Changes to Welfare Fund benefits on Feb. 1

As a result of the UFT Welfare Fund’s annual review process, it was determined that changes to the prescription drug plan and the dental plan were needed to ensure that the benefits offered to more than 300,000 in-service members and their covered dependents are protected now as well as into the future, reported the Fund’s Executive Director Arthur Pepper.

“Our goal is to keep our members healthy, with high-quality, affordable benefits throughout their entire careers and into retirement,” said Pepper. “That’s why we take our responsibility for maintaining the fiscal integrity of the Fund so seriously.”

As of Feb. 1, Pepper announced, members who use their local pharmacy for maintenance medications (90-day supply) will only be able to access their maintenance medications through the Medco by Mail pharmacy.

Additionally, there will be some new and adjusted co-pays in the UFT Welfare Fund’s Scheduled Benefit dental plan.

The Welfare Fund sent a letter to all members on Dec. 15 outlining the changes in detail.

Prescription drug plan change

With the cost of prescription drugs rising, the amount of co-pays that members would need to be charged to continue purchasing their maintenance medications at local pharmacies had become unsustainable, Pepper said.

Therefore, 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 for maintenance drugs (90-day supply): $10 for generics, $30 for brand formulary and $70 for brand nonformulary.

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 are being provided in the December Prescription Benefit Record mailing and are also available from chapter leaders.

Members can reach Medco 24 hours a day at 1-800-723-9182.

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. Approximately 50 percent of our members use a participating dentist and receive quality care with reasonable co-pays.

During the Fund’s review of its dental benefits, Pepper said that “it was clear that our purpose would be twofold. One, to keep the integrity of our dental panel and, two, to keep the dental benefits a viable benefit for our members and their dependents.”

To address that issue, 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. To accomplish a balance in the schedule, some of the reimbursements for procedures performed by nonparticipating dentists have been reduced.

The new schedule of benefits has been included in the Dec. 15 mailing to members and will be available in January on the Welfare Fund’s website at www.uftwf.org.