• New York State employees will soon have a new dental plan! 

    New York State employees will soon have a new dental plan! 

    April 3, 2024 — It took years of hard work and tenacity on the part of PEF leaders and members, but New York State will replace EmblemHealth with Anthem Blue Cross as the dental provider in the New York State Health Insurance Plan this fall.  This is the culmination of years of effort. PEF led...

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  • First $400 dental stipend to be paid next month

    First $400 dental stipend to be paid next month

    The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) has released Payroll Bulletin 2204 providing information about the payment of the 2023 $400 dental stipend secured by the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement. A side letter in the contract provides for a $400 payment each fiscal year to eligible PS&T members until the State enters into a new...

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  • New Vision/Dental Eligibility for Dependents to Age 26

    New Vision/Dental Eligibility for Dependents to Age 26

    In accordance with the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement, dependents up to age 26 will be eligible for dental and vision benefits, regardless of student status, effective Jan. 1, 2024. The State has advised PEF of the following implementation process: The Department of Civil Service (DCS) will auto-enroll eligible dependents for the January 1, 2024 effective...

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  • Productivity Enhancement Program now accepting enrollment 

    Productivity Enhancement Program now accepting enrollment 

    The 2024 Open enrollment for the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) has begun and will run through December 11, 2023.  PEF allows PEF members to exchange accrued annual leave or personal leave in return for a biweekly credit that reduces an employee’s share of the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) premium.  For 2024, employees...

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  • Flex spending accounts for PEF members now open for enrollment 

    Flex spending accounts for PEF members now open for enrollment 

    The 2024 open enrollment period for Dependent Care Advantage Accounts (DCCA), Health Care Spending Accounts (HCSA), and Adoption Advantage Accounts runs from November 1 to December 11, 2023.  These flexible spending accounts are state employee benefits that allow payment for certain expenses with pre-tax dollars.   HCSA  This account lets you set aside any amount from...

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  • PEF, Hochul and other unions celebrate Paid Parental Leave 

    PEF, Hochul and other unions celebrate Paid Parental Leave 

     June 13, 2023 — Governor Kathy Hochul invited members of PEF, UUP and CSEA to an event at the Albany Labor Temple to celebrate the expansion of Paid Parental Leave to public sector workers.   The 2023-2026 PS&T Tentative Agreement with New York State contains 12 weeks of leave for new parents who have a...

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  • Upcoming Empire Plan changes don’t apply to PEF members

    Upcoming Empire Plan changes don’t apply to PEF members

    You may have heard discussion of Empire Plan benefit changes effective July 1, 2023, and an associated special option transfer period in June 2023. These changes and option transfer period do NOT impact active PEF members since we are still in negotiations with the state.  The changes are a result of collectively bargained modifications to...

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  • Over-the-Counter (OTC) At-home COVID-19 Test Reimbursement Form

    Over-the-Counter (OTC) At-home COVID-19 Test Reimbursement Form

    This form is to request reimbursement for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests that may be covered under your medical plan purchased on or after January 15, 2022.

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  • COVID-19 at-home test guidance

    COVID-19 at-home test guidance

    Under direction from the federal government, all private insurance companies and health plans will cover claims for FDA-authorized COVID-19 at-home, over-the-counter diagnostic tests.  This includes all HMO plans along with The Empire Plan. 

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