Dependent Survivor Coverage
Enrolled dependents may be eligible to continue NYSHIP coverage if the enrollee (active or retiree of Half Hollow Hills) predeceases them AND worked for the District for at least 10 years. To ensure that dependent survivors receive the benefits that they are entitled to, contact the Benefits Department at 631-592-3094 or benefits@hhh.k12.ny.us as soon as possible. Notification to a retirement system does not satisfy this requirement. Note: Survivors of COBRA enrollees are not eligible for the extended benefits period or dependent survivor coverage.
How to sign up for a Survivor Policy
Contact the Benefits Department should this event occur and information will be forwarded to you. We require a copy of the death certificate as well as what is paid for Medicare on an annual basis, if applicable. The District will invoice for the cost of health insurance on a monthly basis.
Extended Benefits Period at No Cost
Dependents covered at the time of the enrollee’s death will continue to receive coverage without charge for a period of three months beyond the last month for which the enrollee paid for NYSHIP coverage. This is referred to as the extended benefits period. During the extended benefits period, enrolled NYSHIP dependents continue to use the health insurance benefit cards they already have under the enrollee’s identification number.
Emblem Health/HIP policies do not offer an extended benefits period. Your survivor can elect to continue his/her own policy and will be invoiced for the full cost beginning the month of death.
Eligibility for Dependent Survivor Coverage after the Extended Benefits Period Ends
After the extended benefits period ends, enrolled dependents may elect to continue NYSHIP coverage if they are eligible for dependent survivor coverage. To be eligible for dependent survivor coverage, the enrollee must have completed at least 10 years of service, and the dependent must have been covered under NYSHIP as the enrollee’s dependent at the time of death.
The following dependents covered at the time of the enrollee’s death may be eligible for dependent survivor coverage:
• a spouse who has not remarried.
• a domestic partner who has not married or acquired a new domestic partner (if the former employer provides coverage for domestic partners).
• dependent children who meet the eligibility requirements (see Dependent Eligibility, page 5)
Only dependents covered by the enrollee at the time of death or newborn children of the enrollee born after the enrollee’s death are eligible for dependent survivor coverage. Each dependent survivor is eligible to continue NYSHIP coverage in his or her own right. Eligible dependent survivors may be enrolled in Individual coverage, Family coverage or a combination thereof. A covered dependent who is not eligible for dependent survivor coverage may be eligible to continue NYSHIP coverage under COBRA.
NYSHIP coverage will end permanently for eligible dependent survivors if they:
• do not make a timely election of dependent survivor coverage, or
• fail to make the required payments
They may not reenroll.
Cost of Dependent Survivor Coverage
Since Half Hollow Hills will no longer contribute to Survivor Policies, the full cost will be invoiced to the policy holder. For 2023, the cost of a NYSHIP Individual Policy is $1,345.06 per month, or $476.69 per month when supplemental to Medicare.
Benefit Cards
After the extended benefits period ends, the primary dependent survivor becomes the enrollee, and a new identification number is issued. In most cases, this will be the spouse or domestic partner. A new NYSHIP benefit card (with the dependent survivor’s name) and benefit information will be mailed to the dependent survivor. A new SilverScripts Rx Card will also be issued on the new policy (for individuals who are Medicare eligible).
Dependent Eligible for NYSHIP as a Result of Employment
A dependent employed by or previously employed by New York State, a Participating Employer or a Participating Agency may be eligible to reinstate coverage as an enrollee in NYSHIP. Coverage as a current or former employee may be less expensive than coverage as a dependent survivor (due to contractual cost sharing). Survivors who were previously employed by a Participating Agency should contact to the Participating Agency to ask about reenrollment. Survivors who were previously employed by New York State or a Participating Employer should write to the Employee Benefits Division with details of relevant prior employment to determine if they are eligible to reinstate coverage as enrollees.
Loss of Eligibility for Dependent Survivor Coverage
If your dependents lose eligibility for dependent survivor coverage under the New York State Health Insurance Program, they may be eligible to continue their coverage in NYSHIP under COBRA.
Eligibility for dependent survivor coverage ends permanently if a:
• spouse remarries
• domestic partner acquires a new domestic partner or marries
• dependent child no longer meets the NYSHIP eligibility requirements
• dependent survivor fails to make the required payments
If NYSHIP coverage as a dependent survivor is terminated for any reason, eligibility ends and the dependent is not eligible to reenroll.
If a surviving spouse or domestic partner loses eligibility or dies, eligible dependent children may continue their coverage as dependent survivors until they no longer meet the eligibility requirements as dependents.
How Medicare Part B is Reimbursed for a Survivor Policy?
Although similar to Reimbursement for Retiree Policies, there are some differences since the District invoices the full cost of health insurance to Survivors of our prior employees. The district offsets the amount invoiced by what the individual pays for Medicare Part B premiums. Information is needed before the beginning of each year to offset the correct amount. Any adjustment that are further needed will be made at the end of the calendar year with documentation of what was paid for Medicare Part B premiums.
Additional Questions regarding Reimbursement of Medicare Part B Premiums can be found in this memo.
Prior correspondence requesting annual collection of information for our Survivor Policy Program is posted below.