State Employees Unaware of Out-of-Network Coverage Loss if New Pacts Move Forward
Patients Under New Proposed Rates Would Face More Out-of-Pocket or no Specialized Medical Care
ALBANY, N.Y. – April 24, 2023 – More than one million state employees covered by the NYSHIP (Blue Cross) health plan face a dramatic loss of coverage as a result of a backroom deal with the insurance industry and the Hochul administration, according to former Assembly Ways and Means Chair Arthur Jerry Kremer, a spokesman for a patient advocacy group.
To date, one major employee group has accepted policy terms that will reduce their out-of-network coverage to 275 percent of Medicare levels and it is the goal of the Governor to reduce similar coverage for two other employee groups whose contracts are under negotiation.
“I understand the decision of the administration to reduce costs, but state employees need their out-of-network coverage to protect them when they seek highly specialized medical care,” Mr. Kremer stated. He noted that “the new CSEA contract made these out-of-network changes, under the industry promise that in network benefits will be expanded. This is a false promise. Two union contracts for PEF and the UUP are now under negotiation and it is imperative that this coverage not be taken away from their members.”
Current NYSHIP members, retirees, and health care providers are beginning to sound the alarm about the insurance industry inspired plot which would force patients to pay more for out-of-network coverage and in many cases individuals would be unable to find doctors willing to accept Medicaid-level reimbursement.
Jennifer Marino, a Northport resident, stated “I recently, had life-threatening back surgery that would not have been possible if my doctor was forced to accept a new NYSHIP Medicare reimbursement rate.”
Constituent Awareness has targeted the two upcoming state contracts and is meeting with state legislators, retiree groups, union members and current NYSHIP members to recruit them to oppose this hijacking of badly needed medical care,” Kremer said.
About Constituent Awareness
Constituent Awareness is a grassroots organization aimed at informing and educating citizens about their healthcare benefits. As patients, the convoluted healthcare industry can be intimidating, confusing, and frustrating. The goal of Constituent Awareness is to inform patients about important aspects of their healthcare with the goal of maintaining access, quality, and affordability. ConstituentAwareness.org
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