2026 Health Insurance Option Transfer Period is Here!

[Human Resource & Payroll Services]

The 2026 NYSHIP Option Transfer Period runs from Monday, December 1, 2025
through Wednesday, December 31, 2025


During the Option Transfer Period
<https://www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/nyship/shared/publications/option-transfer/2026/planning-for-option-transfer-2026.pdf>,
you may make the following changes to your New York State Health Insurance
Program (NYSHIP) option for 2026:

   -

   Change to the Empire Plan
   -

   Change to a NYSHIP Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
   -

   Change to the Opt-Out Program
   <https://www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/nyship/shared/option-transfer/guide/opt-out.cfm>
   (if eligible).
   -

      If an employee has coverage under another employer-sponsored health
      insurance program, they may be eligible to opt out of their
current NYSHIP
      coverage in exchange for an incentive payment during the Option Transfer
      Period. No action is required for current Opt-out enrollees who are still
      eligible and wish to remain in the Program for the 2026 plan year. Note:
      Employees who are represented by UUP are not eligible to participate in
      this program.

Other changes permitted during the Option Transfer Period include:

   -

   Change from family to individual coverage (regardless of whether a
   qualifying event has affected your dependents’ eligibility);
   -

   Voluntarily cancel your coverage (regardless of whether  a qualifying
   event has affected your eligibility);
   -

   Change your Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) election; changing from
   a pre-tax to a post-tax deduction or vice versa.


NO ACTION IS REQUIRED IF YOU WISH TO KEEP YOUR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE
CARRIER.


To make any changes to your health insurance coverage, carefully examine
the coverage in the 2026 Choices Guide
<https://www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/nyship/shared/publications/choices/2026/active-choices-2026.pdf>,
as well as the 2026 biweekly premium rates
<https://www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/nyship/shared/publications/rates/2026/ny-active-rates-2026.pdf>.
You will need to complete a PS404 Health Insurance Transaction Form
<https://www.cs.ny.gov/forms/ps404.pdf>, and return it to Human Resource
and Payroll Services (via fax at 518-564-5060 or in person to 912 Kehoe)
prior to the deadline of December 31st.  Do NOT email health insurance
forms as they include sensitive data.


Employees who request to enroll in NYSHIP coverage or add previously
eligible dependents to existing coverage are still subject to NYSHIP’s late
enrollment rules. This means that employees who request enrollment without
a qualifying life event and after their 28-day waiting period will be
considered late enrollees.

New York State's Department of Civil Service has announced the 2026
biweekly health insurance rates as follows:


Biweekly rates for employees who are in salary grade 9 or below (or
annualized salaries less than $52,413 for UUP or less than $54,205 for
Management/Confidential employees)

Individual

Family

Empire Plan

$65.99

$298.75

Biweekly rates for employees who are in salary grade 10 or above (or
annualized salaries equal to $52,413 or more for UUP or $54,205 or more for
Management/Confidential employees)

Individual

Family

Empire Plan

$87.99

$355.24



In addition to the Empire Plan, there are several HMO’s available and are
dependent upon the county that you live in.  If you need help deciding
which plan is right for you, please see the Choices brochure for more
information.  These are being mailed to home addresses this week but can
also be accessed online here
<https://www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits/nyship/shared/publications/choices/2026/active-choices-2026.pdf>
.


Please feel free to contact Human Resource and Payroll Services with any
questions at hrs at plattsburgh.edu or 518-564-5062.

*HUMAN RESOURCE & PAYROLL SERVICES*
912 Kehoe Building

101 Broad Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

Plattsburgh, NY 12901
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

(o) 518-564-5062

(f) 518-564-5060

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu>*





*Human Resource & Payroll Services webpage - plattsburgh.edu/hr
<http://plattsburgh.edu/hr>*
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