Q. Who is the UUP Dental Carrier?
CIGNA is the Dental Carrier for members of UUP. For forms and additional information click on the link http://www.uupinfo.org/benefits/forms.html
Q. When can I change health insurance plans?
Changes in Enrollment Status
If you need to change coverage from individual to family, or vice versa, you may inform your Personnel Office at any time and submit an application. Such changes may be restricted if you are in the Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP). If you decide to change health insurance options, the transfer must be made during the option transfer period (open enrollment period), which is usually scheduled during the fall of each year. Under specific circumstances you may be eligible to change options outside the option transfer period. For more information, consult your NYSHIP General Information Book or visit the Personnel Office.
Although New York State provides you with the opportunity to obtain comprehensive health care insurance, keeping your coverage up to date is your responsibility. The following is a list of situations that may require a change in the type of coverage that you have. Contact your Personnel Office immediately if any of the following changes occur or questions arise.
- Your family unit changes, for example:
- you marry or divorce
- your domestic partner no longer qualifies
- you want to add a dependent
- you no longer have any eligible dependents
- your dependent loses eligibility
- you no longer wish to provide coverage for a dependent
- you have a disabled dependent
- your spouse dies
- Your employment status changes (or you anticipate a change), for example:
- you are planning to retire from State service
- you are leaving State service
- you are going on leave without pay
- you are going on family and/or medical leave
- • Your personal information changes, for example:
- you move to a new home address
- you have a new phone number
- you change your name
Q. What should I do with medical bills received related to my job related injury?
Workers’ Compensation
Contact your Personnel Office immediately. Workers’ Compensation benefits provide protection for employees relative to medical expenses and loss of salary resulting from an occupational injury or illness. Basic protection is provided under the Workers’ Compensation Law. The medical expenses are paid by the State Insurance Fund not by your health insurance carrier. Other benefits may be available, contact your Personnel Office for additional information. Employees absent for one cumulative year due to occupational injury or illness may be terminated from State service under Section 71 of the Civil Service Law, which also provides certain re-employment rights if the employee subsequently recovers.
Q. My employment is terminating. My dependent is losing eligibility. Can health insurance be continued?
Yes, but you will have to pay directly for their coverage. You need to come to the Personnel Office for further information on how to begin the COBRA health insurance process.
Q. If one of my children who was going to college decides to drop out for a semester, can I continue their health insurance?
Yes, but you will have to pay directly for their coverage. You need to come to the Personnel Office and fill out the form to remove them from your insurance. At the same time, we can give you the address to which you write to begin the COBRA health insurance process.
Q. What do I need to know about taking time for Pregnancy, Childbirth, and/or Childcare?
Permanent employees who are disabled because of pregnancy or childbirth are eligible for the same disability benefits available to other employees who incur a temporary disability. Temporary employees are eligible for all benefits, except sick leave at half pay, until employment would otherwise terminate. For certain Management/Confidential employees, disability benefits are provided through the IPP after sick leave is exhausted. Normally, sick leave and other disability benefits are available for use four weeks prior to the anticipated due date and six weeks following the actual delivery date. If your disability begins prior to this period or extends beyond it, you will need to provide specific medical documentation.
Employees, without regard to gender, are entitled to childcare leave without pay for up to seven months from the date of delivery. The postnatal period of medical disability is included in this seven-month period. Once the medical disability period (as stated above) has ended, the employee may no longer charge sick leave; however, absence may be charged to other credits such as vacation and personal leave, at the employee's option. Once these accruals are exhausted, employees are placed on leave without pay for the remainder of the seven months. Of course, you need not request leave for the entire seven-month period if you wish to resume work earlier. If both parents are State employees, several options may exist for them. One parent may elect to take the childcare leave, they may elect to split the seven-month leave, or they may request concurrent leave, subject to agency discretion.
Q. What is Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?
Employees who meet certain service requirements are entitled, through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), to take leave of up to 12 weeks per year for serious personal or family health conditions. This leave can also be used for the arrival of a new child by birth, adoption, or foster placement. Although FMLA leave is unpaid, the employee may elect to charge appropriate leave credits in order to continue income during such an absence. For additional information, click on the link for the English FMLA poster at http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/fmlaen.pdf or Spanish FMLA poster at http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/fmlasp.pdf
Q. How do I enroll in Dependent Care Advantage and/or Health Care Spending?
The New York State Flex Spending Account (FSA) is a valuable employee benefit that puts money in your pocket by helping you save on health care costs and the dependent care expenses you incur. The FSA benefit includes two programs to help you keep more of your paycheck.
The Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount) has been consistently saving State employee participants hundreds of dollars on their dependent care expenses. The Employer Contribution could significantly help cover summer day camp, nursery school, child care center, or adult day care costs. The program also consists of the Health Care Spending Account (HCSAccount), established in 2001, which helps you save money spent on health care services for your family that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan. The Health Care Spending Account, like the Dependent Care Advantage Account, is an easy-to-use program that lets you contribute pre-tax dollars through automatic payroll deductions into your reimbursement account. A special feature of this benefit even allows you to be reimbursed for eligible health care expenses without waiting for the cash to accumulate in your account.
Enrolling in the Flex Spending Account is easy. You can apply for enrollment in either the DCAAccount or the HCSAccount or both through a completely paperless process. Submit your application online at http://www.flexspend.state.ny.us/, or call 1-800-358-7202 and a Customer Service Representative will take your application. The process is quick, easy, and secure.