UFT retirees who are members of the Retired Teachers Chapter can join the Supplemental Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and recoup hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars for out-of-pocket medical expenses, including ambulance rides, dental work, hearing aids and private-duty nursing.

The UFT developed the supplemental program for retirees and their eligible spouses and domestic partners more than 40 years ago and has added benefits over the years.

Starting in July, the monthly premium will increase to $20 a month per person, the first increase in 17 years. The change is necessary to ensure that SHIP can continue to deliver the high-quality benefits retirees deserve.

RTC members must enroll in SHIP within one year of retiring. They do not need a medical examination to qualify. The maximum lifetime reimbursement is $100,000 per participant.

SHIP reimbursements are available only after the city’s regular health insurance providers have paid their benefits, according to SHIP Executive Director Patricia Rojas. There is an exception for the catastrophic major medical plan sponsored by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the UFT’s state affiliate, which is secondary to and paid after SHIP.

SHIP is a popular benefit, and enrollment continues to increase. In 2024, the program covered 90,273 RTC members and their spouses and processed 19,857 claims.

The newest of SHIP’s 16 benefits, which was announced in 2025, is a copay reimbursement of up to $105 per calendar year after participants have met any annual health insurance deductibles. It does not include hospital deductibles or emergency room, prescription drug or dental service copays, which SHIP covers separately.

SHIP also reimburses members for out-of-pocket costs in these other areas:

• Ambulance, ambulette and wheelchair-accessible vehicle transport, up to $300 per calendar year
• Anesthesia/surgery, up to $5,000 per surgical procedure after insurance and a $500 SHIP deductible
• Blood bank, up to $500 per calendar year
• Dental services, up to $500 per calendar year after health insurance coverage
• Emergency alert system with America Medical Alert
• Hairpiece, wig and cold-cap therapy, up to $300
• Hearing aids, up to $1,500 every three years
• In-hospital private-duty nursing (or licensed practical nurse)
• At-home nurse’s aide or home health attendant employed by a state-certified agency after inpatient stay of three or more days
• Orthopedic shoes/orthotic inserts that are medically necessary and custom-made or customized
• Prescription drugs for pre-Medicare retirees with primary drug insurance after a $500 deductible
• Psychiatric hospitalization (inpatient)
• Surgical stockings, sleeves and/or compression wraps, up to $200 per calendar year
• Survivor benefit (SHIP’s COBRA premium coverage)

All SHIP claims must include a claim form, explanation of benefits letter from your insurance carrier, the invoice from your provider and proof of payment, such as a copy of both sides of a canceled check or a credit card receipt or statement. They can be submitted by mail, email or fax.

SHIP is separate from members’ primary health plan, so participants must notify the program directly of any changes, such as a new address or a death.

See our main SHIP page or call the office weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at 212-228-9060.