WIXLIB

Back to Work for New York StateNew York State Department of Civil Service, Employee Benefits DivisionImportant health insurance information for New York Stateretirees who are enrolled in NYSHIP and plan to return to workfor New York State in the Classified Service of the ExecutiveBranch or for State retirees who plan to return to work in theSUNY Unclassified Service.January 2017

If you return to work in a position that is not benefitseligible with the same employer, or an employerother than New York State, your NYSHIP statusdoes not change.The information in this report applies to formeremployees who are rehired by the same employerfrom which they retired. If you retired from aParticipating Employer or are a State retireeplanning to work for a Participating Employer,talk with the agency that is hiring you to determineif your benefits vary from those described here.This publication is designed to help you understandhow your New York State Health Insurance Program(NYSHIP) retiree benefits (and Medicare if applicable)might be affected if you return to work as anactive employee in a benefits eligible position.Note: For the purposes of this publication, NewYork State employment means employment in theExecutive, Judicial and/or Legislative branches ofState government.If, after retiring from State service, you return towork in a benefits-eligible position with New YorkState, your enrollment status in the New York StateHealth Insurance Program (NYSHIP) and otherbenefit programs may change. Your healthinsurance benefits, sick leave credit andcoordination with Medicare may be affected.If you are considering returning to work with NewYork State: Read the following information and talkwith the State agency that is hiring you. Contact theEmployee Benefits Division if you have questionsat 518-457-5754 or 1-800-833-4344 (United States,Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands).After you are rehired: Be sure to talk with yourHealth Benefits Administrator (HBA). Discuss yourstatus as a retiree in NYSHIP and, if applicable, thatyou are Medicare-primary for claims purposes. Theagency will notify the Employee Benefits Division ofyour return to work and update your status.If you are hired as a seasonal employee, you mustclarify your health insurance status with your HealthBenefits Administrator each time you go on or offthe payroll.NYSHIP Coverage as an Active Employeeor as a RetireeIf you return to State service in a position that meetsNYSHIP eligibility requirements for benefits, you may: Reenroll in NYSHIP as an active employee, or Continue your NYSHIP benefits in retiree status.If you return to work in a position in the ExecutiveBranch Classified Service you must work at leasthalf-time on a regular schedule for a minimum ofsix-biweekly pay periods to be eligible to reenrollas an active employee.2If you reenroll in NYSHIP as an active employee,you must pay the employee share of the premium,without any sick leave credit applied. However, youmay resume retiree health insurance status at anytime and once again apply your sick leave credit toreduce premium costs.If you change your status for NYSHIP benefitspurposes from retiree to active, there may be achange in your share of the premium. Also, yourNYSHIP benefits may change:If you work part-time in a position in the SUNYUnclassified Service or are a UUP enrollee, seeyour HBA. The Empire Plan: Certain copayments, BasicMedical annual deductible and coinsurancemaximum, and other benefits may change.If you continue your NYSHIP benefits in retireestatus, you may continue to use the sick leave creditearned at the time of your retirement to reduce yourshare of the monthly health insurance premium. HMO: If you are Medicare-eligible, ask your HMOif your benefits will change if you become coveredas an active employee.Back To Work/January 2017

Sick Leave CreditsUnder the Attendance Rules for the ClassifiedService, and under SUNY rules for SUNY UnclassifiedService, the sick leave balance at the time of retirementis restored in full for former employees who returnto State service within one year of separation. It is notreduced by either the retirement service credit or thehealth insurance premium credit the employee mayhave received at the time of retirement. Credits mayalso be restored to employees who are reinstatedafter one year by the New York State Civil ServiceCommission. (Restoration of sick leave may vary inthe Legislative or Judicial Branch.)Employees who do not stop their State pensions andemployees who have begun withdrawing funds undera SUNY Optional Retirement Program (ORP) such asTIAA-CREF, and work as retirees, do not have theirlifetime monthly credit for sick leave recalculatedwhen they stop working. (This sick leave credit iscalculated only at retirement.) Employees who stoptheir State pensions or have not begun withdrawingSUNY ORP funds may have their lifetime monthlycredit recalculated when they retire again, as shownin the following chart.Sick Leave for Rehired Retirees in the Classified Serviceof the Executive Branch and SUNY Unclassified ServiceReturn within one year and 1. Suspend State pension, or have not been collecting a State pension (although eligible)or have not begun withdrawing funds under the SUNY Optional Retirement ProgramSick leave accruals restoredChoose health insurance as active or retired: If active and eligible, pay employee rate If retired, use sick leave credit to reduceyour premiumCan use restored and newly earned sick leaveaccruals for absences from work due to illnessWhen employee retires again: New sick leave credit calculated (actuarial table,sick leave accrual balance and salary at time ofthis retirement up to a maximum of 200 days,or 165 days for PBA and PIA) New pension calculated (check with yourRetirement System) New health insurance contribution rate2. Continue State pension or have begun withdrawing funds under the SUNY OptionalRetirement Program (return under Retirement and Social Security Law sections 211/212)Sick leave accruals restoredChoose health insurance as active or retired: If active and eligible, pay employee rate If retired, use sick leave credit to reduceyour premium Can use restored and newly earned sick leaveaccruals for absences from work due to illnessWhen employment ends: No change in previously calculated sick leavecredit (even if accruals were used during periodof reemployment) No change in pension No change in health insurance contribution rateBack To Work/January 20173

