What happened to GHI-CBP?
GHI-CBP, the plan generations of City employees called “GHI”, was discontinued on January 1, 2026. The Office of Labor Relations replaced the GHI CBP/Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield plan with the NYCE PPO, and employees and dependents enrolled in GHI-CBP were enrolled in the NYCE PPO automatically, with new ID cards sent in December 2025, unless they picked another plan.
Under the NYCE PPO you choose basic coverage and, if you want it, an optional rider that now consists only of prescription drug coverage through EmblemHealth and Prime Therapeutics. If your union provides prescription coverage, you can only enroll in the basic plan. The old “Rider Other” enhanced out-of-network schedule was replaced by the NYCE PPO’s own out-of-network benefits.
So a search for “GHI-CBP vs HIP HMO” in 2027 is really a comparison of the NYCE PPO with HIP HMO Preferred, with MetroPlus Gold as the third $0 option.
How do the three $0 plans compare?
| NYCE PPO | HIP HMO Preferred | MetroPlus Gold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan type | PPO | HMO | HMO |
| Basic employee premium, July 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Network, as the City describes it | EmblemHealth network of 78,000+ clinicians in NYC, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, plus UnitedHealthcare’s national Choice Plus network | National network from January 1, 2026; preferred providers include AdvantageCare Physicians | NYC systems including NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, NYC Health + Hospitals, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Montefiore |
| Primary care doctor required | No PCP requirement described | Yes, members choose a PCP | Check the plan’s rules |
| Cost features the City highlights | Lower or waived hospital copays at NYC Health + Hospitals, MSK and HSS | $0 copay for preventive services; HSS and MSK through a Centers of Excellence program | $0 copays for primary and specialty visits in participating systems; up to $1,400 in fitness reimbursements |
| Prescription drugs | Optional rider through EmblemHealth and Prime Therapeutics, or your union fund | Through your union fund if it provides drugs; otherwise optional rider | Optional rider; plus a discount program with $0 copays on about 100 drugs |
| Phone | (212) 501-4444 | (833) 269-4653 | (877) 475-3795 |
HIP HMO Preferred and MetroPlus Gold each also exist in a grandfathered version that is closed to new enrollment, which is why the rate chart lists two columns for each. MetroPlus is the plan owned by the public hospital system, and NYC Health + Hospitals employees who work for MetroPlus must enroll in it. EmblemHealth and MetroPlus explained.
What do the prescription riders cost?
Basic coverage is where the three plans tie at $0. The prescription rider is where they differ. These are the City’s bi-weekly employee rates for an individual, effective July 1, 2026 (rates are subject to change):
| Plan | Basic, bi-weekly | Prescription rider, bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|
| NYCE PPO | $0.00 | $62.45 |
| HIP HMO Gold Preferred (Standard) | $0.00 | $72.24 |
| MetroPlusHealth Gold (Standard) | $0.00 | $52.93 |
| GHI HMO | $209.65 | $301.30 |
| DC37 Med-Team (DC37 members only) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Family rates are higher, and the chart also lists weekly and semi-monthly figures. If your union welfare fund already pays for prescriptions, the rider may be unnecessary or, under the NYCE PPO and HIP HMO, unavailable. Ask your fund before you add it.
The MetroPlus Gold discount drug program is not a prescription benefit: it offers $0 copays on roughly 100 commonly prescribed medications even without the rider. Anything not on its list needs the rider. Under MetroPlus Gold’s rider, the copayment is 15% for generics, 40% for brand drugs and 50% for non-formulary drugs.
Which plan fits which situation?
| Your situation | What to look at |
|---|---|
| You want to see doctors without referrals and travel or live outside NYC | NYCE PPO, for the national UnitedHealthcare network |
| You already use AdvantageCare Physicians | HIP HMO Preferred, where ACP doctors are preferred providers |
| Your doctors are at NYC Health + Hospitals, NYU Langone, Mount Sinai or Montefiore | MetroPlus Gold, then confirm each doctor |
| Your care is at HSS or Memorial Sloan Kettering | All three describe some access; ask each plan in writing how |
| You take expensive medications | Compare the riders, your union fund’s drug coverage and MetroPlus’s discount list |
| You are in DC37 | DC37 Med-Team is $0 for basic and prescriptions on the July 2026 chart |
| You are happy with your current plan | Do nothing during the transfer period |
How to switch during the Fall 2026 transfer period
- Decide before November 30, 2026. The transfer period runs November 1 to November 30, 2026, for employees and retirees.
