Learn more about health care benefits offered by New York Life.
When you’re enrolled in the Active Health Option, New York Life rewards you and your spouse/domestic partner for engaging in healthy behaviors.
Learn more about the accounts offered by New York Life.
Learn more about the income protection benefits offered by New York Life.
Learn more about other benefits offered by New York Life.
You have two medical options, the Active Health Option and the Standard Medical Option. They both work like traditional Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) with a network of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who offer their services to members at reduced rates.
The Active Health Option has a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), which you can use toward your deductibles and pay less out of your pocket. You may be eligible to get “consumer dollars” added to your HRA each year, and they’re available from day one. You can earn “incentive dollars” right away, too.
The Standard Medical Option does not have an HRA. If you choose this option, you won’t receive consumer dollars from New York Life or have the opportunity to earn incentive dollars to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Both options cover the same services, have the same Aetna network of providers, and offer the same prescription drug coverage through Express Scripts. Both options pay more when you obtain care in-network, and both options generally cover in-network preventive care at 100%.
Under both options, you must first meet your annual deductibles before the plan begins to pay benefits. Then the plan will pay a percentage of your covered expenses: the Active Health Option will pay 90% and the Standard Option will pay 80% for in-network covered services.
You’re protected by an out-of-pocket maximum under both options. After you pay that amount, the plan will pay 100% of covered expenses for the rest of the year.
If you’re not sure, click here to see your account balance. Use the funds in your HRA toward eligible medical expenses and pay less out of your own pocket for medical care.
No, you don’t. If you enroll in a medical option through New York Life, you automatically receive prescription drug benefits administered by Express Scripts. However, you must use an in-network pharmacy to receive benefits from the plan.
No, you cannot.
Use generic drugs: they’re equivalent to brand-name drugs, equally effective, and cost much less.
Use the mail-order program for maintenance medications: drugs you buy through mail order generally cost less. And, for a 90-day supply, you’ll pay 2.5 times the monthly copay, rather than 3 times, which is what you would pay at a pharmacy for three 30-day supplies.
Click here for information on specialty drugs.
You have two dental coverage options, both administered by Aetna. Both options cover preventive services at 100%.
The Comprehensive Option covers preventive, basic, and major services, such as crowns and root canals. This option also covers orthodontia for children.
The Preventive Option covers only preventive and basic services, such as fillings. It does not include benefits for major services or orthodontia.
You have a new vision option starting in 2017. You don’t have to elect medical coverage in order to elect vision; the options are separate. You can choose coverage just for yourself or for you and your dependents, and the coverage level can also be different from your medical election.
The vision option covers routine eye care such as exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, and offers discounts on additional eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, Lasik, and more.
| Activity | Incentive | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Online Health Assessment | $150 | Take the Compass health assessment |
| Annual Physical | $150 | Get a routine physical |
| Journeys | Up to $150 ($50 per journey) |
Complete a journey to improve your health |
Visit Aetna Navigator to track your incentive dollars and check your HRA balance.
| Activity | Incentive | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mammography | $250 | Get a routine screening (women age 40 and older) |
| Colonoscopy | $250 | Get a routine screening (adults age 50 and older) |
| Well-Woman Exam | $150 | Receive a routine GYN exam (women age 21 and older) |
| In Touch Care Management | $200 | Complete a call with a Care Advocate Nurse from Aetna |
| $300 | Complete a care plan | |
| Beginning Right Maternity Note: you can earn an incentive for taking the online risk survey during the first or second trimester, but not both. | $500 OR $200 |
Complete the online risk survey/ questionnaire during the first trimester OR Complete the online risk survey/ questionnaire during the second trimester |
| $200 | Complete a post-partum call |
Visit Aetna Navigator to track your incentive dollars and check your HRA balance.
An account in the Active Health Option to help you pay eligible medical expenses, including your deductibles and coinsurance.
Learn how to earn incentive dollars.
Check your account balance so you know how much money you have available to help pay eligible medical expenses.
Learn how to pay less out of pocket for medical expenses.
Important Information: References to terms such as “dollars,” “money,” “funds,” or “earning” incentive dollars are for illustrative purposes only. No actual funds are set aside for your HRA.
An account that lets you set aside money to pay eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses on a pre-tax basis. You can use the account for out-of-pocket medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and hearing care expenses.
If you have both an FSA for Health Care and an HRA, funds in your FSA will be used first. If you submit a claim for medical expenses, all the money you elected for your FSA will be used before any money can be deducted from your HRA.
You contribute an amount from $130 to $2,550 through pre-tax deductions from your pay.
An account that lets you set aside money to pay dependent day care expenses for children under age 13, a disabled dependent, or an adult dependent whom you claim on your federal income tax return. The day care must be to enable you – or you and your spouse – to work.
You contribute an amount from $130 to $5,000 ($2,500 if you’re married and file separate income tax returns) through pre-tax deductions from your pay. Note: highly compensated employees will be limited to $3,800 in contributions.
