Empire Plan Benefits to Change on January 1, 2004

If you’re in the state’s Empire Plan, look for these benefit changes, authorized in the 1999-2003 PS&T contract, to start January 1, 2004.  

These changes are:

Basic Medical Deductible:  The Empire Plan Basic Medical Program annual deductible for medical services performed and supplies prescribed by non-participating providers increases from $283 to $295.

Basic Medical Coinsurance Maximum:  The annual coinsurance maximum (out-of-pocket expenses) under the Empire Plan Basic Medical Program increases from $1,362 to $1,419.

The changes to the deductible and coinsurance maximum are due to an increase of 4.2% in the medical component of the Consumer Price Index for Workers (CPI-W) for the period 7/1/02 through 6/30/03.