<LOGO> <Return address> <Date>

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<Return address>
NOTICE OF RENEWAL AND 2015 PREMIUM RATES
<Date>
<Contact Name>
<Company>
<Address>
<City, State, Zip>
Group number: <XXXXXXXXXX>
Dear [Employer]:
Your group health insurance coverage is coming up for renewal. On <effective date> your
group policy will be automatically renewed, as long as your group continues to be
eligible, and your group’s members will be automatically re-enrolled unless you choose
another policy. Included are changes we’ll be making to your policy, the new premium
for this policy, and some information about options if you wish to change policies.
Premium rate changes:
The premium rates for your health insurance policy are changing. The new rates will
take effect on <effective date>. The new rates listed in the Premium Rates section of the
enclosed renewal kit have been approved by the New York State Department of
Financial Services (DFS).
You may visit the DFS website at www.dfs.ny.gov for more information regarding this rate
change. You may also contact Empire by calling the GBA Contact Center at 866-422-2583 or via
our website at empireblue.com/priorapproval for further information about this rate change.
Other changes to your current health insurance policy:
In 2015, there will be benefit changes to most plans, including cost-share changes to
deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum amounts for hospital and
doctor services and prescription drugs. The enclosed “Important Information” flyer
displays a chart with the 2015 benefit changes for our small group plans.
Coverage options:
To renew your current policy, no action is needed, other than paying your premium when due.
If you do not want your group’s present policy to automatically renew, you have the
option of choosing a different policy either from us or from another insurer. To choose a
different plan from Empire, follow the instructions on the “Next Steps” page of the renewal kit
and return all required documentations to us before your group’s renewal effective date. You
may purchase a new policy from us or another insurer directly, or with the assistance of
a broker or agent.
You may also purchase a policy (or policies) through the NY State of Health Small
Business Marketplace (the “Marketplace”). The Marketplace allows you to offer your
employees a choice of insurance policies with a variety of cost sharing options from
different insurance companies. If you purchase coverage through the Marketplace, you
may be eligible for a small business health care tax credit for qualified employers that
can cover as much as 50% of your contribution toward employee premium c osts. If you
are eligible for a small business health care tax credit, you generally can get that credit
only if you buy a policy through the Marketplace. Please note that Empire does not
participate on the Small Business Marketplace.
You generally can buy coverage for a group at any time throughout the year, but to
avoid gaps in coverage, you should enroll at least two weeks before your renewal date of
<effective date>. To avoid gaps in coverage when purchasing a new policy, enrollment
must be the end of the month, one month prior to the policy end date (for example,
November 30th for January 1 renewals, December 31st for February 1 renewals).
Before you decide:
Call the insurer or visit the insurer’s website to check which doctors, other healthcare
providers and prescription medications are covered by the new policy. This is an
important step in selecting a policy that best meets the needs of your group.
If you have questions:
• Call your broker or Empire’s GBA Contact Center at 866-422-2583, Monday – Friday from
9a.m. – 5p.m., or visit our website at empireblue.com.
• Visit www./nystateofhealth.ny.gov to learn more about the New York State of Health
Marketplace, or call Marketplace customer service at 1-855-355-5777.
Getting help in other languages:
Para obtener asistencia en Espanol, Ilame al 866-422-2583.
Subscriber Notification:
Please communicate this information to the subscribers who receive coverage through
this group policy. A subscriber notification called “Important Information for Empire
members” is enclosed with this mailing. Please provide any additional information with
this notice, such as expected changes in employee contribution levels, that may help
your employees better understand their health coverage costs.
Wishing you the best of health,
<<Your <Empire BlueCross> <Empire BlueCross BlueShield> Team>>
Services provided by Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc. and/or Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.
Important Information
These changes apply to your group health plan. We encourage you to review these changes with your broker or
Empire BlueCross BlueShield Sales representative.
Summary of benefits and coverage (SBCs)
Per the Affordable Care Act, Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBCs) can be accessed at sbc.empireblue.com.
