$100 DME reimbursement introduced for GHI members

Sep 22, 2005 12:52 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 (DME). Retirees should contact SHIP for this benefit. SHIP covers the cost of such equipment except for a $100 deductible per person. The Welfare Fund’s reimbursement is per family.

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 its Web site, www.uft.org/welfarefund/forms.