Office of Human Resources Management, University at Albany, State University of New York

OHRM Organizational Units

Benefits Home Page

Employee Relations Home Page

HRIS Home Page

Immigration Home Page

Payroll Home Page

Personnel Operations Home Page

Sponsored Funds Personnel

Time and Attendance Home Page

Training Home Page

Benefit Information

Benefit Carriers Directory

Benefits for New Employees

Change of Address Form

Dental Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Insurance

Long-Term Care Insurance

NYS Flex Spending Accounts

Retirement

Social Security Benefits

SUE Tuition Waivers

Vision Care Insurance

Site Information

FAQs

Forms Home Page

Links to Other Sites

Staff Listing

Site Map

Science Library

Science Library Interior 

 

Benefits

Health Insurance in Retirement: CSEA

 

Cost Per Month
(Effective January 2007)

 

Individual

Family

NYS Empire Plan

$48.97

$201.06

CDPHP

$39.64

$190.84

Empire HMO

$53.02

$303.25

GHI HMO

$40.48

$226.69

MVP

$37.89

$176.08


You may continue health insurance coverage for yourself and your eligible dependents when you retire if you meet the following requirements:

  • First, you must have a minimum of ten years of service in a position in which you were eligible for health insurance.
  • Second, you must be at least 55 years of age (50 if retiring during an incentive).
  • Third, you must be enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program at the time of your retirement.


Your unused sick leave is converted into a dollar amount and divided by your actuarial life expectancy in months. The result is a lifetime monthly credit that is applied to your health insurance premium. The attached worksheet will help you estimate the value of your sick leave. Each month the cost of health insurance is compared to your sick leave credit. If the cost of health insurance is less than the value of your sick leave, you pay nothing. If the cost is greater than the value of your sick leave, you pay the difference. You have the option of using only 70% of the credit to pay for your health insurance coverage; if you choose this option, the sick leave credit is used to reduce the cost of your spouse's coverage after your death. Your premium is deducted from your pension check if in the Employees' Retirement System. It may take several months for health insurance deductions to begin; the Department of Civil Service will bill you monthly during this period. If you are not receiving a pension from the Retirement System, the Department of Civil Service will bill you.

MEDICARE


You must enroll in Medicare if you are 65 or older or if you become eligible for Medicare due to a disability. Medicare will be your primary coverage and your NYS health insurance secondary. Medicare premiums ($88.50/month in 2006) are deducted from your Social Security check. The State will reimburse you for the cost of Medicare coverage in your Employees' Retirement System pension check or on a quarterly basis if you are not receiving a pension from the Retirement System. A reimbursement will be made for your spouse if he/she is also 65 or over and a dependent on your health insurance plan. In order to receive reimbursement for your spouse's Medicare premium, you must send a photocopy of his/her Medicare card to the Department of Civil Service. It may take several months after retirement for Medicare reimbursement to start; however, it will be retroactive.  Your NYS Health Insurance Program will remain primary for prescription drug coverage, so there is no need for you to enroll in Medicare D.  The Medicare D premium will not be reimbursed.

 

CSEA BENEFIT FUND


Your benefit fund coverage for dental insurance and vision care will end four weeks after your last day on the payroll. You may continue CSEA Benefit Fund coverage for up to 18 months under a federal law called COBRA. The cost for either individual or family coverage is $68.00 per month. You must enroll within 60 days after the date your coverage would otherwise end. Call 782-1500 for an application. If you enroll in this coverage, you may delay enrolling in the GHI Dental Plan until coverage through the CSEA Benefit Fund ends. You must notify GHI within 30 days of the end of your CSEA coverage if you wish to enroll in the retiree dental plan through GHI.

You also will be offered GHI Preferred dental coverage. The cost is $31.54/month for individual coverage; $59.35/month to include your spouse, or $88/month for family coverage. You must elect this coverage within 30 days of receiving the offer from GHI or you forfeit your right to coverage. Information will be mailed to your home after retirement. If you purchase CSEA Benefit Fund coverage under COBRA, you may delay enrolling in the GHI Dental Plan until your COBRA coverage ends. You must notify GHI within 30 days of the end of your CSEA coverage if you wish to enroll in the retiree dental plan through GHI.

CSEA offers a program for retirees through Davis Vision. This program uses a panel of participating providers and allows you to obtain vision care services and purchase your vision wear at manufacturers' prices. There is no cost for enrollment in the program; however, membership in the CSEA Retiree Division is required at a cost of $12 per year. Information is available from the CSEA Union office at 257-1327.

The State does not provide lifetime vision care to retirees.

 

POST-RETIREMENT EMPLOYMENT


It is important that you notify the Office of Human Resources if you continue to work for the University or for any NYS agency. New York State regulations impose earnings limits on NYS retirees under age 65 who continue to work for the State. You cannot earn more than $27,500/year in 2006 without jeopardizing your pension.  The Social Security earnings limit for anyone under age 65 is $12,480 in 2006.

If you continue to work at least half time, you may continue in the CSEA Benefit Fund and delay enrollment in the GHI Dental Plan. If you are 65 or older, your State health insurance will be primary, so you may defer enrollment in Medicare B; you will not receive a Medicare reimbursement from the State when your State insurance is primary. If you are working less than half time, there is no effect on your health benefits - that is, Medicare is your primary coverage and your State health plan is secondary.

 

Top


Employee Benefits
Office of Human Resources Management
University at Albany
Albany, NY 12222
(518) 437-4729 (Voice) 437-4731 (Fax)
Office Hours: M-F, 8:30am to 5:00pm, Summers, 8:00am - 4:00pm