Submit your 2003 Empire Plan claims by March 31

By LORRAINE SIMPKINS
If you have claims for medical services you received in 2003 that are covered under the Empire Plan, be sure to submit them by the deadline of March 31.

If the Empire Plan is your secondary insurer, you must submit claims for 2003 services by March 31, 2004, or within 90 days after your primary health insurance plan processes your claim, whichever is later. 

Claims submitted after the deadline will be rejected. The carriers will only reconsider their denial of these claims if you provide documentation indicating it was not reasonably possible for you to meet the deadline (for example, due to illness).

If you are covered under the Empire Plan both as an enrollee and as a dependent, you may submit claims for reimbursement of co-payments to the Empire Plan as your secondary insurer.
Send your claims for the Empire Plan Basic Medical Program, the Home Care Advocacy Program (HCAP), and for non-network physical medicine services to:
United HealthCare
P.O. Box 1600
Kingston, New York 12402-1600

Claims for non-network mental health and substance abuse services should be mailed to:
ValueOptions 
P.O. Box 778
Troy, New York 12181-0778

Mail your claims for prescriptions filled in 2003 at non-participating pharmacies or without using your New York Government Employee Benefit Card to:
Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program (Express Scripts)
Claims Review Unit
P.O. Box 1180
Troy, New York 12181-1180

Ask your agency’s health benefits administrator for claim forms, or call the Empire Plan toll-free telephone number 1-877-7NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) and select the prompt for United HealthCare, ValueOptions, or Express Scripts.

Be sure to include the completed claim forms with supporting bills, receipts and, if applicable, a Medicare Summary Notice or statement from your other primary insurer.

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