State Employees Can Change Health Insurance or Opt Out by Dec. 31

Active state employees who are enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) are eligible to:

• Transfer health care options
• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel coverage 
  • You will receive a coverage termination letter from NYSHIP mailed to your home address on file
• Enroll in the Opt-out Program (if eligible)
• Change your Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) election

To enroll in an HMO, you must live or work in the HMO’s service area. The Health Insurance Choices for 2025 booklet lists all the plans available by county. The health insurance options serving Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties are listed below: 

Your biweekly cost for health insurance depends on your negotiating unit:

• If you are in classified service, your salary grade
• If you are in professional (UUP or MC Profesional) service, your annualized salary

You can learn more about your health insurance options and view the 2024 health insurance rates by reviewing  the 2025 Option Transfer Guide resources. A plan comparison tool is available to help you evaulate your choices.

All transactions can be completed by downloading and submitting an enrollment package to Benefit Services (State).

If you are able to make your change through MyNYSHIP, you are not required to submit any paperwork.

If you will be submitting and returning the Option Transfer Enrollment Package, your documents should sent to our UB Secure Box folder as follows:

1. Scan/Save your documentation as one file.
2. Rename your file to include: Your Last Name_Your First Name_Your Person Number (ex. Smith_John_22222222)
3. Upload your file to the Benefits Sensitive UB Box Folder

Option transfer is not an open enrollment period. Other changes to your coverage are possible with or without a qualifying event. Changes without a qualifying event are subject to a waiting period before coverage begins.