- Check your doctors under the exact plan name with each office, not only the directory.
- Check your drugs with your union welfare fund and, if you will buy a rider, with the plan’s drug list.
- Make the change in ESS if you have Employee Self-Service access. Without ESS, complete the Health Benefits Program application from nyc.gov/hbp and give it to your agency HR or personnel office.
- Watch your first January 2027 paycheck. The new deduction, if any, starts with your first full paycheck in January 2027, and the new plan starts January 1.
During the transfer period you can also add or drop the optional rider, add or drop dependents, or waive City health benefits. Questions go to NYCAPS at (212) 487-0500 for centralized agencies, HR Connect at (718) 935-4000 for DOE employees, and the HR Shared Services Benefits office at (646) 458-5634 for NYC Health + Hospitals employees.
What to say on the phone to a doctor’s office:
“I’m a New York City employee choosing a plan for January 2027. Are you in network for the NYCE PPO, HIP HMO Preferred or MetroPlusHealth Gold, and are you taking new patients under that plan?”
Two things to know in 2026 and 2027
The dependent audit. From October 2026 the City’s Health Benefits Program is running a citywide Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit through Health Management Systems, Inc. (HMS). Employees with covered dependents get a packet between October and December 2026 and send documents directly to HMS, not to HR. Follow the instructions in the letter.
Age 65 and retirement. For active employees over 65, the City plan stays primary unless you waive it; keep using your City plan card, not your Medicare card. If you retire at 65 or older, you and your covered dependents 65 and older must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B within three months of your retirement date, and the City tells you to complete the CMS L564 form with your agency HR first, to avoid late penalties on Part B. Turning 65 · Retiring before 65.
If your employer is not the City but a union fund covers you, the logic is different. Union health plans in New York · 1199SEIU.
Questions people ask
Is GHI-CBP still available to NYC employees?
No. It was discontinued on January 1, 2026 and replaced by the NYCE PPO. Members were moved to the NYCE PPO automatically unless they chose another plan.
What is the difference between the NYCE PPO and HIP HMO?
The NYCE PPO is a PPO with EmblemHealth’s regional network and UnitedHealthcare’s national network. HIP HMO Preferred is an HMO in which you pick a primary care doctor. Both charge $0 for basic coverage on the City’s July 2026 rate chart.
Is MetroPlus Gold free for NYC employees?
The basic MetroPlusHealth Gold plan has a $0 employee premium on the July 2026 chart. The prescription rider costs extra, though a discount program offers $0 copays on about 100 drugs without it.
When can NYC employees change health plans?
During the annual transfer period, November 1 to November 30, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. If your marital or domestic partnership status changes, contact NYCAPS Central or your agency HR.
What health insurance do NYC DOE employees get?
The same City Health Benefits Program plans. DOE employees make changes through HR Connect at (718) 935-4000 or ESS.
Can retirees use the transfer period?
Yes. The Fall 2026 transfer period applies to employees and retirees, with separate notices for each.
Sources
- NYC Office of Labor Relations — Health Benefits Program home: Fall 2026 transfer period and plan updates (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYC Office of Labor Relations — Annual Transfer Period Notice for Active Employees, Fall 2026 (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYC Office of Labor Relations — Annual Transfer Period Notice for Active Employees, Fall 2025 (GHI-CBP replaced by NYCE PPO) (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYC Office of Labor Relations — Employee health plan rates as of July 2026 (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYC Office of Labor Relations — Health Benefits Program Summary Program Description (SPD) (checked 2026-10-29)
This page explains how the system works. It is not medical advice. More.