General News

Welfare Fund adds two benefit enhancements

Jun 26, 2008 4:41 PM

UFT Welfare Fund trustees approved two new benefit enhancements at their June 16 meeting.

The first waives the co-pay when there is a special coordination of benefits (SCOB) for members using one of the participating panel of dentists (SIDS).

Members and their spouses or domestic partners who are also UFT members receive certain enhanced benefits under each other’s coverage. Effective July 1, members who are eligible for the SCOB benefits, and use a SIDS dentist, will not be charged co-pays that are listed on the Fund’s dental schedule.

The Fund will pay the dentist for the applicable co-pays. However, payments for upgraded or non-covered services will still be the responsibility of the member.

The second enhanced benefit involves Medicare Part D. Currently, retirees who are covered by a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program and have reached the annual 5 percent catastrophic coverage threshold receive a reimbursement from the Fund for the 5 percent out-of-pocket co-payments they make.

Effective this calendar year, the Fund will also reimburse the spouse or domestic partner of a member for the 5 percent co-payments.

As in the past, claims must be submitted by the retiree during the month of January and reimbursement will be made shortly thereafter.