Who is Eligible
New York State employees in benefits-eligible positions are eligible for the dental and vision plans after they complete the benefit waiting period. You are not required to enroll in NYSHIP.
Both plans offer individual and family coverage. Family coverage includes your spouse- or domestic partner and your children. You can add dependents to your dental or vision plan anytime without a waiting period.
Mutual coverage through your spouse or domestic partner’s plan is allowed, even if both are employed through New York State. This means that both partners can maintain family coverage for dental/vision and cover the other as a dependent. This results in each person having primary coverage through their own plan and secondary coverage through their partner’s plan.
NYS active enrollees pay no premiums for dental or vision coverage. When you leave State services, you can continue your dental and vision coverage for up to 36 months under COBRA. For dental coverage only, you also have the option to convert to a direct pay contract.
Find documents about your plan(s) in the Documents & Publications Library