e
s
Enroll in ’09 Flex Spending now to save $$
ByDEBORAHSTAYMAN paytheexpensesfirstandthensubmit onlinetowww.flexspend.state.ny.us.
o
t
IfyouareinthePS&Tunit,theFlex claimsforreimbursementfromyour
SpendingAccountisaprogram flexiblespendingaccount. How DCAAccount works
N
negotiatedbyPEFandthestatetohelp Ifyoupaysomeonetocareforyour
yousavemoneyonyourtaxes. How HCSAccount works child,elderlyparent,ordisabledspouse
Theprogramhastwobenefits–the Ifeligible,youmayauthorizeany whileyouwork,youmaysetasideupto
t
h
HealthCareSpendingAccount amountfrom$100to$4,000annuallyin $5,000inpre-taxsalarythroughpayroll
(HCSAccount)andtheDependentCare pre-taxdollarsbewithheldfromyourpay deductiontoreimburseyourselfforthese
Advantage andsetasideina expenses.
e
a
l
Account specialHCSAccount. ExpenseseligibleforDCAAccount
(DCAAccount)– Youcanthen reimbursementincludechildcare
H
thathelpyoupay reimburseyourself expenses(uptoage13),summerday
forhealthcareor bycheckordirect camp,before/afterschoolprograms,
dependentcare depositfromthat adultdaycare,homeaide,and
withpre-tax accountforout-of- housekeeperorcookiftheyalsoprovide
dollars.Andthe pocketmedical, custodialcare.
statemayhelpyoupayfor dental,vision,orhearingcosts Thestatewillcontributeupto$800to
yourdependentcare. notreimbursedbyhealthinsurance. your2009DCAAccount.Howmuchit
Evenifyouenrolledlastyearfor2008, Bylaw,youmustloseanymoneyleft contributesdependsonyourannual
youmustenrollagainnow–between intheaccountattheendoftheyear,so salary.Thelessyouearn,themorethe
September22andNovember14,2008–if carefullyestimateyourannualout-of- statewillcontribute.
youwanttoparticipatein2009.However, pockethealthcarecostsandbe The2009employercontributionrates
ifyouexperienceaqualifyingevent,such conservativeinsettingyourbiweekly are:
asmarriageorchildbirth,youmaybe contributionamount. •$800forsalariesupto$30,000;
allowedtoenrollorchangeyourlevelof Examplesofallowablecostsare: •$700for$30,001to$40,000;
contributionslater. prescriptiondrugcopayments,dental •$600for$40,001to$50,000;
Gotowww.flexspend.state.ny.usor implants,andorthodontiafeespaidto •$500for$50,001to$60,000;
call1-800-358-7202toenroll.Enrollment non-participatingproviders,deductibles, •$400for$60,001to$70,000;
isvoluntary.Savingsvary. lasereyesurgery,contactlensesand •$300formorethan$70,000.
Youmaynotpaydirectlyforeligible certainover-the-counterdrugsand Ifyouhaveadditionalquestions,e-
expensesfromtheseaccounts.Youmust supplies.Foralistoftheseitems,go mailthemtofsa@goer.state.ny.us.
Get help managing chronic illnesses
ByLORRAINESIMPKINS offeringtwoofthenewDMprograms. mentalhealthDMprograms,visit
IfyouarecoveredbytheEmpirePlan TheADHDIdentificationand www.ValueOptions.comonlineorcallthe
andyouoranyofyourcovered ManagementProgramincludes: EmpirePlanat1-877-7NYSHIPandselect
dependentssufferfromachronicmedical •Afree,confidentialscreeningtool “Option3”forValueOptions.
ormentalhealthcondition,youmaytake thatyoucanaccessonline,orrequestby UnitedHealthCare,throughits
advantageofafreediseasemanagement phone; partner,OptumHealth,isofferingtheDM
(DM)program. •InformationaboutADHDsymptoms programforindividualswithchronic
Theprogramwillhelpyoutakea andtreatment;and kidneydisease.
centralroleinmanagingyourcareand •Helpassessingtreatmentoptions Ifyouoryourcovereddependent(the
avoidmoreseriousproblems. andcoordinatingcareamongtreatment EmpirePlanmustbeyourprimary
Currently,DMprograms–including providers. insurance)havechronickidneydisease,
threenewonesthatbeganJuly1–are TheEatingDisordersManagement youmaybeinvitedtoparticipateinthe
offeredfor:asthma;cardiovascular/ Programincludes: KidneyResourceServicesProgram.This
coronaryarterydisease;chronickidney •Informationabouteatingdisorder programisdesignedtoidentifypatients
disease;congestiveheartfailure;chronic symptomsandtreatment; earlyintheircourseoftreatmentand
obstructivepulmonarydisease; •Freeeatingattitudesurveythatcan provideinterventionstodelaythe
depression;attentiondeficithyperactivity betakenonline; progressionofthedisease.
disorder(ADHD);eatingdisorders •Helpassessingtreatmentoptions Participantswillbeofferededucational
(anorexia,bulimia,andbingeeating); andcoordinating materialsandotherservicestohelp
diabetes;andsleepapnea.AlloftheDM careamong managetheirkidneydisease.Also,you
programsprovideeducationandsupport, treatment maybecontactedbyaregistered
areconfidential,andusenationally- providers;and nurseinconjunctionwiththis
recognizedclinicalpracticeguidelinesand •Intensive program.
recommendations. caremanagement Formoreinformation,call
ValueOptions,thecompanythat servicesforpeoplewith theEmpirePlanat1-877-7-
managesmentalhealthandsubstance moreseveresymptoms. NYSHIPandchoose“Option5”
abuseservicesfortheEmpirePlan,is Formoreinformationaboutthese fortheEmpirePlanNurseLine.
Page12—TheCommunicatorSeptember2008 PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28