Enrolling in a health plan as a newly hired, rehired, or newly eligible for benefits employee

Employees may enroll in a health plan during the transfer period or within 31 days of being hired, rehired, or becoming newly eligible for benefits.

To enroll in a health plan as a newly hired, rehired, or newly eligible for benefits employee

Determine if the transfer period is open.
Select from below.
- Yes, the transfer period is open
  1. Contact your agency benefits representative or NYCAPS Central, whichever is applicable, and explain that you have a qualifying event and need to make a benefits change.
  2. Once the transfer period event is closed, proceed to step 3.
- No, the transfer period is not open
  1. Proceed to step 3.
From the ESS navigation menu, do the following:
1. Click the Employee Self-Service link.
2. Click the Benefits link.
3. Click the Health Benefits Enrollment link.
The Health Benefits Enrollment page appears.
Under Open Benefit Events, locate the New Hire or Hire with waiting period event.

Note: If you do not see an event, contact your benefits department or NYCAPS Central, whichever is applicable.
Click the Select button to the right of the event.
Under Enrollment Summary, click the Edit button, which appears next to the word Medical.

A list of all plan options for which you are eligible appears.
Use the scroll bar to move up and down the page to review all available plans.
For more information on a particular plan, click the plan name to link to the health plan's website.

The health plan's website opens in a new window.
Once you have decided on a plan, return to ESS and click the radio button next to the plan name you have selected.
Select from below.
- You elected to enroll in a health plan
  1. Determine whether you will be adding any dependents.
  2. Select from below.
    - Yes, you will be adding dependents
      1. Scroll down the page and click the Add/Review Dependents button.
        
        The Enrollment Dependent Summary page appears.
        
        Note: If you have questions regarding who is eligible as a dependent, refer to the Summary Program Description (SPD).
      2. Click the Add a Dependent link.
        
        The Dependent Personal Information page appears.
      3. Enter all relevant information for the dependent.
        
        Note: Required fields are indicated by an asterisk (*).
      4. Click the Save button.
        
        A confirmation page appears.
        
        Important: Your dependents are only stored at this point, you must continue to add your new dependents to your health plan.
      5. Click the OK button.
      6. On the Dependent Personal Information page, review your dependents' information.
      7. If changes are necessary, click the Edit button and make changes as appropriate.
      8. Click the Return to Enrollment Dependent Summary link.
      9. Repeat steps 2-8 for all dependents.
      10. Click the Return to Event Selection link.
        
        The Health Benefits Enrollment page appears.
      11. Under Enroll, check the box to the left of each dependent you are enrolling.
        
        Important: A check mark is required. Your dependents will not be successfully enrolled if you do not enroll them in your health plan.
      12. Click the Continue button.
        
        A message appears reminding you to check the box for each dependent you wish to enroll.
      13. Click the OK button.
      14. Proceed to step 11.
    - No, you will not be adding dependents
      1. Click the Continue button.
      2. Proceed to step 11.
- You elected the Buy-Out Waiver program
  1. Determine whether you will be adding any dependents.
  2. Select from below.
    - Yes, you will be adding dependents
      1. Scroll down the page and click the Add/Review Dependents button.
        
        The Enrollment Dependent Summary page appears.
        
        Note: If you have questions regarding who is eligible as a dependent, refer to the Summary Program Description (SPD).
      2. Click the Add a Dependent link.
        
        The Dependent Personal Information page appears.
      3. Enter all relevant information for the dependent.
        
        Note: Required fields are indicated by an asterisk (*).
      4. Click the Save button.
        
        A confirmation page appears.
        
        Important: Your dependents are only stored at this point, you must continue to add your new dependents to your health plan.
      5. Click the OK button.
      6. On the Dependent Personal Information page, review your dependents' information.
      7. If changes are necessary, click the Edit button and make changes as appropriate.
      8. Click the Return to Enrollment Dependent Summary link.
      9. Repeat steps 2-8 for all dependents.
      10. Click the Return to Event Selection link.
        
        The Health Benefits Enrollment page appears.
      11. Under Enroll, check the box to the left of each dependent you are enrolling.
        
        Important: A check mark is required. Your dependents will not be successfully enrolled if you do not enroll them in your health plan.
      12. Click the Continue button.
        
        A message appears reminding you to check the box for each dependent you wish to enroll.
      13. Click the OK button.
      14. Proceed to step 11.
    - No, you will not be adding dependents
      1. Click the Continue button.
      2. Proceed to step 11.
- You waived benefits
  1. Proceed to step 11.
Review the summary of your election.
If changes are required, click the Edit button and make changes as appropriate.
Click the OK button.

Your new health plan coverage appears along with the new cost per pay period specific to your payroll cycle.
Click the Submit button to process your election.
Carefully read the Employee Certification in order to understand the terms and conditions of your health coverage.
Select from below.
- You are ready to submit your elections
  1. Click the Submit button.
    
    Your benefit choices have now been successfully submitted.
  2. Click the OK button.
  3. Select from below.
    - You enrolled dependents to your health plan but you did not elect the Buy-Out Waiver
      1. Print the eBenefits coversheet.
        eBenefits coversheet
      2. Complete the coversheet.
      3. Gather your supporting documentation. Be sure to include your employee ID on all supporting documentation, including the coversheet.
      4. Submit the coversheet and supporting documentation to your agency benefits representative or NYCAPS Central, whichever is applicable.
        
        Your election will be placed in Pending status until your documentation is received.
        
        Once supporting documentation is received and approved, the change will process overnight. The following day, a confirmation statement will be mailed to you.
    - You enrolled dependents to your health plan and you elected the Buy-Out Waiver
      1. Print the eBenefits coversheet.
        eBenefits coversheet
      2. Complete the coversheet.
      3. Print the MSC form.
      4. Complete the MSC form.
      5. Gather your supporting documentation. Be sure to include your employee ID on all supporting documentation.
      6. Submit the coversheet, supporting documentation and the MSC form to your agency benefits representative or NYCAPS Central, whichever is applicable.
        
        Your election will be placed in Pending status until your documentation is received.
        
        Once the supporting documentation and the MSC form is received and approved, the change will process overnight. The following day, a confirmation statement will be mailed to you.
        
        Note: Without supporting documentation your dependent cannot be enrolled.
    - You did not enroll dependents in your health plan and you did not elect the Buy-Out Waiver
    - You did not enroll dependents in your health plan but you elected the Buy-Out Waiver
      1. Print the eBenefits coversheet.
        eBenefits coversheet
      2. Complete the coversheet.
      3. Print the MSC form.
      4. Complete the MSC form.
      5. Include your employee ID on all pages.
      6. Submit the coversheet and the MSC form to your agency benefits representative or NYCAPS Central, whichever is applicable.
        
        Once the MSC form is received and approved, the change will process overnight. The following day, a confirmation statement will be mailed to you.
- You are not ready to submit your elections or you wish to make a change
  1. Click the Cancel button.
    
    No enrollment action will be taken.
    
    If you added any dependents, the information will be stored but you will need to re-enter all other changes, including health plan elections.
  2. When you are ready to finalize your election and submit your changes, return to ESS and repeat this procedure.
    
    This event will remain open until 31 days after your date of hire, rehire or the date you became newly eligible for health benefits.

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Last revised: March 9, 2009