New Employees
Q: I am a new employee. When will my health insurance coverage begin?
A: The date your health insurance coverage starts depends on your collective bargaining agreement or the County Ordinance (“the Ordinance”) that governs employment for non-union employees. The maximum amount of time you will wait for your insurance to become effective is three months. Your department’s Human Resources Representative can tell you the exact coverage commencement date applicable to you.
Currently, the coverage start dates are:
- CSEA, IPBA: the first of the third month following your hire date. E.g., if your hire date is January 2nd to February 1st, your health insurance start date is April 1
- COBA: the first day of the second month following your employment. E.g., if your hire date is January 1st to January 31st, your health insurance start date is March 1st
- PBA, SOA, DAI, Ordinance: the first day of the month following your employment. E.g., if your hire date is January 1st to January 31st, your health insurance start date is February 1st.
- College faculty: the first of the third month following your hire date. E.g., if your hire date is January 2nd to February 1st, your health insurance start date is April 1
Q: Will I have to contribute toward my health benefits?
A: Employees: Active employees contribute towards their health insurance premium based on the Collective Bargaining Agreement or Ordinance they were hired under. You can reference the current rate sheet for a list of the premium amounts that new employees would contribute toward their benefits when choosing coverage through The Empire Plan (NYSHIP) or one of the various HMO plans offered by the County. The Aetna Open Access Managed Choice (OAMC) Plan is currently the only plan available to new employees which does not require an employee contribution.
Retirees: Under current rules, retirees contribute to the cost of health benefits at the same rate they contributed as employees.
Q: What are my health insurance choices?
A: Most new County employees choose to enroll in the Aetna OAMC Plan. The County also offers coverage from The Empire Plan (NYSHIP) and various HMOs – HIP/HMO; HIP/Vytra, HIP/Choice Plus, and Aetna. Cost of coverage and Summary of Benefits information are available from your department’s Human Resources Representative and on the Comptroller’s website.
Q: What other types of insurance does the County offer?
A: Currently, the County also offers dental and optical insurance coverage to eligible employees and their dependents.