New travel assistance benefit

As we enter the holiday season, many UFT members will pack their bags and head out to join family and friends in hometowns or vacation locations all over the globe.

They will return home with photos, memorable experiences and renewed bonds. But sometimes, travel can also present unpredictable circumstances.

Consider facing the challenges associated with accidents and illnesses, natural disasters, political unrest, or something as simple and commonplace as losing your luggage. Where can a traveler turn for assistance?

UFT members can access a travel assist program that their state affiliate, NYSUT, has negotiated with Zurich Travel Assist to provide global travel assistance coverage.

The program is free of cost and you don’t need to register — it’s an automatic benefit of membership.

This travel assistance program can offer you peace of mind, when you arrive at your destination and before you leave. The program puts you in touch with a network of providers that can address the medical, legal, information and personal assistance needs of travelers.

So if you or a covered family member traveling with you become seriously sick, need a prescription refilled, require a legal referral or lose your travel tickets when traveling 100 miles or more from home, Zurich Travel Assist can help.

The program also provides access to essential information such as physician and hospital information, travel advisories, weather forecasts and immunization requirements.

This medically based travel assistance program focuses on providing positive medical outcomes to sick or injured travelers. With more than 1,600 dedicated professionals working around the clock, members have access to a network of physicians, hospitals, clinics, medical transportation companies and other emergency professionals when the need arises.

Zurich Travel Assist has a 24-hour call center and global communications network, with a multilingual staff of physicians, nurses, travel assistance specialists and assistance coordinators who can provide medical or legal information or personal help.

The service provides emergency medical referrals, medical evacuation, medical and nonmedical repatriation, prescription assistance, passport and visa information, lost baggage services and emergency ticket replacement.

These no-cost benefits are available to all UFT members in good standing.

As a UFT member, you are also automatically insured in the event of death or dismemberment due to accidental injuries only, for up to a total of $1,500, at no cost. This coverage is continuous as long as your active UFT membership or agency fee payer status is maintained.

For more information, call NYSUT Member Benefits toll-free at 1-800-626-8101, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.