$100 DME reimbursement introduced for GHI members

Sep 23, 2004 6:22 PM

The UFT Welfare Fund now reimburses in-service members enrolled in GHI-CBP up to $100 per year for the deductible costs on the purchase or rental of durable medical equipment. Retirees should contact SHIP for this benefit.

Such equipment is covered by the insurance policy except for a $100 deductible per person. The Welfare Fund’s reimbursement is per family.

The Fund previously covered the deductible costs of durable medical equipment (DME) only for HIP members because it covered the costs of extended hospitalization for GHI members. The extended hospitalization was rolled into the basic GHI plan, therefore the Fund added this new benefit for GHI members.

In order to receive the benefit, members must complete a UFT Welfare Fund GHI-CBP DME Reimbursement Form at the end of a calendar year or when a $100 out-of-pocket charge has been incurred, whichever is sooner.

DME includes such things as: hospital beds; crutches; walkers; wheelchairs; belts and trusses; lamps and diathermy equipment; syringes; artificial eyes; limbs and other prosthetic appliances which replace internal body organs; mastectomy bras; orthopedic and incontinence appliances; oxygen and oxygen equipment; and similar devices.

Not included are such things as: splints; casts; orthopedic and orthotic devices for the feet; air-conditioning devices; de-humidifiers; elevator stairs; wigs, hair plugs or other hairpieces; intra-oral appliances and/or intra-oral orthopedic devices and their maintenance; intra-osseous devices and their maintenance; adjustable beds or other beds that are not strictly hospital beds; and over-the-counter items such as antiseptics, alcohol, cotton balls, gels, ointments and similar items.

A DME Reimbursement form is available from the Welfare Fund’s hotline, at 1-212-539-0539 or from the website, www.uft.org/members/benefits