Your benefits as new members

As a UFT member, you have one of the best health-benefits packages anywhere.

At a time when many workers have no health benefits and higher costs are leading many employers to reduce existing benefits, the union has maintained the quality of benefits and even made improvements.

As a full-time member, you are entitled to:

• A choice of health plans, which city unions jointly negotiate for their members. All new city employees, including DOE new hires, must select the EmblemHealth HIP HMO Gold program as your health care plan for your first year on the job, as of Oct. 1, 2022. After your first year of employment, you may switch to one of a range of health care plan options  or remain with HIP HMO Gold.
• Supplemental benefits such as dental, optical, hearing and prescription drug coverage provided by the union through the UFT Welfare Fund.
• Optional additional benefits through our state affiliate NYSUT.
• Sick days are earned, one per month, after the 15th of each month. Together, these benefits represent savings to you worth thousands of dollars a year.
• Your plan provides hospitalization and medical coverage for you, your spouse or domestic partner and your dependent children up to age 26.
• Additionally, adult dependent children from ages 26 to 29 may be eligible to purchase coverage under New York State legislation.

Note: The Federation of Nurses/UFT have their own separate health benefits administered through their own health and welfare fund. Members in the Federation of Nurses UFT can get information by calling their fund administrator 1-212- 982-5547.