MEMBERSHIP
BENEFITS PROGRAM
Benefit
Update
01/22/07
If tomorrow you found
out you had cancer, what would you do? If you're in the Empire Plan, you have
access to special Cancer Resource Services (CRS) that you
may not know about. The program provides paid-in-full coverage for
cancer-related expenses received through a select group of providers recognized
as leaders in cancer treatment.
CRS is staffed by experienced cancer nurses who can explain treatment options
and help you choose the best physician and cancer center for a specific type of
cancer.
The
CRS network includes the nation’s leading cancer Centers of
Excellence, such as Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. At these Centers, you receive
paid-in-full benefits for covered services. No co-payments apply. For more
information visit the Cancer Resource Services web site at www.urncrs.com.
The
CRS network includes the nation’s leading cancer Centers of
Excellence, such as Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. At these Centers, you receive
paid-in-full benefits for covered services. No co-payments apply. For more
information visit the Cancer Resource Services web site at www.urncrs.com.
The
CRS network includes the nation’s leading cancer Centers of
Excellence, such as Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. At these Centers, you receive
paid-in-full benefits for covered services. No co-payments apply. For more
information visit the Cancer Resource Services web site at www.urncrs.com.
Travel Expenses Covered
If the Center of Excellence chosen is more
than 100 miles from the patient's home, reimbursement for travel, meal and
lodging expenses is available to the patient and a companion. Available coach
airfare is covered as part of the travel benefit when the Center is more than
200 miles from the patient's home. Covered travel expenses are reimbursed in
accordance with federal guidelines.
Using a Center of Excellence for treatment is
completely voluntary. If you decide to receive treatment from a different
provider, your Empire Plan benefits are not diminished in any way. Remember to
ask for an Empire Plan participating provider to minimize your out-of-pocket
costs. When you use a non-participating provider, the Basic Medical deductible
and coinsurance apply.
How to Enroll
To participate in the Centers of Excellence
for Cancer Program, call The Empire Plan toll-free at 1-877-7NYSHIP
or 1-877-769-7447 and select United Health Care. Then
choose Cancer Resource Services to connect to a CRS nurse consultant. CRS nurse
consultants can answer your cancer-related questions and help you understand
your diagnosis and treatment options. Call between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday except holidays. If you are currently receiving
cancer treatment from a Center of Excellence and you have never made the call to
enroll in the Centers of Excellence for Cancer Program, you must call CRS to
receive the paid-in-full benefits.
Note: Cancer Treatment
and Transplants
If you are enrolled in the Centers of
Excellence for Cancer
Program, you have paid-in-full benefits for your cancer treatment with the
exception of transplants. The Empire Plan offers paid-in-full transplant
services under the Centers of Excellence for Transplants
Program. Because the networks for these two programs are different, the Center
of Excellence you are using for your cancer treatment may not also be a Center
of Excellence for Transplants. And, this may result in out-of-pocket expenses
for you. To receive the maximum benefit, contact Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
at The Empire Plan toll-free at 1-877-7NYSHIP
or 1-877-769-7447 as soon as you are identified as a candidate for
transplant.
See a list
of Centers of Excellence for Cancer or visit the CRS web site at www.urncrs.com
for more information
As
you requested, the following is a Benefit Update from the Membership Benefits
Program.
Enroll
in the flexible spending accounts
Health
Care Spending Account and/or Dependent
Care Advantage Account
and you could save hundreds of dollars
2007 Open Enrollment Period
September 25 - November 10, 2006
You can enroll by going to:
http://www.flexspend.state.ny.us/
You
can also enroll by calling 1-800-358-7202 and a customer service
representative will take your application.
If you have additional questions you may email them to fsa@goer.state.ny.us.
Enrollment is fast, easy and paperless!
Save on your out-of-pocket expenses when you enroll in the
Health Care Spending Account, and on your child or dependent
care expenses when you enroll in the Dependent
Care
Advantage Account.
The
Health Care Spending Account (HCSAccount)
lets
you set aside any
amount from $100 up to $4,000 annually to pay for health care expenses
that are not reimbursed by your health insurance or other benefit
plan. Only medically necessary medical, hospital, dental, vision, hearing and
prescription drug expenses for you, your spouse and
your eligible dependents can be reimbursed by your HCSAccount. Eligible
expenses include chiropractic care, contact lenses, co-payments,
deductibles, dental implants, hearing aids, laser eye surgery,
orthodontia, and over-the-counter drugs.
The
Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount) allows
your family
to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax salary for eligible child care, elder care
or disabled dependent care expenses that are necessary for you
and your spouse, if you are married, to work. As a result of collective
bargaining, you may be eligible to receive an Employer Contribution
to your DCAAccount, up to $700 based on your salary. Eligible
expenses include adult day care, au pair, babysitter, before/after
school programs, child care center, family day care provider,
home aide, nursery school, and summer day camp.
