Enrolling in a health plan as a result of an address change

Employees who move to a new address that is outside of the service area of their existing health plan must make a new benefits plan election. Failure to elect a new health plan within 31 days of the address change will result in the loss of coverage upon the effective date of the address change.

To enroll in a health plan as a result of an address change

1. Determine if you received a NYCAPS health benefits enrollment form in the mail.
   
   
2. Select from below.
   
   
   • Yes, you received a NYCAPS health benefits enrollment form
     
     
     1. From the ESS navigation menu, do the following:
        
        
     2. Click the Employee Self-Service link.
        
        
     3. Click the Benefits link.
        
        
     4. Click the Health Benefits Enrollment link.
        
        
     5. Proceed to step 5.
        
        
   • No, you did not receive a NYCAPS Health benefits enrollment form
     
     
     1. Determine if the transfer period is open.
        
        
     2. Select from below.
        
        
        • Yes, the transfer period is open
          
          

          Important: Only one benefits event may be open at a time. During the transfer period, all employees automatically have an open benefits event, allowing them to make any change to their benefits. This event must be closed prior to making your change if you wish for the change to be effective immediately. Otherwise, changes made with the open benefits event will become effective in January.

          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.
             
             
        • No, the transfer period is not open but I made a change that is not yet effective
          
          

          During the transfer period or as a result of a qualifying event you made a change which has not yet gone into effect.

          1. Contact your agency benefits representative or NYCAPS Central, whichever is applicable, for assistance with this change.
             
             Important: If you proceed with this change without first contacting your agency benefits representative or NYCAPS Central, your changes may not be effective when the future dated event becomes effective.
             
             
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.
   
   
4. Under Open Benefit Events, locate the Miscellaneous event.
   
   Note: If you do not see a Miscellaneous event, contact your agency benefits representative or NYCAPS Central, whichever is applicable.
   
   
5. Click the Select button to the right of the Miscellaneous event.
   
   
6. Under Enrollment Summary, click the Edit button, which appears next to the word Medical.
   
   A list of all health plan options you are eligible for based on your zip code appears.
   
   
7. Use the scroll bar to move up and down the page to review all available plans.
   
   
8. For more information on a particular plan, click the plan name to link to the health plan's website.
   
   Note: The health plan's website will open in a new window.
   
   
9. Once you have decided on a plan, return to ESS and click the radio button next to the plan name you have selected.
   
   Note: You are not eligible to add or change dependents as a result of an address change. You must wait until the transfer period or must experience a qualifying event that allows you to add or drop a dependent.
   
   
10. Review the summary of your election.
    
    
11. If changes are required, click the Edit button and make the appropriate changes.
    
    
12. Click the OK button.
    
    Your new health plan coverage appears along with the cost per pay period specific to your payroll cycle.
    
    
13. Click the Submit button to process your election.
    
    
14. Carefully read the Employee Certification in order to understand the terms and conditions of your health coverage.
    
    
15. 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.
         
         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.
         
         
      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 for 31 days from the date of the address change.
         
         Important: Failure to elect a new plan within 31 days of the address change will result in the loss of coverage.
         
         

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Related topics
Address changes that impact benefits

2029

Last revised: March 9, 2009