CSEA Benefits Orientation

New CSEA staff who are eligible have the opportunity to participate in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) which is one of the largest group health insurance programs in the United States. NYSHIP provides valuable medical benefits for you and your eligible dependents through two different options: The Empire Plan with some managed care features, or health care from a participating Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Both options provide medical and surgical care, hospital expense benefits, mental health and substance abuse benefits and prescription drug coverage. There are no pre-existing condition exclusions.

Am I Eligible?
Full-time CSEA staff are eligible for health benefits if they have an appointment of at least three (3) months duration.  Part-time CSEA staff are eligible to receive benefits if they are hired to work at least half-time hours and are appointed for at least three (3) months.

Are my dependents eligible for coverage?
You may enroll for either individual or family coverage. Eligible dependents include a spouse or domestic partner and children under the age of 26.  If you wish to carry family coverage, copies of the following documents are needed to support your dependent’s eligibility: marriage certificate for a spouse, proof of current financial interdependence if married for more than one year, proof of residency and financial interdependence for a domestic partnership. Copies of birth certificate(s) and social security card(s) will also be required prior to enrolling all dependents.

When will my coverage be effective?
If you wish to enroll for health insurance/prescription coverage, you must select a plan within the first 28 days of appointment to avoid any extended waiting period. Coverage will be effective on the 29th day of employment.

What is the cost of coverage?
New York State pays a significant portion of the premium for yourself and your dependents. You pay the balance which is deducted from your paycheck on a bi-weekly basis. There are two types of coverage that you may purchase: individual or family.  For current rates, visit health insurance.

One of the decisions you will need to make when enrolling for health insurance is whether or not to participate in the Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP). Under PTCP, your health insurance premiums are deducted from your pay before taxes are taken out. This lowers your taxable income and gives you more spendable income. Under Internal Revenue Rules (IRS), if you participate in PTCP, you cannot change your health insurance deduction once the amount is set for the tax year unless you have a "qualifying event".

Health Insurance Plan Choices

Empire Plan
Membership in the New York State Empire Plan allows you to seek medical services from any doctor, hospital, or health care provider that you wish. Hospital and related benefit coverage is provided through Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Major medical/surgical benefits, provided by United HealthCare, are available through participating and non-participating providers. Participating providers, which are paid directly by the insurance company, have agreed to accept the negotiated usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) fees as payment for services. You are responsible for a co-payment: $25 for office visits, diagnostic/therapeutic services, and rehabilitative care. Fees for services received through non-participating providers may be higher than the UCR rates and are subject to an annual deductible. Once your annual deductible is met, reimbursement is 80% of reasonable and customary expenses. Claims for services from providers who do not participate in the plan are submitted using a claim form.

Empire Plan Participating Providers
CVS/Caremark Prescription Drug Plan 1-877-769-7447

Under the Empire Plan prescription drug plan, you can have your prescriptions filled at any network pharmacy, the mail service pharmacy or the designated specialty pharmacy. This plan uses a flexible formulary and for up to a 30-day supply of a covered drug, you pay a $5 copayment for Level 1 or most generic drugs, a $30 copayment for Level 2, preferred drugs or compound drugs and a $60 copayment for Level 3 or non-preferred drugs.  The network of participating pharmacies includes many of the major chains as well as several independent pharmacies.

Health Maintenance Organizations
HMOs are managed health delivery systems organized to deliver health care services in a specific geographic area. An HMO provides a predetermined set of benefits through a network of selected physicians, laboratories and hospitals for a prepaid premium. Except for emergency services, you and your enrolled dependents must receive services from your primary care physician (which you select at the time of enrollment) or at health centers or hospitals affiliated with the HMO unless you have made other arrangements with your HMO. Medically necessary visits to specialists are covered when authorized by your primary care physician. If you select services outside your HMO network, payment for these services will generally be your responsibility.

All HMOs charge a small co-payment for certain services, usually in the form of a per-visit fee. HMOs have no annual deductibles and rarely, if ever, are claim forms required. Member’s out-of-pocket costs are usually the lowest with this type of plan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY
Independent Health

How do I enroll?
Please indicate your intention to participate or not to participate in a health insurance plan on the Benefits Election Form. To enroll, you please complete the Health Insurance Transaction Form (PS-404) online or provided in your orientation packet and return it to the Employee Benefits Office, Cleveland Hall 403, within 28 days of your appointment date to avoid any extended waiting period.

