As an eligible UFT member, you have an array of high-quality health benefits starting on the day you begin working and lasting through your retirement years. These benefits were negotiated over many years, and this proactive advocacy has enabled the union to maintain and enhance members’ health benefits in the face of ever-increasing costs.
These benefits fall into two overall categories:
1) Your health insurance provides your medical and hospital coverage, mental health care, imaging and more. This is negotiated with the city by the UFT together with other city unions. While new members are covered from their first day of work, they must — within 30 days of their first day on the payroll — enroll on the city’s online portal using the NYCAPS ESS systemor by calling HR Connect at 718-935-4000.
While the UFT Welfare Fund refrains from making recommendations since everyone’s medical needs are different, the majority of UFT members choose the NYCE PPO plan; the second-most-popular plan is the HIP Gold Preferred Plan. In their basic forms, both are premium-free and provide comprehensive benefits, a rare benefit in today’s health care landscape.
Learn more about the different options and compare the various plans. You do not have to re-enroll every year. If you wish to change your health plan, you can do so during the annual fall transfer period, which this year is Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. Requested changes will be effective on Jan. 1, 2027.
Although the UFT Welfare Fund has no direct responsibility for administering city health plans, Fund representatives are available to answer questions and advocate on your behalf. If you require assistance, please call the Welfare Fund’s main number at 212-539-0500, Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
2) Supplemental benefits provided by the UFT Welfare Fund is the second category. The Welfare Fund provides a package of benefits that includes in-service prescription drug coverage, dental coverage and optical and hearing aid benefits. Other innovative services, such as the Health and Cancer Helpline and partnerships with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Hospital for Special Surgery, provide members with expedited care at these top-ranked hospitals. For eligible retired members, the Welfare Fund provides a reimbursement for the optional drug rider for prescription coverage from their insurance carrier.
To access these benefits, you must enroll in the Welfare Fund. It is separate from your city-provided health benefits. Enroll online »
For more information, visit the Welfare Fund's page. There you will find more information on all your Welfare Fund benefits, including detailed descriptions of the benefits and how to update your information to add or drop an eligible dependent. Welfare Fund forms can be downloaded from the website. The Green Apple, which explains Welfare Fund benefits for in-service members, and the Red Apple, which explains Fund benefits for retirees, are available on the website. The UFT Welfare Fund is always working to expand and improve its supplemental benefits for in-service members and retirees.
Have questions? You can call the Welfare Fund office or visit during business hours at 52 Broadway in Manhattan, on the 7th floor. The automated forms hotline is available 24/7 at 212-539-0539.