Sick Leave for Rehired Retirees in the Classified Serviceof the Executive Branch and SUNY Unclassified ServiceReturn after one year* and 1. Suspend State pension, or have not been collecting a State pension (although eligible)or have not begun withdrawing funds under the SUNY Optional Retirement ProgramNo sick leave accruals restoredChoose health insurance as active or retired: If active and eligible, pay employee rate If retired, use sick leave credit to reduceyour premiumCan use newly earned sick leave accrualsfor absences from work due to illnessWhen employee retires again: New sick leave credit calculated (actuarial table,sick leave accrual balance at time of this retirementconverted to a monthly value added to the monthlysick leave credit (if any) at time of previous retirement,up to a maximum of 200 days, or 165 days for PBAand PIA) New pension calculated (check with yourRetirement System) New health insurance contribution rate2. C ontinue State pension or have begun withdrawing funds under the SUNY OptionalRetirement Program (return under Retirement and Social Security Law sections 211/212)No sick leave accruals restoredChoose health insurance as active or retired: If active and eligible, pay employee rate If retired, use sick leave credit to reduceyour premiumCan use newly earned sick leave accruals forabsences from work due to illnessWhen employment ends: No change in previously calculated sick leave credit No change in pension No change in health insurance contribution rate* Exception: Executive branch classified employees reinstated by the Civil Service Commission after a break of more than one yearare treated in the same way as employees who return within one year.Vestee Coverage in NYSHIPIf you have continued your NYSHIP coverage investee status and you are rehired and once againeligible for benefits, you will no longer have to paythe full cost of the premium. As an active employee,you will pay only the employee share. You will haveactive, not vestee, benefits. Be sure to tell your HBAthat you are a vestee who is returning to work.If you later retire directly from active employmentinstead of from vestee status and were entitled toaccumulate sick leave, you may apply your unusedsick leave at the time of retirement toward yourpremium. If you still are not eligible for retireecoverage when you stop working, and you return tovestee status, you will not be eligible to apply sickleave credits toward your premium in retirement.Back To Work/January 20174

Coordinationwith MedicareNYSHIP will provide primary coverage for you andyour covered dependents when you return to thepayroll and are eligible for health insurance as anactive employee. If you or your Medicare-primarydependents are enrolled in a NYSHIP HMO MedicareAdvantage plan, you and/or your dependents willbe moved from the Medicare Advantage plan intothe HMO’s NYSHIP commercial plan. You maysee some differences in your HMO coverage; forexample, the copayments, provider networks andprescription drug formulary may be different.Medicare will pay secondary to NYSHIP while youare working in a benefits-eligible position. The Statewill stop reimbursing you for the Medicare Part Bpremium for you and/or your spouse while you areworking for New York State. You may choose to stayenrolled in Medicare and pay the Medicare Part Bpremium yourself. Or, you may cancel your MedicarePart B coverage and reenroll in Medicare Part B to beeffective when you stop working for New York State.Be sure to reenroll prior to leaving the payroll.Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 forinformation about reenrolling in Medicare Part B.Please note: If you have enrolled a domesticpartner, Medicare remains primary for the domesticpartner age 65 and over. The State will continue toreimburse you for the Medicare Part B premium.If you or a dependent is eligible for Medicare dueto end-stage renal disease, NYSHIP pays primarythrough the 30-month coordination period andthen Medicare assumes primary liability regardlessof employment status.When you leave State service again or no longermeet the health benefits eligibility requirements foractive employees, Medicare will once again becomeyour primary coverage. A health insurance planprovides “primary” coverage when it is responsiblefor paying health benefits before any other grouphealth insurance.Ask your HBA or call the Employee BenefitsDivision at 518-457-5754 or 1-800-833-4344(United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)for Medicare & NYSHIP or other helpful publications.Keep Your Coverage Up to DateBe sure to tell your HBA that you are a Stateretiree who is returning to work. They will updateyour health insurance enrollment record to showyour new status. The Empire Plan administratorsor your HMO will then know your correct benefits.If your record is not updated, your claims will notbe paid correctly. You may also continue to receivereimbursement for your Medicare Part B standard5Back To Work/January 2017premium that you are not entitled to receive. Youwill be required to repay any overpayment ofMedicare Part B premium.When you again leave State service, or no longermeet health benefits eligibility requirements as anactive employee, your HBA will update your record toshow retiree benefits. Medicare will again be primaryto NYSHIP and you will receive reimbursement forthe Medicare Part B standard premium.