It's
important to estimate your expenses carefully. According to IRS regulations,
if you overestimate your costs you may lose any money that
remains in your account at the end of the year. However, you can purchase
eligible over-the-counter medicines and supplies (a list is available
at www.flexspend.state.ny.us/otc.asp)
with these funds, as long as the items are
purchased on or before December 31 of the plan year.
For
additional information and updates, please visit the PEF web site at:
http://www.pef.org/healthbenefits/newspromos.htm
The
deadline for 2007 enrollment is November 10, 2006 and is
strictly enforced. Please be sure to enroll by November 10.
Below
is an update from PEF - As of January 1, 2006, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
and Caremark replaced Cigna and Express Scripts as vendors for the Empire Plan Prescription
Drug Program. The following information is current as of 01/05/06.
Please read the memo for important information re this:
Empire Plan Prescription Plan Update
010506
To read the "Update", you must have Adobe Reader. If you do not, please click
below to download Adobe Reader for "FREE"
Click
here for Adobe Reader
Below is a memo from President Benson dated
1/9/06 announcing Enhancements to the PSTP Voucher Program for Fiscal Year
2006-2007
Memo
regarding Enhancements to the PSTP Voucher Program
To read the "Update", you must have Adobe Reader. If you do not, please click
below to download Adobe Reader for "FREE"
Click
here for Adobe Reader
The
PSTP Tuition Voucher program has been significantly enhanced for fiscal year
2006-2007 for courses that commence on or after April 1, 2006 and on or
before March 31, 2007.
All
other provisions of the existing PSTP Tuition Voucher Program will remain in
effect for fiscal year 2006-2007. Guidelines will be available through
the Professional Development page of the PEF web site:
Professional
and on the GOER web site at:
http://www.goer.state.ny.us/train/pst/
PEF
launches new online training program
PEF leaders realize that with
time demands on everyone, it’s sometimes difficult to attend union
training programs. To keep the PEF membership in-step with the newest
training opportunities, an online program has been launched on the PEF Web
site. It is available to PEF elected leaders, stewards, delegates and
members to use to begin to learn about the PEF/NYS contract. The program
presents information on negotiated agreements in general, and provides a
broad introductory overview of the actual contents of the collective
bargaining agreement. You may access this program by visiting the PEF Web
site at www.pef.org, click on the
Training and Education link, then click on the PEF training center button.
Or go directly
to the training site at:
PEF
Online Training Center
PEF has also
produced a CD version of this training program that can be used without
being online. To request a copy of the CD, contact the PEF Education
Department at 1-800-342-4306 ext. 328.
Starting January 1, 2006
Access
to Stacey Braun Web Site
PEF members will also have
free access to the Stacey Braun Financial Counseling web site. You can
visit them at:
www.staceybraun.com
The user name and
password for Region 5:
Username: region5
Password: pefmb
NOTE:
The user name is case sensitive.
Please use lower case.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Kathy
Below
is a memo I received today [12/09/05] from President Benson:
TO:
Executive Board Members
Council
Leaders
Regions
1-7 Stewards
SUBJ:
Financial Counseling Debt Consolidation Program (Advance Notice)
The
PEF Membership Benefits Program Trustees have announced that the pilot program
of financial counseling and debt consolidation has proved to be a valuable benefit
and the New York City based firm is now ready to provide this benefit
statewide. Accordingly, the
Trustees have voted to expand this free benefit to PEF members in Regions
1-7.
The
firm of Stacey Braun Associates, Inc. has successfully served as the PEF Membership
Benefits Program's investment advisor for over 15 years. Stacey Braun's professionals
are available to work with our members to provide objective and unbiased advice.
The entire funding for this program is paid by the PEF Membership Benefits Program
and not from any of the investment products Stacey Braun may recommend.
In
addition to the free counseling service, PEF members will also have free
access to
the Stacey Braun Financial Counseling web site. Questions regarding this new
membership benefit may be referred to
PEF Membership Benefits Program at 518-785-1900, ext. 243 or
1-800-342-4306, ext. 243.
cc:
MBP Trustees:
Jane
Hallum
My
hat is off to PEF and it's staff for another GREAT Benefit for our
members. I contacted Stacey Braun Associates today to receive
additional information to pass on to our members.
This
benefit will begin January 1, 2006. This "FREE" benefit
provides for a 1 hour in person consultation or you may also call them
with a few questions. They do NOT sell a product but assist you in a
personal and confidential manner re: investments, retirement, Debt,
Retirements, mortgage rates, etc.
I
will be setting up some dates and times where the representatives will
come to our office and you will be able to make an appointment with them.
In addition, they are setting up a "User Name" and
"Password" for our members to access their web site. I
will have more information for you next week, and will pass it out as soon
as I have it.
If
you have any questions, please let me know.
A
Memo was received today from President Roger Benson announcing free online
course for PEF represented employees in the PS&T Bargaining Unit.