Keep in mind you use the FSA for Health Care, not the FSA for Dependent Care, for your dependents’ medical and other health care expenses.
All employees (except those eligible for Executive or Officer life coverage, outlined below) are eligible for company-paid life insurance equal to your benefits salary, up to $1 million.
You can choose to purchase additional coverage of 1 to 6 times your benefits salary. The combined maximum coverage, including the coverage paid by New York Life, is $3 million.
This coverage will be unavailable to new participants after December 31, 2016. However, if you were enrolled in the plan as of December 31, 2016, as an Appointive Officer, or a Managing Partner whose 5-year average benefits salary is less than $300,000, you will continue to be eligible for Officer life coverage, which provides company-paid life of 2 times your benefits salary.
Starting in 2017, you can choose to purchase additional coverage of 1 to 5 times your benefits salary, up to a combined maximum of $3 million. You can only increase your coverage level by 1 times your benefits salary during any annual enrollment period.
This coverage is available to Executive Officers and Managing Partners whose 5-year average benefits salary is greater than $300,000 and provides company-paid life coverage of 2 times your benefits salary.
However, starting in 2017, you can choose to purchase additional coverage of 1 to 5 times your benefits salary, up to a combined maximum of $10 million, and you can only increase your coverage level by 1 times your benefits salary during any annual enrollment period.
You may be required to provide EOI when you are first hired or at annual enrollment. If so, you’ll receive a form to complete and return, or complete online.
You generally need to provide EOI if you increase your life insurance. The higher amount of insurance will become effective only after you provide EOI and your election is approved.
You have the option to enroll in dependent life insurance, which provides a benefit in case your spouse/domestic partner or child(ren) die(s).* You can choose one of three options:
* If you don’t elect coverage when you’re first eligible, you may need to provide EOI when you enroll.
AD&D insurance protects you and your family in the event you die or are seriously injured in a covered accident.
You can choose among six coverage options, from $50,000 to $300,000, in increments of $50,000. You can also choose “no coverage.”
Long-term disability (LTD) coverage provides a source of income if you’re unable to work for an extended period due to illness or injury.
Your LTD coverage is based on your benefits salary as of December 31 of the prior year or your date of hire, if you’re a new employee.
You are automatically enrolled in the 50% coverage option at no cost to you. This option replaces 50% of your benefits salary, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month, for an approved disability.
You can choose to elect the 60% coverage option, which replaces 60% of your benefits salary, up to a maximum of $15,000 per month, for an approved disability. For the cost of this option, visit YBR starting October 10.
The Commuter Benefits program allows you to pay transit and/or parking expenses through pre-tax payroll deductions.
You can enroll at any time – not just during annual enrollment. Keep in mind you must enroll on www.wageworks.com by the fourth of the month before the month you would like to start participating.
If you’re eligible, you can buy or sell time off during annual enrollment. Your cost to buy and sell days can be viewed on YBR starting October 10.
You can buy up to five extra days of vacation. You use these days after you use your regular vacation days and personal holidays. Any unused days you purchase will be forfeited – you cannot carry them over from year to year.
You can also sell up to five days of vacation. You’ll receive the value of these days in your paychecks throughout the year.
If you work in California, you have restrictions on vacation buy/sell. Click here to learn more.
The Legal Service plan can help cover the cost of legal services, such as:
Through this benefit, you can contact a legal counselor about your personal situation and then receive a referral to a network lawyer.
Visit www.LegalPlans.com (password 210010).
| Resource | What It Provides | Where To Get More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna Resources for Living | Short-term support for a variety of issues, including mental health, marital, and child/eldercare issues | www.mylifevalues.com Username: NYL Employee Password: NYL (855) 214-4781 |
| Best Doctors | A second opinion by a panel of independent physicians on a treatment your doctor is recommending | (866) 904-0910 |
| LifeCare | Educational materials and referrals to help you more effectively manage your responsibilities, whether for work or life | www.newyorklife.lifecare.com (800) 258-1538 |
| Participant Advocacy | Help with unresolved health plan access or claims issues | (888) 513-4636 Follow the prompts to speak with a representative |
Click here for a complete list of tools and resources.
Learn about your benefits for 2017 — especially the new vision option
Earn your 2016 incentives — there’s still time to add money to your HRA this year by completing healthy activities in 2016.
Check your HRA balance — you can use your funds to pay eligible medical expenses, including your deductibles.
Use your FSA funds for 2016 — you can use your funds for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and hearing care. Keep in mind, you will forfeit any unused dollars remaining after March 31, 2017.
Substantiate your claims — there are tax consequences for unsubstantiated claims.
Explore all your New York Life benefits through this roadmap and the links it provides — that way, you’ll be ready to make informed decisions when it comes time to enroll for next year.
Earn your 2017 incentives — check out all the ways you can earn money in your HRA for 2017.
Check your HRA balance — and use funds to pay eligible medical expenses all year or save them for later if you wish. Remember, consumer dollars will be available from day one.
Update your beneficiaries — visit YBR to make sure your beneficiary information is up to date.