement savings that allow employees to set money aside in a special account and invest it for their retirement. Click here to see an Omni benefits overview. 

220 Alexander Street, Suite 400
Rochester, NY 14607
Contact: 877-544-6664
Omni Website

District approved service providers

403 (b) Participating Investment Providers

• Aspire Financial Services: 866-634-5873
• Equitable (formerly AXA): 800-628-6673
• Invesco OppenheimerFunds: 800-835-7305
• MetLife ROTH - Aspire: 866-634-5873

ROTH Options

• Equitable (formerly AXA): 800-628-6673
• Invesco OppenheimerFunds: 800-835-7305
• MetLife: 631-636-7781 or 908-253-1513
• Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co.: 877-859-5756
• Voya Financial (Natl NY): 855-663-8692 or 800-584-6001
• Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co.: 877-859-5756
• Voya Financial (Natl NY): 800-584-6001

Grandfathered Funds

The following Investment Providers are no longer authorized to establish new accounts for this plan. Employees currently contributing to one of these Investment Providers may continue their contributions without interruption.

• Brighthouse Life Ins (MetLife CT/Travelers) 
• Global Atlantic Financial Group 
• Mass Mutual VA 
• Mutual Inc/PlanMember Services 
• Mutual, Inc. 
• Paul Revere Insurance Group 
• ROTH - PlanMember Services Corp. 
• Unity Mutual Life 

457 (b) New York State Deferred Compensation Plan

• New York State Deferred Comp Plan 457: 800-422-8463
• ROTH - NYS Deferred Comp Plan 457: 800-422-8463

New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS)

10 Corporate Woods Drive
Albany, NY 112211-2395
Contact: 1-800-348-7298/communit@nystrs.org
Website

Membership in NYSTRS is mandatory for all full-time teachers, teaching assistants, guidance counselors and administrators employed in New York State public schools (excluding New York City), Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and eligible charter schools that opt-in to participate as an employer in NYSTRS.

Membership for teachers employed less than full-time is optional. Employers are required to notify part-time teachers in writing of their right to membership in the system.

New York State & Local Retirement System (NYSLRS)  

NYSLRS
110 State Street
Albany, NY 12244-0001
Contact: 1-866-805-0990
Website