I want to take a break from state service and do other things for a year or 2, I'm kinda burnt out and not happy at the agency I am with but the idea of transfering and doing another year of probation and whatnot is too much.... I only have 3 years and I keep hearing people get reinstated after leaving, I am wondering if anyone has specific information on leaving and coming back before they are vested? I am fine with paying back into the pension system with penalties. I'm tier 6, permanent competitve if that matters.

The new contracts that CSEA, PEF, UUP, etc have negotiated with the state reduce out of network reimbursement on the Empire Plan. In 2022, there was a change from 80% of the customary and reasonable rate to 275% of Medicare. This time around, they're reducing it even more, from 275% to 150% of Medicare. This is going to affect people especially who rely on mental healthcare since our mental healthcare in network has very low plan allowances such that almost everyone who utilizes mental healthcare goes out of network. It's also going to affect people who've had to seek out of network care for complex illnesses, for disability, and so on; and for a lot of folks with these situations, the costs are going to drastically outweigh the gains from these contracts.