Prior

02/18/2013 

In November 2012, we communicated our rate increases planned for 2013. Since then, Empire has received approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) to modify premium rates for new and renewing groups starting on May 1, 2013 for Small Group & Healthy New York and July 1, 2013 for Large Group. 

Impacted plans are: 

Small Group (SG):  

 

Large Group (LG)  

 

 

11/08/12 

Rising medical costs and the growing use of medical goods and services continue to drive health care costs higher. Due to these increasing costs, we have submitted a rate change request to the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) to modify premium rates. New York State law requires that health insurance carriers provide an initial notice to you when we submit requests for premium rate changes to the NYDFS. The law also requires that we explain any proposed rate change. Therefore, the below grid outlines the requested rate changes for specific products. The submitted rate change requests are pending NYDFS approval. A narrative, which explains the proposed rate change requests, can be found in the below grid.  

Since the NYDFS must approve all community rates, the actual rate increase will not be available until approval is received. At that time, we will send you another notice. The second notice, which we will send to you at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the rate change, will include the approved rate changes. You have 30 days from the date of our filing to contact Empire or the DFS to ask for more information about the rate-change filing, or to submit written comments to the DFS. If you would like to know the dates of the 30 day comment period, or for any other questions, you can contact us by sending an email to Empire at mpremiumratechange@empireblue.com. If you are an employee, call the customer service number on the back of your member ID card. Written comments submitted to the DFS will be posted on the website of the DFS with all personal identifying information removed. Comments may be submitted to the DFS online at www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/health/prior_app/prior_app.htm or by contacting: 

Department of Financial Services
Health Bureau-Premium Rate Adjustments
25 Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004 

You may also reach the DFS at premiumrateincreases@dfs.ny.gov or (800) 342-3736.  

 

 

10/31/11 

 

2012 Rate Increases 

 

Rate notices have been included in Empire’s Healthy NY pre-enrollment kits. Click here to view pre-enrollment rate notice. 

 

Here are a few details about the plans Empire will continue to offer: 

You may purchase any of these products with or without prescription drug coverage. Empire will also continue to offer the Healthy New York product.  

 

December 2011 

 

The plans listed directly below are being discontinued on renewal starting April 2012. We’re withdrawing some products as part of an effort to reduce financial losses in our Small Group plans. We’re also applying rate increases to the products that will remain available. 
  

Small Group Product Withdrawals 

Starting April 1, 2012, Empire will no longer offer these plans effective on a group’s renewal date: 

 

To view the letter that was mailed to employers, click here.  

To view the letter that was mailed to impacted members, click here. 

 

Small Group Products Remaining 

We will still offer these Small Group products:  

 

Empire will also continue to offer Healthy New York to eligible Small Groups. Starting January 1, 2012, the state has advised that only the high-deductible Healthy New York plan is available for new sales. Groups that already have the Healthy New York standard plan may keep it.