Retired Teachers Chapter News

Larger optional rider checks to be mailed this month

by Tom Pappas

Feb 15, 2007 12:00 AM

UFT President Randi Weingarten, who chairs the UFT Welfare Fund Board of Trustees, announced that retirees will receive up to a 10 percent increase in their optional rider reimbursement checks this year. The checks will be issued at the end of February.

This year’s reimbursement has been increased up to $660 for retirees whose optional rider or health plan deduction was in effect for all of 2006. Retirees whose rider or health plan was in effect for less than 12 months will receive reimbursement at the rate of $55 per month. If the monthly deduction was less than $55, the Fund will cover the full monthly amount.

Retirees who have their own New York City health coverage deducted from their pension check will receive their optional rider reimbursement automatically. Retirees covered under their spouse’s New York City health plan should continue to file rider claim forms as in the past.

Effective January 2006, retirees may be eligible for the optional rider benefit even if their health coverage is not from a New York City health plan. These retirees will receive reimbursement based on any direct payments made or deductions taken for their health insurance plan or for any health insurance plan their spouse or domestic partner may have that includes health coverage for the UFT retiree. These retirees must submit a completed Optional Rider Claim Form each year. Different claim forms are required if the reimbursement is for a New York City health plan or for a non-New York City health plan. Both claim forms are available by calling the Fund Hotline at 1-212-539-0539 or can be downloaded from the UFT Welfare Fund’s Web site at www.uftwf.org.

Any member who retired in 2006 who does not receive a reimbursement check by April 1 may need to complete an Optional Rider Claim Form. Retirees submitting this form should allow at least four weeks for their checks to be processed.

Retirees who returned to work in positions that provide in-service prescription drug benefits who used this benefit will have their optional rider reimbursements reduced by the cost of the prescription drugs paid by the Fund, calculated on a month-by-month basis.