Dental Insurance for Retiring State Employees
As a state employee, the dental plan you may be receiving today, is not part of your health insurance and does not automatically continue when you retire. As you prepare to retire, you must decide what dental coverage you will select for your retirement coverage. You have the opportunity to continue your COBRA coverage, however, once that coverage ends, you have two choices, Emblem Heath Direct Payment Plan, or Sun Life Dental through PEF Retirees.
The Sun Life Financial Dental Plan
As a PEF Retiree member, you may choose to participate in dental coverage through Sun Life Financial. If you are not yet a PEF Retiree, you must first join PEF Retirees by completing the PEF Retiree enrollment form below.
About the PEF Retiree Sun Life Financial Dental PlanTo help you decide what dental plan you prefer, Emblem Health Direct or Sun Life Dental, there is a comparison chart below that you can download and review.
Dental Plan Comparison ChartIf you are not yet a PEF Retiree, complete and submit the enrollment form below.
PEF Retiree Enrollment Form
Information on COBRA & Emblem Health
Important Notice: PEF, PEF Retirees, and PEF MBP are not responsible for administering COBRA nor Emblem Health Dental Coverage. Please direct all your questions to the appropriate provider.
COBRA
- If you receive your dental plan through the state, your dental plan will end 28 days after the last day of the last payroll period in which you worked.
- COBRA information will be mailed to you directly, once you come off payroll.
- If you retire prior to the age of 65, your COBRA plan continues for 36 months or until age 65 (whichever comes first).
- At the end of the 36 months, you can convert to a direct-pay conversion contract with Emblem Health Retiree Preferred Plan (formerly GHI), enroll in the PEF Retirees dental plan, or search for a plan through another provider.
For information on COBRA, contact NYS Civil Service at (800) 833-4344.
Emblem Health Retiree Preferred Plan
For information on the Direct Payment Plan through Emblem Health Retiree Preferred Plan, contact (800) 947-0101.