MC Unclassified (13)

The New York Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) provides health insurance and prescription drug coverage to eligible employees and their dependents. NYSHIP is administered by the New York State Department of Civil Service and has several health plan options to choose from.

DESCRIPTION

• Empire Plan (PPO):
  Anthem Blue: Hospitalization
  United HealthCare: Major Medical
  Carelon Behavioral Health, Inc: Mental Health/Substance Abuse
  CVS/Caremark, Inc.: Prescriptions
• Multiple Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs):
  Explanation of the options available to you under the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) for your health insurance and other elections can be found on NYSHIP Online
• NYSHIP Health Plan Choices

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Full-time employees with appointments that are expected to last 3 months or longer. 

Part-time employees must work at least half-time (50% or more) on a regularly scheduled basis and be expected to work for at least 3 months.

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
There is a 28-calendar day waiting period. Enroll within 30 days when first newly eligible and coverage is effective on your 29th day of employment.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

• Empire Plan biweekly rates as of 1/1/26:
  Annual Salary Rate Less Than $54,205:
  Individual:   $65.99 
  Family:        $298.75
  
  Annual Salary Rate Equal to or More Than $54,205:
  Individual:   $87.99 
  Family:        $355.24
• HMO rates vary. Visit NYSHIP Rates 2026 for more information

New York State provides dental and vision coverage at no additional cost to the employee. Individual and family coverage is available.

Dental Insurance is provided by Anthem Blue Cross. 

Vision Care is provided by Davis Vision.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Employees who are at least half-time and eligible to receive health insurance.

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
There is a 28-calendar day waiting period. Enroll within 30 days when first newly eligible and coverage is effective on your 29th day of employment.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• NYS Dental Plan Certificate of Insurance
• M/C Vision Plan Book 

SUNY RETIREMENT PLAN OPTIONS*

NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and NYS Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS): Defined benefit plans; benefits are based on best Final Average Salary and years of service.  

SUNY Optional Retirement Program (ORP): Defined contribution plan; benefits are based on employer and employee contributions and the success of the investments. Currently includes the following Authorized Investment Providers: Corebridge, Fidelity, TIAA and Voya.  

*Contribution & vesting details applicable to employees enrolling on or after 4/1/12 (under Tier 6 provisions).

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? 

• Full-time (with appointments of 3 months or more) employees are required to join a Retirement System within 30 days of their appointment/hire date. 
• Employees in the faculty/titles of Chancellor, President, Provost, Dean, Associate Dean, and Assistant Dean are also eligible for TRS. 

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?

• Immediately upon enrollment.
• ERS & TRS: Vested after 5 full-time equivalent years.  
• ORP: Vested after 366 calendar days of service, (partial days count as full days) or immediately for those who have met this service requirement with prior NYS Public employment service or have a vested employer-sponsored account with TIAA, Voya, Fidelity or Corebridge.
  

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
See Employee Contributions at Retirement Plan Comparison Chart.

The NYS Flex Spending Accounts allows eligible employees to pay for certain expenses with pre-tax dollars. 

• Childcare, elder care (Dependent Care Advantage Account - DCAA)
• Out-of-pocket (i.e., co-payments) health care expenses (Health Care Spending Account - HCSA)
• Expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child (Adoption Advantage Account – AAA)

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Employees receiving regular biweekly paychecks can enroll in DCAA. Employees must be eligible for health insurance to enroll in a HCSA. 

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
You must enroll within 60 days of the date of appointment as your period of coverage will begin on your 31st consecutive calendar day of employment or the date your enrollment is received, whichever is later. You must enroll within 60 calendar days, inclusive, of your hiring date.

Dependent Care - New employees are immediately eligible for this benefit but must enroll within 60 calendar days of their hire date. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The employee determines the amount to be deducted: for 2026, the HCSA min/max employee contribution is $100/$3,400; the DCAA max employee contribution is $7,500/$3,7500 (based on tax filing status); the AAA max employee contribution is $17,670.  

SUNY Contributes to the DCAA based on salary:   

Under $30,000: $1,100    
$30,001-$40,000: $1,000    
$40,001 - $50,000: $900    
$50,001 - $60,000: $800    
$60,001 - $70,000: $700    
over $70,000: $600

The New York State group life insurance plan, M/C Life, offers life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance (AD&D) coverage to eligible enrollees. These benefits provide financial protection for enrollees' beneficiaries in the event of a life-altering accident or death. 

Enrollees may also choose life insurance coverage for a spouse or domestic partner and/or eligible children. However, only the enrollee is eligible for AD&D insurance.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
All M/C employees.

