Fund needs proof for full-time students
Sep 22, 2005 11:21 AM
In order to ensure uninterrupted Welfare Fund coverage for dependent full-time students aged 19 to 23 — including students who will turn 19 prior to Sept. 1, 2006 — members must submit proof that these dependents are full-time students.
The easiest way to do this is to complete the UFT Welfare Fund Dependent Student Certification Form [see illustration]. It is available from chapter leaders, by calling the fund’s hotline at 1-212-539-0539, or on the Welfare Fund Web site at: www.uft.org/img/student_form.pdf.
Other ways of submitting proof could be in the form of:
- A bursar's receipt.
- A letter from the school's registrar.
- Verification from a health carrier.
This submission to the fund is separate from the notification members must send to their basic health insurance provider.
Any member with dependents who are 19 or older but have not yet reached the age of 23 must file such proof with the Welfare Fund before Oct. 31, or else Welfare Fund benefits will be terminated for that dependent. Benefits will be reinstated upon submission of acceptable proof.
Coverage will extend through the summer if valid certification is received for the fall and spring semesters.
Every fall the fund will require members to submit another Certification Form for the purpose of renewing the coverage of their dependents who are full-time students aged 19 to 23.
Members whose dependents are disabled should contact the fund’s Member Services Unit for eligibility information.
If a dependent is turning 23, he or she will only be covered until the end of the calendar year or graduation, whichever is sooner. Therefore, members must make sure a full-time student status letter is on file.
Members should immediately contact the fund if their dependent is no longer a full-time student.
A fund representative can discuss other coverage options which may include the dependent being eligible for COBRA coverage.
Important tip if your child is off to college
Because of federal privacy rules, parents of children over 18 who need to discuss their dependent students’ health matters with medical personnel at the college or a nearby facility need to complete a Personal Representative Form. They should contact the medical facility used by the college to file this form. That is the only way they will be able to talk to medical personnel in place of their child. (For more information on the privacy regulations, known as HIPAA, see page 13S.)
