Information listed below is from the Office of Labor Relations website. For complete details, visit the OLR website HERE. A .pdf version is also available at the bottom.
NOTE: The NYCE PPO plan is subject to finalization and approval through the city’s contracting process.
Please note the provider directory on the NYCE PPO site was updated on October 3rd. If you could not find a provider in a search prior to that, we encourage you to try again.
The New NYCE PPO Health Plan
If approved and finalized through the City’s contracting process, effective January 1, 2026, the City of New York will be offering a new health plan, replacing the current GHI CBP/Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield plan for active employees and pre-Medicare retirees, and their eligible dependents under 65. This new plan, NYC Employees PPO plan (NYCE PPO), will be offered by EmblemHealth (Emblem) and United Healthcare (UHC) and would provide an expanded network of healthcare providers without increases in cost for members.
For more information concerning the proposed plan, including the ability to lookup your healthcare provider, visit NYCE PPO. Employees can also call (212) 501-4444.
What Does this Mean?
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.
What’s Next
Information regarding the plan will be mailed to all employees and pre-Medicare retirees in October in advance of the November transfer period. There will also be additional information communicated from OLR and your agencies over the coming months. All employees/pre-Medicare retirees enrolled in NYCE PPO will receive a new ID card and welcome kit in late-December 2025 from Emblem/UHC. Please note that they will only receive one ID card as this is a single plan, unlike the GHI-CBP plan which had separate coverage for Medical and Hospital.
Annual Fall Transfer Period Changes
If an employee/pre-Medicare retiree is currently enrolled in the GHI CBP/Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield plan and does not wish to be transferred to the NYCE PPO, then they will have the opportunity to select a new health plan during the Annual Fall Transfer Period in November 2025, for an effective date of January 1, 2026.
If an employee/pre-Medicare retiree is not currently enrolled in the GHI CBP/Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield plan and wishes to enroll in NYCE PPO, then they will be able to do so during the Annual Fall Transfer Period, effective January 1, 2026.
Visit NYCE PPO for more information, including:
- FAQs
- In-Network Provider search
- Registration details to attend in-person and virtual Information sessions
Health Benefits Annual Fall Transfer Period
The Fall 2025 Annual Health Benefits Program Transfer Period for both employees and retirees will be November 1, 2025 – November 30, 2025. Additional information will be availble shortly.
Information and update regarding the Medicare Advantage Plan – June 20, 2025
Mayor Adams stated the City has decided not to move forward with the Medicare Advantage plan at this time.
Read more about the future of Medicare Advantage
MetroPlus Gold Plan Discount Prescription Drug Program: $0 for Over 100 Popular Medications*
All MetroPlusHealth Gold Plan members can enjoy significant savings with the new Discount Drug Program. MetroPlusHealth offers over 100 of the most commonly prescribed medications at absolutely no cost. That means no copays, no coinsurance – just essential medications at $0.
* NOTE: This is a drug discount program, not a prescription drug benefit. Drugs on the list are provided to eligible MetroPlusHealth Gold Plan members at a discounted price of $0 as part of a health and wellness benefit. Coverage for drugs that are not included in the discount program, require purchase of the optional rider and may be subject to copays.
Information and Update: $15 copays to resume January 1, 2025 for the EmblemHealth-GHI portion of the GHI/Anthem Senior Care Plan