PEF
and the Governors' Office of Employees Relations [GOER], through the New York
State/Public Employees Federation Professional Development Committee [PDC],
has partnered with Binghamton University to offer continuing education online
courses FREE of charge to NYS Employees in the PS&T Unit. These
course are funded by the Public Service Training Program, Article 15.3 of the
State/PEF Agreement.
To
see the memo, please click below:
MEMO
To
see the course, please click below:
Courses
To
obtain all of the information and apply for the course, please visit this web
site at:
Courses
for New York State Employees in the PS&T
PEF's
ALL NEW FREE legal plan [Effective
January 1, 2006] for all members was announced at
the convention this year. The PEF Membership Benefits Program has
engaged the law firm of Feldman, Kramer and Monaco, P.C. - a leader in the
field of providing legal plan services to union members and their families -
to help with your legal needs. Through it's National Legal Office (NLO),
attorneys will be available to answer legal questions, write letters and
review documents relating to personal legal matters - all in the strictest of
confidence.
The
PEF Membership Benefits Program serves as the administrator for the Legal Plan
and the members' point-of-entry for participation in it. Membership
Benefits will assure that all members have access to the plan and will monitor
it to assure that members are being assisted in a timely and professional
fashion. Membership Benefits is also on the job to help any members who
needs additional assistance.
If
you want to join the current PEF Legal Service Plan, you must
do so by December 1, 2005. The annual cost is $70/year -
($65 payroll deduction). Click here:
for
the comparison from the current program to the NEW FREE Legal
Plan that will be in effect January 1, 2006.
We
will be passing out pamphlets the first week of
If you have questions regarding this program, please e-mail us or call PEF
Membership Benefits at:
1-800-342-4306
- Ext. 243
·
Now
you can book your vacation on-line with PEF Travel
PEF
Members can now research and book a cruise or travel package on-line with PEF
Travel Corp. Visit www.peftravel.com
and click on “Plan Your Next
Cruise” or “Plan Your Next Get-Away”. You will be able to research most cruise lines, vacation destinations,
hotels, prices, and availability. You
can then complete the booking on PEF Travel’s secure site or you can call
PEF Travel to have one of their consultants do the work!
Remember
-- PEF members receive a 5% rebate on cruise packages booked through PEF
Travel Corp. or on-line at www.peftravel.com
. Be sure to check out our
“Cruise Specials” for cruises with extra amenities.
 | Term
Life Insurance Open Enrollment – Limited Time Offer
|
PEF
Members can purchase a PEF/Hartford $20,000 Term Life Policy from
4/1/05
–
5/31/05
with no medical questions asked or physicals required.
Current
participants in our PEF/Hartford Term Life program can use this open
enrollment to increase their current coverage by one level without having to
complete a medical questionnaire.
For
an application form, send a request to mbrequests@pef.org
. Remember – all applications
must be received in our office by
5/31/05
to be accepted under this open enrollment. Questions can be answered by calling PEF Membership Benefits Program at
800 342-4306, ext. 243.
Hockey
Tickets are now available through Membership Benefits.
BInghamton
Senator
Tickets
| Baseball
Ticket Discounts
|
Baseball
Tickets are now available through Membership Benefits.
For the 2005 season, we will be selling discount vouchers for the
following local baseball teams:
 |
Rochester
Red Wings
|
Buffalo
Bisons
|
Syracuse
Skychiefs
|
Binghamton
Mets
|
Tri-City
Valley
Cats
|
Hudson
Valley
Renegades
|
Batavia
Muckdogs
|
Hudson
Valley
Renegades |
| | | | | | |
www.pefmembershipbenefits.com
for prices.
·
New
discount movie tickets available
Membership
Benefits is now selling discount movie tickets for Cinemark and Marquee
Cinemas. In addition, we will be
selling Galaxy Unrestricted tickets for Loews/Cineplex/Magic Johnson theatres.
For a complete listing of all of our movie ticket
discounts, visit www.pefmembershipbenefits.com.
·
April’s
Benefit of the Month – Term Life Insurance
Visit
our website at www.pefmembershipbenefits.com
to sign up for our April Benefit of the Month drawing – featuring Term Life
Insurance. The April Benefit of
the Month prize will be a Pocket PC. If
you are enrolled in our Term Life Insurance, you will be automatically entered
into this free drawing.
·
Albany
Conquest Discount Tickets
Membership
Benefits will be selling discount Albany Conquest vouchers for only $7.00.
These vouchers can be used to purchase Lower Level Corner tickets for
any of the regular home games at the Pepsi Arena.
For information on purchasing tickets visit www.pefmembershipbenefits.com
and click on limited time offers.
·
Lime
Rock
Park
,
Lakeville
Connecticut
Lime
Rock
Road
Racing
Center
is offering PEF members discount tickets for several 2005 racing events.
For details, visit our website at www.pefmembershipbenefits.com
and click on “Limited Time Offers”.
For
additional information on these benefits you can contact our office at 800
342-4306, ext. 243 or visit us on-line at www.pefmembershipbenefits.com
PEF
Membership Benefits Program
PO Box
12414
Albany
,
NY
12212
