Dental Stipend – Update 2.22.24
The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) has released Payroll Bulletin 2204 providing information about the payment of the 2023 $400 dental stipend pursuant to the Dental Stipend Side Letter contained in the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement. The side letter provides for a $400 payment each fiscal year to eligible PS&T members until the State enters into a new dental services contract.
EmblemHealth Albany Family Dental Practice Closure
It has been brought to PEFs attention, that as of Wednesday, February 7th, the EmblemHealth Family Dental Practices at the Empire State Plaza Concourse, and 1873 Western Avenue will be permanently closing April 30th, 2024.
This is not a notification stating that EmblemHealth is closing as a whole or that EmblemHealth is no longer the insurance carrier for the State’s dental plan. This is a notification of just the two practices that are closing. Although there is a bidding process in progress, the State’s current Dental Contract remains with EmblemHealth as the insurance carrier, until further notice, if applicable, regarding the outcome of the bidding process.
The State has provided PEF with the following information regarding the closure of these two EmblemHealth Family Dental Practice offices in the Albany area:
- Letters notifying current patients about the 4/30/24 closures went out at the end of January, early February, giving the required 90 day notice of the closures to patients
- The letter recommends that patients should start looking for a new dentist and to contact them prior to 4/30/24 to request any important copies of information pertaining to your dental records for your personal files or to give to your new provider
- The offices have confirmed that they are reviewing all outstanding clinical work and that patients will be scheduled so that all treatment plans already in place will be completed prior to the closing date of 4/30/24
For further information, you may contact the following:
EmblemHealth: 1-800-947-0101
The Department of Civil Service: 1-800-833-4344
Public Employees Federation, Health Benefit Specialist Erika Frasier: 1-800-342-4306 ext.283
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 are eligible for Dental and Vision benefits, regardless of student status. This is effective January 1, 2024. The State has advised PEF of the following implementation process that took place prior to January 1, 2024:
- The Department of Civil Service (DCS) auto-enrolled eligible dependents for the January 1, 2024 effective date, on November 22, 2023
- DCS sent out notices to PEF members advising of dependents who have been automatically enrolled or re-enrolled, starting the week of November 27, 2023.
- If a PEF member with an eligible dependent up to age 26 did not receive a notice from DCS that the dependent was auto-enrolled, then the member will need to reach out directly to the agency Health Benefit Administrator (HBA/HR Department) to complete the necessary enrollment paperwork.
- If a PEF member received notification of a dependent that should not have been auto-enrolled during this process, the member will need to reach out directly to the agency Health Benefit Administrator (HBA/HR Department) to have the necessary dis-enrollment paperwork completed to remove the dependent.
PEP Deduction Error:
The Department of Civil Service notified PEF that employees who had a 2023 PEP credit had their health insurance deduction stopped in the December 20, 2023, paycheck in error. It is expected that health insurance deductions will resume on the January 3, 2024, paycheck. There is no impact to employees health insurance coverage.
The Department of Civil Service has also advised that impacted enrollees should expect a regular health insurance deduction, and an additional special health insurance deduction of up to $100. The special health insurance deduction(s) will continue until the total amount of health insurance premium that should have been collected in the December 20, 2023, paycheck has been recouped. This may span multiple paychecks depending on the amount of the employee’s regular premium deduction. For any further questions please contact the Department of Civil Service at 1-800-833- 4344.