2015 benefit changes and updated product naming structure
In 2015, there will be changes to most plans, including cost-share changes to deductibles, copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket
maximum amounts for hospital and doctor services and prescription drugs. Below is the chart with the 2015 benefit changes for
all our small group plans. More information can be found at empireblue.com/priorapproval.
We are also updating our product naming structure. The product names include the following elements:
Empire + metal tier + network name + product type + deductible/coinsurance/out-of-pocket maximum
Example: Empire Gold Pathway HMO 1300/10%/6000
Applies to the following products
(2014 product/plan names
Applies to the following products
(2015 product/plan names)
2015 benefit changes
Empire Essential Guided Access Plus EPO — gwoa
Empire Essential Guided Access Plus EPO
(with adult dental) — gwoa
Empire Silver Pathway EPO 1500/30%/5500 Plus
Empire Silver Pathway EPO 1500/30%/5500 Plus
(with adult dental)
In-network Coinsurance will change from 35% to
30% and Single Out-of-Pocket Maximum will change
from $6,350/$12,700 to $5,500/$11,000.
Empire Preferred Guided Access Plus HMO
with HSA — ghab
Empire Gold Pathway HMO 1300/10%/6000 Plus
with HSA
Deductible will change from $1,250/$2,500 to
$1,300/$2,600 and Out-of-Pocket Maximum will
change from $6,350/$12,700 to $6,000/$12,000.
Empire Core Guided Access Plus EPO
with HSA — gugb
Empire Bronze Pathway EPO 3500/20%/6350 Plus
with HSA
Rx cost share will change from Tier 1 $15/Tier 2
$50/Tier 3 Greater of $90 copay OR 25% to
Tier 1 $15/Tier 2 $50/Tier 3 Greater of $90 copay
OR 20%.
Empire Core Guided Access Plus EPO
with HSA — gwgb
Empire Bronze Pathway EPO 4500/30%/6350 Plus
with HSA
No changes
Empire Essential Guided Access Plus EPO
with HSA — gbcb
Empire Silver Pathway EPO 2500/20%/4500 Plus
with HSA
No changes
Healthy New York — gpbf
Empire Gold Healthy New York Pathway HMO
600/0%/4000
No changes
Home Delivery Complete
Small Group off-exchange products include the Home Delivery Complete pharmacy benefit, a mandatory mail-order pharmacy
requirement for maintenance medications. Through the Home Delivery Complete benefit, members filling maintenance
medications at a retail pharmacy are required to use the home delivery pharmacy to access their pharmacy benefits. Please
share the enclosed flier, Getting Started with Home Delivery Pharmacy, with your employees so they can get started right away.
35485NYEENEBS Rev. 08/14
Mental health benefits changes
Federal law requires group health plans to cover services for mental health care or substance abuse at the same levels as
your medical services. Generally speaking, this means visit limits and the amounts you pay (such as copayments and
deductibles) must be the same for covered services that treat body or mind. This is called “mental health parity.”
For renewals on or after July 1, 2014, we reviewed your plan benefits to make sure they comply with the mental health
parity laws. Residential Treatment Centers are now covered. Also, for Intensive Outpatient Programs and Partial
Hospitalization Programs related to mental health or substance abuse, you will have the same outpatient cost-sharing
levels you have for outpatient medical services.
For more information, call your broker, Empire representative or the GBA Contact Center at 1-866-422-2583.
ACA Insurer Fee and the ACA Reinsurance Fee
Effective since January 1, 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA or health care reform law) imposes a new annual fee (ACA Insurer
Fee) on health insurance providers based on their market share of net premiums written, or the sum of premiums earned from
all policies, during the previous year. After 2018, it increases annually based on premium growth.
Section 1341 of the Affordable Care Act provides that a transitional reinsurance program (ACA Reinsurance Fee) be established
in each state to help stabilize premiums for coverage in the individual market during the years 2014 through 2016. All health
insurance issuers and third-party administrators (TPAs) on behalf of self-insured group health plans, will submit contributions
to support reinsurance payments to issuers that cover high-cost individuals in non-grandfathered individual market plans.
This quotation includes amounts for the ACA Insurer Fee and ACA Reinsurance Fee.
Services provided by Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc. and/or Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.