Welfare Fund
(The UFT represents numerous professionals who work for different employers and whose health benefits are reflected in their specific negotiated agreements. The Welfare Fund Benefits listed here apply specifically to Department of Education employees represented by the UFT. Any UFT member whose contract does not provide prescription drug coverage or dental plan coverage is eligible to participate in the UFT direct access programs, as described.)
WELFARE FUNDamentals (Benefit Updates)
NEW! ONLINE OPTICAL AND HEARING AID CERTIFICATE REQUESTS
Click here to request Optical and Hearing Aid Certificates. Members who are already enrolled in the UFT Welfare Fund can use this expedited process to:
- Request optical certificates for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Request hearing aid certificates for themselves and their eligible dependents
Members may also continue to request optical and hearing aid certificates by calling the UFT Welfare Fund forms hotline at 212-539-0539. Important: If you have not previously enrolled, please go to UFT Welfare Fund Enrollment to enroll.
NEW YOUNG ADULT HEALTH PLAN AND WELFARE FUND COVERAGE OPTIONS
There have been two significant pieces of legislation that extend the coverage available to young adults. Due to the language in the individual legislations, there are some differences in eligibility rules and effective dates. The following will provide some guidance and options for your dependent children. To simplify the information we will refer to either the “Age 26” coverage or the “Age 29” coverage.
Affordable Care Act – (Federal) - Age 26 (Click here for form)
This Federal legislation becomes effective at the beginning of the plan year following September 23, 2010. Although the Welfare Fund begins its plan year on October 1, 2010, Michael Mulgrew and the Trustees voted to provide immediate Welfare Fund coverage until age 26 (at no cost), for those dependent children who are currently covered by the Fund. (There is no action required by members whose dependent children are currently covered by the Fund).
For those dependent children either not currently covered by the Fund or who are on COBRA coverage, the Fund will make Age 26 Welfare Fund coverage available (at no cost) effective October 1, 2010. A letter and application will be mailed to all members in late August for enrollment during the month of September.
Since the New York City health plans begin their plan year on July 1st (following the September 23, 2010 effective date), this particular “Age 26” coverage will become available July of 2011.
NY State Coverage Expansion - through Age 29 (Click here for form)
Although the Welfare Fund is not mandated by this New York State legislation, the Trustees have voted to extend the Welfare Fund coverage to eligible dependent children effective July 1, 2010, which will coordinate with the New York City health benefits program. (Members who wish to purchase this coverage need to complete a Welfare Fund Change of Status form with accompanying documentation and a separate application which will be available on our website: www.uftwf.org or by calling the Fund’s hotline at 212-539-0539). For information and to enroll in the New York City Health Benefits plan, members may visit the NYC Health Benefits Program website at : www.nyc.gov/olr. Members should be aware that there are eligibility rules for this particular coverage including: the young adult must be unmarried; be age 29 or younger; not be insured or eligible for comprehensive health insurance through his or her own employer; live, work or reside in NY State or the health insurance company’s service area; and not be covered by Medicare.
It is very important for dependent children who do not have other drug coverage for injectable and chemotherapy drugs, that they consider taking the NYC health plan either through COBRA or the Age 29 option, because the Welfare Fund does not cover the prescription drugs provided by the New York City PICA program (which includes injectable and chemotherapy drugs). Therefore, members would be paying these costs directly.
Eligibility for either plan refers only to the dependent child and not children or spouses of the dependent child. Additionally, the parent must be covered under the group policy as an employee or member of the group or pursuant to a right under COBRA.
