Changes to Welfare Fund benefits

In order to keep the UFT Welfare Fund’s benefits secure not only for the present time but also for the future, changes have been made to the prescription drug plan and the dental plan, reported the Fund’s Executive Director Arthur Pepper.

Members were sent a letter and information outlining these changes in December. “We have been explaining the changes to members who have reached out to us,” Pepper said, “and it is important that everyone realize that these changes allow us to maintain all of our benefits, whether it be our disability plan or child care benefit.”

Prescription drug plan change (for in-service members only)

As of Feb. 1, maintenance medications must be ordered through the Medco by Mail pharmacy. That change will enable the Fund to maintain the same co-pays that members currently pay.

UFT members who currently use a local pharmacy for their maintenance medications will need to contact their doctor for a new 90-day prescription, which should be mailed by the member to the Medco by Mail pharmacy. Envelopes were sent in December to all members and are also available from chapter leaders.

Members who are prescribed a new maintenance medication (after Feb. 1) will still be able to pick up a 30-day prescription and two refills at a local pharmacy — but future refills (up to a 90-day supply) must be sent to the Medco by Mail pharmacy.

Members can choose to order their prescription refills from Medco in one of three ways: on the Medco website (www.medco.com), by phone or by mail.

Changes to the Scheduled Benefit dental plan

The Welfare Fund Scheduled Benefit dental plan offers members the choice of using a participating dentist or using a nonparticipating dentist, with reimbursement according to the Scheduled Benefit plan.

Effective Feb. 1, the dental schedule will include some new co-pays for certain procedures (listed in red on the schedule) while most of the procedures (listed in black) remain unchanged.

Some of the reimbursements for procedures performed by nonparticipating dentists have been reduced.

The new schedule of benefits is available on the Welfare Fund’s website.