Health insurance benefits are governed by Article 39 in the 2016–2022 NYS/UUP Agreement . Detailed information about group health insurance options and rates in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) is available under Health Insurance on the SUNY benefits site and via the New York State Department of Civil Service site at www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/group/1/12/1/.
Eligibility for health insurance is determined by employment status, all full-time faculty are eligible.
Effective January 1, 2019, part time academic employee health insurance eligibility criteria changed. If you are not benefit’s eligible and have questions regarding your benefits eligibility, you may contact the Office of Human Resources or your local UUP Chapter. Employees with 5 or more faculty credits who are ineligible for benefits may contact the office of the Provost to appeal for more benefits-eligible work.
Appointment letters for part-time employees indicate if the employee is eligible for health insurance benefits.
Part-time employees who are not eligible may be able to purchase the health insurance at full-share cost if they will be on payroll for three or more months; for more information, please contact Noemi Spaziante, the benefits coordinator in Human Resources, (914) 251-6448.
Coverage will become effective on the 43rd day of employment, provided that you enroll for coverage within the first 30 days of employment. To enroll, please contact Noemi Spaziante, the benefits coordinator in Human Resources, (914) 251-6448.
For employees with a full-time salary of less than $40,430, the state pays:
– 88 percent of your health insurance premium and
– 73 percent of the premium for your eligible dependents.
For employees with a full-time salary of $40,430 or more, the state pays:
– 84 percent of your health insurance premium and
– 69 percent of the premium for your eligible dependents.
You may elect to have your biweekly health insurance premium deducted from your pay on a pretax basis. Effective January of each year, your biweekly premium cost is subject to change. Costs for health insurance vary, depending on the type of coverage selected (individual or family) and the plan chosen (the Empire Plan/UnitedHealthcare or an HMO).
Prescription drug coverage is provided through the health insurance plan you select. If you decline to enroll in health insurance, you will not be provided with prescription coverage.
You can change your health insurance option and coverage for eligible dependents during the annual transfer period, usually in November of each year. Current enrollees will be notified about the transfer period.
If you are a new hire or a newly benefits-eligible employee who has other employer-sponsored group health insurance and you want to participate in the Opt-out Program, you must make your election no later than the first date of your eligibility for NYSHIP. The required Opt-out Attestation Form is available online on the SUNY Employee NYSHIP Health Insurance Forms site. If you are interested in participating in the program, please contact Noemi Spaziante, the benefits coordinator in Human Resources, (914) 251-6448.
Health insurance may be continued during periods of leave without pay if the employee pays the full-share rates. Full-share rates include the regular employee share premium as well as the portion usually contributed by the state. Faculty members who separate from state service may be eligible to continue their insurance at the full-share rate through a mechanism created by COBRA legislation. Health insurance may be continued into retirement for eligible employees. For information on continuation of benefits, please contact Noemi Spaziante, the benefits coordinator in Human Resources, (914) 251-6448.