QUESTION |
ANSWER |
My dependent child is currently covered by my NYC health plan and the Welfare Fund. He will be turning 19 on June 6, 2010 and is a full-time college student. Can he be covered under the new Age 26 or 29 year old legislation? |
Welfare Fund: Your dependent child will automatically continue to be covered for Fund benefits until Age 26. (No action required). NYC Health Plan Coverage: When you lose full-time dependent student status, you can buy COBRA benefits or purchase the NYS Age 29 plan until July 1, 2011. Effective July 1, 2011, your dependent child will be eligible to be covered on your Age 26 NYC health plan. |
My dependent child turned 19, in March 2010. I purchased COBRA to continue his/her benefits since he/she is not a full-time college student. What affect does this new legislation have on his/her coverage? |
Welfare Fund: He/she can continue to buy COBRA until October 1, 2010 when he/she will receive Fund Age 26 coverage at no cost. NYC Health Plan Coverage: As of July 1, 2010 he/she can continue to purchase COBRA or can purchase the NYS Age 29 coverage until July 1, 2011. At that time he/she will be eligible for coverage under your NYC health plan until Age 26. |
My dependent child is graduating from college in May 2010. What will happen to his/her health coverage? |
Welfare Fund: Your dependent child will automatically continue to be covered for Fund benefits until Age 26. (No action required). NYC Health Plan Coverage: When you lose full-time dependent student status, you can buy COBRA benefits or purchase the NYS Age 29 plan until July 1, 2011. Effective July 1, 2011, your dependent child will be eligible to be covered on your Age 26 NYC health plan. |
My dependent child is a 26 year old who is no longer eligible for the Federal “Age 26” coverage. Is there any way to add him/her to my coverage? |
Welfare Fund: Effective July 1, 2010, under the Age 29 plan, you can pay for the plan until the end of their 29th year. (Members need to complete a Change of Status form with accompanying documentation and a separate application). NYC Health Plan Coverage: Effective July 1, 2010, under the Age 29 plan, you can pay for the plan until the end of the dependent’s 29th year. |
My dependent child is 22 years old and is no longer a full- time student. Under this new legislation, is there a way to add my dependent child to my Welfare Fund & NYC health plan? |
Welfare Fund: You can purchase the Age 29 coverage effective July 1, 2010 until October 1, 2010. At that time, he/she will be eligible for Fund Age 26 coverage at no cost until his/her 26th birthday. NYC Health Plan Coverage: Effective July 1 , 2010, under the NYS Age 29 coverage, you can pay the full premium until July 1, 2011. At that time he/she will be eligible for coverage under your NYC health plan until Age 26. |
I’ve been paying for COBRA for my dependent child since he/she graduated college and he/she is now 23. Can I add him/her to my health insurance plans? |
Welfare Fund: You can continue COBRA until October 1, 2010 and then you can add your dependent child at no cost to your Fund Age 26 coverage. NYC Health Plan Coverage: You can continue COBRA until July 1, 2011 and at that time you can add the child to your policy under the Age 26 plan until his/her 26th birthday. |
NEW WELFARE FUND BENEFIT ENHANCEMENTS
Michael Mulgrew, Chair of the UFT Welfare Fund Trustees announced at the Delegate Assembly on November 18th, a package of benefit enhancements offered by the UFT Welfare Fund.
These improvements will become effective January 1, 2010, and include:
- A new Child Care Welfare Fund Benefit
For members on child care leave, the fund will extend
Welfare Fund benefits for up to four months following the birth or adoption of a child. This Welfare Fund benefit extends existing fund coverage for members and their dependents. - An increase in the optical benefit
The reimbursement amount will be increased to $100 once every two years (up from $75 every two years previously). - An increase in the hearing aid benefit
The reimbursement amount will be increased from $500 to up to $1,000, once every three years. The special coordination of benefits(SCOB) for married UFT members will be up to $2,000.
An extension of the UFT Welfare Fund Disability Coverage
Eligible members will now be able to collect up to 52 weeks of disability payments (up from the current 28 weeks). - Expansion of the Florida Dental Panel to more than 500 dentists
Florida based retirees as well as in-service members traveling to Florida, will be able to take advantage of the New Florida PPO panelists and our Florida dental schedule with our existing copays. - The retiree optional rider reimbursement will be increased to $720 for the calendar year 2009, up from $660 previously.
ENROLL ONLINE IN THE UFT WELFARE FUND
Click here to enroll: www.uft.org/welfare/enroll
New UFT Members can now enroll in the UFT Welfare Fund On-Line. Although the current paper enrollment is still available, this process will expedite enrollment and access to benefits for eligible members and their dependents.
NEW!!! ONLINE CHANGE OF STATUS
Click here for Change of Status: Members who are already enrolled in the UFT Welfare Fund can use this expedited change of status process to:
- Make changes to your name
- Update your mailing address
- Update your family profile including dependents and beneficiaries
Members may also continue to use the blue “Change Of Status” packets that are available through your chapter leader or by calling the UFT Welfare Fund forms hotline at 212-539-0539. Important: If you have not previously enrolled, please click the UFT Welfare Fund Enrollment to enroll.
MEMBERS WORKING IN F- STATUS POSITIONS
The Fund wants to remind members working in a regularly scheduled part-time position (commonly known as F-Status) that we require notification of this status each term. F-Status members are entitled to In-Service Welfare Fund benefits if scheduled to work at least two and a half days per week. In order to access these benefits, members must have their payroll secretary fax to the Fund, a completed and signed “UFT Welfare Fund F-Status Notification Form” (including the number of days worked per week section). This form is only available to Payroll Secretaries.
DRUG PLAN MEDCO - 2/1/09
During non-business hours, members needing emergency assistance regarding their drug coverage may contact Medco Member Services at 1-800-723-9182.
DRUG PLAN INFORMATION
- All drug plan copays remain the same.
- Annual Maximum for co-payments - After a family has reached $1,000.00 in co-payments, no further co-payments will be collected except for those drugs obtained in Tier 3 where you are responsible for the appropriate co-payment.
- February 2009 Medco Retail Network Pharmacy Listing
- February 2009 Medco Red Apple Supplement
- 2010 Medco Drug Formulary
- Drug Reimbursement Form for in-service members
