File this under “you hope you never need it, but…”
The New York State Health Insurance Program/Empire Plan maintains a network of Centers of Excellence for cancer, transplants, and infertility. As of July 1, there has been a drug and alcohol treatment program. These are a special group of healthcare facilities known for their expertise in these areas. For example, in the area of cancer treatment, one of the centers is Memorial Sloan-Kettering. As an Empire Plan participant, you are able to get services from these centers for these reasons on a paid-in-full basis with no out of pocket expenses or co-pays. I repeat… you are able to get services from these centers on a paid-in-full basis with no out of pocket expenses or co-pays. That is correct. Top-level treatments for these types of health issues without paying a dime out of pocket.
In order to be eligible for these types of services, all that is necessary is a brief registration and phone interview. To register, the number is 1-877-7-NYSHIP. Then select “medical program” and choose, for example, “cancer resource services.” A retiree from another district spoke at a recent all-Nassau NYSUT meeting and spoke of how his cancer treatment, which elsewhere would have cost millions, cost him nothing.
For more details and information, click: Centers of Excellence.