Empire
Plan Changes Start January 1
If
you’re enrolled in the Empire Plan, look for these benefit changes, authorized
in the 1999-2003 PS&T contract, to start
$12 Copayment
Copayment
increases from $10 to $12 for services by Empire Plan participating providers,
Managed Physical Network (MPN) providers, ValueOptions network providers for
outpatient substance abuse treatment and for physical therapy in a hospital
outpatient department.
Basic Medical Deductible
The
Empire Plan Basic Medical Program annual deductible for medical services
performed and supplies prescribed by non-participating providers increases from
$271 to $283.
Basic Medical Coinsurance Maximum (also called Out-of-pocket Maximum)
The
annual coinsurance maximum (out-of-pocket expenses) under the Empire Plan Basic
Medical Program increases from $1,303 to $1,362.
The changes to the deductible and coinsurance maximum
are due to an increase of 4.5% in the medical component of the Consumer Price
Index for Workers (CPI-W) for the period