If you are currently covered under an employer-sponsored group insurance plan through other employment of your own, or a plan that your spouse, domestic partner, or parent has as a result of his or her employment, you may qualify for the Opt-Out Program. This program allows eligible employees to opt out of health insurance coverage through Buffalo State in exchange for an incentive payment. To participate in the Opt-Out Program, you must complete the Health Insurance Transaction Form (PS-404) and the Opt-Out Attestation Form (PS-409) no later than the first date of your eligibility for health insurance benefits.

The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund provides vision and dental benefits at no cost to employees who meet the eligibility requirements for participation in the New York State Health Insurance Program. These benefits are available to you and your eligible dependents whether you enroll for individual or family coverage in the health insurance program or decline to participate. Coverage under the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund is not automatic; you must first enroll yourself and your dependents.

Detailed information about eligibility requirements for you and your dependents, covered benefits, and instructions on how to use your plans may be found at the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund.

Dental Care

CSEA Dental Plan
One Lear Jet Lane
Suite One
Latham, NY 12110
www.cseaebf.com/state_benefits.php
1-800-323-2732

Eligible members and dependents are entitled to one comprehensive dental examination and cleaning every 6 months. Other services may be covered in full if performed by a participating provider. If you choose to use a non-participating provider, you will be eligible for a partial reimbursement. Dependent children who are age 19 or older, but under age 25, are eligible if they are full-time students. Student verification will be required.

CSEA Dental Claim Form

Vision Care

Davis Vision
PO Box 1525
Latham, NY 12110
1-800-999-5431

Eligible members and dependents over the age of 19 are entitled to vision services once every two years (24 months from the last month of benefits received). Dependent children who are age 19 or older, but under age 25, are eligible if they are full-time students. Student verification will be required. Dependent children up to the age of 19 are entitled to vision services every year (12 months). When using a network of participating providers, the benefit includes an eye exam and one pair of glasses without co-payment (from a select frame assortment) or plan-covered contact lenses. A $25 allowance toward non-plan contact lenses (specialty contact lenses, i.e. colored, toric, gas permeable, etc., are not covered in full). A list of participating providers is available from Davis Vision.  If you choose to use a non-participating provider, you will be eligible for a partial reimbursement towards the cost of your exams, glasses, frames or contact lenses.

Davis Vision Form

How do I enroll?
You will be eligible for coverage as soon as you complete a 28-day waiting period. To enroll, complete the CSEA Enrollment Card provided by the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund or enroll online.

Full-time permanent employees (with appointments of 3 months or more) are required to join a retirement system within 30 days of their appointment/hire date.  Part-time employees and those with provisional or temporary appointments have the option to join a retirement system at any time.

No retirement system membership will be established, nor any service credit or contributions reported, until the appropriate retirement system election and membership applications have been received and processed.

Your selection of a retirement system is an important decision so please review your options very carefully.  Once your election is made, you will generally not be allowed to change retirement systems unless you have a change in your employment title making you eligible for a different retirement system for the first time and you opt to change to that system within 30 days of your eligible appointment.  Note, membership in a retirement system may not otherwise be changed or withdrawn during your current or any subsequent employment with any SUNY campus.

Retirement Plan Option
Eligibility for a retirement system depends on a variety of factors, including your bargaining unit/union, your position classification, and whether you are full or part-time. CSEA employees are eligible to join the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (ERS).  ERS is a defined benefit pension retirement system. Retirement pension benefits will depend on the results of a calculation at the time of retirement that takes into account the final average salary, number of years of credited membership service, and age at the time of retirement.

Additional Retirement Plan Information from SUNY

• Retirement Programs for New Faculty and Staff 
• Retirement Programs Comparison Chart - a side-by-side comparative view of some of the key features of and differences between the different retirement systems.

Vesting:  What is it and when am I vested?
When you are vested, you have ownership of the assets held in your retirement account. Vesting does not mean that you have an immediate right to withdraw these assets, but simply that you would retain these assets upon termination of employment.  The vesting period for ERS is five (5) years of full-time credited service.

What are the employer and employee contributions?
All three defined benefit programs provide for contributions by you as well as the college. Your contributions will be made on a before-tax basis (federal taxes only) through payroll deduction, throughout your active membership. Employer contribution rate for ERS is based on actuarial recommendations and New York State contributes an amount necessary to satisfy present and future pension payments.

Retirement Plan Election and Enrollment
Once you have carefully reviewed your options and decided to join a retirement system, please submit your retirement program election and provide your retirement system history:

1. All new employees must use the SUNY online enrollment and management system at www.retirementatwork.org/suny. 
    
2. If you elect to enroll in ERS, you must also complete the application, ERS Tier VI Membership Application 

For further information and/or assistance with the enrollment process, please contact the Employee Benefits Office.

