Employees should report all changes in family status to their agency health benefits or payroll office or NYCAPS Central at (212) 487-0500 (Department of Education employees should contact HR Connect at (718) 935-4000) within 30 days after the event.

Changes include adding a dependent due to marriage, domestic partnership, birth or adoption of a child, and to drop dependents due to death, divorce, termination of domestic partnership, or a child reaching an ineligible age. If a covered dependent loses eligibility, that person may obtain benefits through the COBRA Continuation of Benefits provisions.

For NYCAP Central agencies, employees should enter their family status change directly in Employee Self Service (ESS). NYCAPS Central will mail the employee the necessary paperwork, including a request for any required documentation, if applicable.

For assistance in using ESS, employees should contact their HR department or NYCAPS Central directly. Employees in need of a password for ESS should contact NYCAPS at (212) 487-0500 or email their request to nycapscentral@dcas.nyc.gov.

A Health Benefits Transfer Period is held once each year. During this period, all employees may transfer from their current health plan to any other plan for which they are eligible, or they may add or drop Optional Rider coverage to their present plan.
If you do not apply for an Optional Rider when you first enroll, you may add these additional benefits only during a Transfer Period, upon retirement, or if there is a change in your union or welfare fund coverage.

Procedures for Employee Health Plan Transfers — In order to transfer from one plan to another or to add Optional Rider coverage, and to obtain the effective date of the change, the employee must contact their agency health benefits or payroll office or NYCAPS Central at (212) 487-0500 (Department of Education employees should contact HR Connect at (718) 935-4000) during the Annual Transfer Period.

Once your transfer request is submitted your change is Irrevocable.

If you are including a spouse on your coverage, and you have been married for more than one year, you must submit a Government issued Marriage Certificate AND Federal Tax Return from the last two years, (only send the first page of your tax return which shows your spouse) OR Proof of Joint Ownership issued within the last six months (with both names) such as a mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bills, bank statement, credit card statements and property tax statements.

If you are including a domestic partner on your coverage, and you have been registered for more than one year, you must submit a Government issued Certificate of Domestic Partnership AND Proof of Joint Ownership issued within the last six months (with both names) such as a mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bills, bank statement, credit card statements and property tax statements.