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE? 
First day of pay period following submission of enrollment form if done within 1st six pay periods of eligible appointment. If past first six pay periods, enrollment subject to late guidelines & MetLife approval.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?  
Premiums determined by amount of coverage purchased. 

COVERAGE OPTIONS  
When enrolling in M/C Life, enrollees may choose between either a fixed benefit amount or a multiple of salary.

The following coverage options are available for the enrollee:

• A life insurance benefit of up to $500,000
• An accidental death and dismemberment benefit of up to $250,000
• A common carrier accidental death benefit of up to $250,000

In addition, enrollees may choose the following for eligible dependents:

• 50% of the amount of their life insurance coverage for their spouse or domestic partner up to $20,000
• $4,000 life insurance coverage for each eligible dependent child 

SUNY Voluntary 403(b) Savings Plan. Current Authorized Investment Providers are: Corebridge, Fidelity, TIAA, and Voya.  

NYS Deferred Compensation 457(b) Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings Plan.  Provider: Nationwide.

Both plans offer pre- and post-tax savings (Roth) options. Employees may choose to participate in either or both plans. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
All SUNY employees upon hire.

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Upon employment or any time thereafter. Contributions are flexible and voluntary.  

Note: Enrollment in the 403(b) generally takes one or two pay periods; the 457(b), two to three pay periods. Please verify your paycheck information and contribution amount after you have enrolled.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Employee pre-tax and Roth contributions through salary reduction subject to IRS limits.   For more information, visit: https://www.suny.edu/benefits/vsp/  Both plans function similarly, but there are a few important key differences. View the 403(b) vs. 457(b) Comparison Chart for more information. 

TUITION ASSISTANCE
Partial assistance for additional courses through the SUNY Tuition Waiver program (based on funding). Please refer to your campus benefit office for details.  Fees not covered by Tuition Assistance. Must be SUNY state-operated campus employee. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Appointment must cover period of support. Must be at least half-time. 

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Differs by campus; check with your campus HR/benefits office. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Differs by campus and is a reimbursement program. 

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMAs a New York State employee, you may qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full-time for an eligible employer.

The Long-Term Disability Coverage provides a monthly income benefit equal to 60% of covered monthly salary, up to $7,500/month. The SUNY LTD Plan also provides a Monthly Annuity Premium Benefit (MAPB), for ORP participants, which continues to make contributions on employee’s behalf.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Full-time employees who are disabled for six consecutive months. 

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Enrollment is automatic on the first of the month following one year anniversary. The waiting period may be waived if you had previous coverage within three months of beginning eligible SUNY employment. To request, submit waiver form to your HR office. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
No cost to the employee. Employer covers cost of premium. 

PAID FAMILY LEAVE (PFL)      
This program provides workers with up to 12 weeks of job-protected, paid leave to bond with a new child, care for a loved one or relatives with a serious health condition or to help relieve family pressures when someone is deployed abroad on active military service. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Employees who work a regular schedule of 20 or more hours/week are eligible after 26 consecutive weeks’ employment. 

For eligibility purposes, separations of 26 weeks or less will not constitute a break in service. Once an employee has had a separation of more than 26 weeks, they will once again have to meet the minimum eligibility requirements for PFL.

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Upon qualifying event, as needed according to usage guidelines. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Fully funded by employees through payroll deductions.  
For 2026, the contribution is 0.432% of an employee's gross wages each pay period. The maximum annual contribution is $411.91  

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
New York State will provide 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave for executive branch state employees to bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
All NYS employees who work full-time or at least 50% part-time, are eligible from their first day of service. 

WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Immediately upon hire, upon a qualifying event, defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. PPL is available for use once every 12-month period and must be used on a continuous basis (blocks at a time).

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
No cost to the employee.

• Vacation, Sick & Holiday Leave Accruals:
  • Vacation and sick leave are earned at the same rate, 1.75 days per calendar month. Part-time employees accrue vacation and sick leave on a pro-rated basis. 
  • On January 2 of each year, one vacation day shall be added to the accrual balance of all employees eligible to accrue vacation leave.
  • Vacation accumulation cannot generally exceed 40 days as of 1/1 of any year. Sick leave accumulation cannot exceed 225 days.
  • Eligible for up to 13 holidays per year if they fall on a regularly scheduled workday.

• Payroll Information: New York State has a two-week lag payroll system; each paycheck pays for the period two-four weeks prior to the check date. First check issued in approximately four weeks.