NEW BENEFIT — PEF’s Edye Benson,
right, discusses LifeWorks services with Ceridian’s
Clare Scott and Deborah Miller of NYS Family Benefits.
— Photo by Sherry Halbrook
LifeWorks offers
members free referrals, expert advice
Starting March 1, a
new program of family benefits is available to PS&T
employees and their families.
LifeWorks provides free consultation and referral
services by phone and online. A “Tips on Tape”
audio library is also available, as well as free booklets
and other materials.
Information, advice and support are now available on many
issues, such as parenting and child care, education and
caring for elderly or disabled family members.
For instance, you can receive referrals to day care
centers, summer camps, private and public schools,
vocational schools and adoption agencies.
And you can access advice on preparing for college,
pre-natal care and child development among many other
topics.
This is an expansion of the Child and Elder Care Resource
and Referral Service previously available to PEF members
in the New York City and Westchester areas. The service
is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-362-9874, or
1-800-346-9188 for the hearing impaired. For a listing of
Tips-on-Tape materials, call 1-800-965-9302.
Or you can access the service online at
www.lifeworks.com. For password and user-name contact
your agency personnel office.
LifeWorks is operated by Ceridian Inc. and is available
to New York State Executive Branch employees under a
contract funded through the PS&T and other
bargaining-unit contracts.
PEF is represented on the Joint Family Benefits Committee
by Edye Benson of the state Education Department in
Albany. — Sherry Halbrook
Most people at mid-life don’t think about the possibility of needing skilled nursing care, home health care or help with ordinary activities of daily living. Yet 40 percent of Americans receiving long-term care are less than 65 years old.
In 1999, the average annual cost for nursing-home care in the US was $58,000. Most health insurance that covers acute illness does not pay for long-term care. As a result, individuals who need long-term care often pay for it out-of-pocket, draining their life savings.
For the first time, the state is offering long-term-care insurance to active and retired NYS employees and their eligible dependents. This is an employee-pay-all program available at discounted group rates from MedAmerica of New York.
Seminars are scheduled around the state to provide information about the program. Call 866-474-5824 toll-free to register for a seminar or for more information. Or visit the program’s web site at www.yourlongtermcare.com to view the list of seminars and register online. Details about coverage options and enrollment are also available online.
The open-enrollment period for active employees is April 1 through May 31, 2002. In the interim, active employees can enroll, but payroll deductions will not begin until April 1.
During the open-enrollment period, active employees who enroll are guaranteed a policy without having to pass a physical exam.
All other eligible individuals will be subject to underwriting and must undergo physical exams. Retirees may enroll at any time. — Deborah Stayman
Don’t forget!March 31, 2002 is the last day to submit your 2001 Empire Plan claims for services performed by non-participating and non-network providers. Ask your agency health benefits administrator for claim forms.
GO TO HEALTH BENEFITS WEBSITE