Reminder to all MEA members. Open Enrollment Period ends on November 30.
At the end of each year, the Open Enrollment Period allows people to reconsider their current healthcare coverage and make penalty-free changes, if desired; this is not allowed throughout the rest of the year, barring certain qualifying life events.
If you are not interested in making any changes, you need to take no action. Any changes you elect to make to your health plan will become effective January 1, 2026. Changes you can make during this period include switching to another health plan for which you are eligible, adding or dropping any riders, and adding or dropping dependents.
You can find a list of available plans here, where you can research any applicable premiums, coverage rates, and the network of providers available in your area to see which plan best fits your needs.
Effective January 1, 2026, all active employees/pre-Medicare retirees, and their dependents under 65, who are enrolled in GHI CBP/Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield would automatically be transferred to the new health plan with no gap in coverage unless they choose a different plan during the Annual Fall Transfer Period in November. Therefore, they do not need to take any action in order to continue their City health benefits. If the employee/pre-Medicare retiree enrolled in GHI CBP/Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield has a Medicare-eligible dependent, then the Medicare-eligible dependent would remain in GHI/Anthem Senior Care plan.
Visit NYCE PPO for more information, including:
- FAQs
- In-Network Provider search
- Registration details to attend in-person and virtual Information sessions
Please note, the MEA is not able to counsel on which healthcare plan is best for you. If you have questions about coverage, you can reach out to the individual plan providers.
Below are links that will be helpful for you during this process (for active employees and retirees).
Plan Summaries
Summary Plan Description
Active Employee Transfer Notice
Retiree Transfer Notice
Active Employee Health Benefits Forms and Downloads
Retiree Health Benefits Forms and Downloads
The MEA is not able to facilitate or process your healthcare changes. If you need help, please reach out to your HR benefits representative or the Retiree Health Benefits Client Service Center at 212-513-0470.
If you or your spouse/dependent are nearing age 65, be sure to read through these pages below regarding your responsibilities for maintaining your healthcare. Failure to enroll in Medicare at the appropriate time will result in life-long penalties to your healthcare coverage. The MEA is not able to facilitate or process your enrollment in Medicare. If you need help, contact Medicare or Social Security.
City Coverage for Medicare-Eligible Retirees
Health Benefits Videos (for retirees)
Medicare eligible employees, info link.