The State University of New York (“SUNY”) provides employees with the opportunity to save for their retirement through the SUNY Voluntary 403(b) Savings Plan (the “Plan”). Participation in the SUNY Voluntary Savings Plan is a great way to build your retirement savings through pre-tax and/or post-tax payroll deduction contributions. View the 2025 Universal Availability Notice and please contact the Employee Benefits Office 878-4821 with any questions.

New York’s 529 College Savings Program
If you are looking for a way to save for your child’s college education, New York’s 529 College Savings Program may be of interest to you. This program allows parents, grandparents, relatives or friends to open an investment account for future college students with as little as $25.

Contributions to the account are invested according to the options selected by the account owner. The program’s investments are managed by The Vanguard Group, a leading financial services organization. The program provides significant tax advantages. New York taxpayers can deduct up to $5,000 in contributions each year from their New York taxable income and none of the investment earnings will be taxed by the state as long as the money is used for qualified higher education institutions anywhere. Federal tax on earnings is deferred until the student uses the money for college expenses, and then the earnings are taxable at the student’s income tax rate.

For additional information, call 877-697-2837 or visit New York's 529 College Savings Program.

The Flex Spending Account is a state benefit that allows eligible employees to pay for certain expenses with pre-tax dollars.  The account offers three benefits: Health Care Spending Account (HCSAccount), Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount), and Adoption Advantage Account.

Health Care Spending Account
The HCSAccount allows employees to set aside from $100 to $3,200 annually in pretax salary to pay for health-care expenses not reimbursed by health insurance.

Dependent Care Advantage Account
The DCAAccount allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 annually in pretax salary for eligible child care, elder care, or disabled dependent care expenses. An employer contribution is available to employees based on salary. 

Adoption Advantage Account
The Adoption Advantage Account allows employees to set aside up to $16,810 in pretax salary for expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child. 

The 2024 plan year employer contribution rates for eligible employees:

What’s the catch?  Use-it-or-lose-it!
You must estimate your expenses carefully.  If you overestimate your costs, you lose any money that remains in your account at the end of the calendar year.  

Eligibility Requirements and Enrollment

• Must be receiving regular bi-weekly paychecks.
• Must be eligible for health insurance.
• Must enroll within 60 days of appointment, during the annual open enrollment period, or when you experience a valid change in status.

For program details or to enroll in the FSA, visit www.flexspend.ny.gov or call the FSA hotline at 1-800-358-7202.

Employees earn accruals during the course of their employment in accordance with the CSEA contract agreement with New York State.  Employees may obtain a Classified Service Attendance Record online. The New York State Department of Civil Service Attendance and Leave Manual is available online at www.cs.ny.gov/attend_leave_manual/.

Vacation*
Full-time employees earn at the rate of one half day per pay period after the completion of 13 pay periods of employment. Bonus days are added each year on vacation anniversary date at the rate of one day per year of service to a maximum of 20 days per year after 7 years.

Upon completion of 7 years of service, vacation is earned at a rate of 13 days per year for first 7 years then 20 days per year thereafter. Employees also receive bonus days upon completion of 20+ years of service.

Vacation is earned as noted, with completion of 1 to 35 or more years of service. Part-time employees who work a regular schedule of at least half-time earn accruals on a pro-rated basis.

On April 1 of each fiscal year, accumulated vacation credits in excess of 40 days are forfeited.

Sick Leave*
Full-time employees earn at the rate of ½ day per pay period (13 days per year), up to an accumulated maximum of 200 days.
Part-time employees who work at least half-time earn on a pro-rated basis.

Personal Leave*
Full-time employees are credited with 5 days each year on personal leave anniversary date. Personal leave is not cumulative and any unused leave remaining at the close of business the day preceding the personal leave anniversary date is forfeited.

*Employees paid on an hourly basis do not qualify for Attendance Rules Coverage (holidays, vacation, sick leave, personal, etc.) until completion of 19 consecutive pay periods of at least half time service.

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Additional Forms to Complete and Return:

• Direct Deposit Form
• NYS IT-2104 (state)
• W-4 (federal)

• BUFF STATE Alert
• Child Care Center
• Employee Assistance Program
• General Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment | Additional policies (may review at a later time)
• Health Insurance Marketplace
• Holidays
• Internal Control Program
• Morton Lane Credit Union
• Payroll Calendar
• Alcohol and Drug Use in the Workplace
• Safety Awareness
• Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
• U.S. Savings Bonds
• Workplace Violence Prevention Policy | Training