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Health Benefits

UFT Welfare Fund offices are closed until further notice

Should you require immediate assistance with a prescription drug issue, please call Express Scripts at 800-723-9182. Additionally, you can email the UFT Welfare Fund with your prescription issue at rxhelp@uftwf.org. Should you require immediate assistance with activating a COBRA policy, please email cobrahelp@uftwf.org. Should you require assistance with any dental issue, please email dentalhelp@uftwf.org. Should you require assistance with any other health benefit issue, please email healthbenefithelp@uftwf.org. All of these email addresses are closely monitored Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A note about optical and hearing aid certificates

Due to the unprecedented COVID-19 situation, we are unable to process optical and hearing aid certificates at this time. If you believe you are eligible for these benefits, please make your purchase and the Fund will directly reimburse you in accordance with our benefit design when we resume normal business hours. We thank you for your understanding during this time.

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In-service benefits

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Retiree benefits

Manage your benefits

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Enroll in the Welfare Fund

Register in the UFT Welfare Fund, which is separate from your city health plan coverage, to access your supplemental benefits.

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Update your information

Did you get married, have a baby, or drop or add an eligible dependent? You must notify the Welfare Fund.

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Download forms

Access important forms and documents related to your health coverage. 

Explore your benefits

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Dental

Choose from two dental plans offered by the UFT Welfare Fund.

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Optical

As a member of the UFT Welfare Fund, you and your eligible dependents can obtain optical services once every two years.

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Hearing aid

All eligible UFT Welfare Fund members and dependents are covered for hearing aid benefits.

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Coordination of benefits

When your spouse or domestic partner is also a UFT member, you will have certain enhanced Welfare Fund benefits.

Which health plan is right for you?

As a UFT member, you have a comprehensive health benefits package with a range of city health plans to choose from.

Compare city health plans

New and noteworthy

UFT Welfare Fund prescription benefit enhancement

Beginning on March 1, 2020, you will be able to have maintenance medication filled at any Walgreens/Duane Reade pharmacy. You will still have the option to order these medications through the Express Scripts Mail Order Pharmacy. The choice is yours. Whether you use Express Scripts Mail Order or Walgreens/Duane Reade, your copayments will be the same for a three-month supply: $10 for generics, $30 for preferred brand name drugs and $70 for non-preferred brand name drugs.

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MSK Direct cancer care

MSK Direct is a program that offers guided access to expert cancer treatment for UFT members, retirees and their family members. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SHIP health insurance program for retired teachers?

The Supplemental Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is a unique package of benefits developed by the Retired Teachers Chapter of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT-RTC) exclusively for its members. It provides a supplement to coverage available through city's regular health insurance providers and is activated only after those providers have paid their benefits.

SHIP is a low-cost program to coordinate with most health plans available to retirees of New York City systems. For a modest yearly fee, SHIP will supplement certain payments provided by your New York City health coverage up to a maximum lifetime benefit of $100,000/$10,000 for pre-existing conditions.

SHIP does not require a medical examination for enrollment.

SHIP is separate from your health plan and welfare fund and therefore must be notified of any changes (i.e., death, divorce, marriage). 

Helpful links

Does the UFT have a program for members suffering from the Hepatitis C virus?

The UFT Welfare Fund has negotiated a new program with EmblemHealth to help UFT-represented employees suffering from the Hepatitis C virus. The program gives access to best-in-class care, while eliminating the hundreds of dollars in drug copays normally associated with Hep C treatment. This benefit is available to all UFT-represented in-service employees and their dependents who receive prescription drug coverage through the UFT Welfare Fund.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, members who choose to be treated for Hepatitis C at NYU Langone Hospital's Hepatitis C Clinic will have access to world-class treatment by a renowned care team that develops treatment plans tailored to each individual patient's needs. Patients will have no drug copay with free at-home delivery of the associated treatment drugs and the NYU specialty pharmacy team will be available to answer calls 24/7.

You can call NYU Langone Hospital's Hepatitis C Clinic now at 212-263-3643 to schedule an appointment for after Jan. 1, 2020, when this benefit goes into effect. If you have any questions, please contact the UFT Welfare Fund at 212-539-0500.

When is the open enrollment period that allows in-service employees to make changes to their health benefits for 2020?

Open enrollment for in-service members (dates are different for retirees) takes place from Friday, Nov. 1, to Saturday, Nov. 30. All changes made during this open enrollment period will be effective Jan. 1, 2020.

During this window, employees may make changes to their existing health care benefits, such as transfer into any city health plan for which they are eligible, add or drop the Optional Rider, or add or drop dependent(s).

For changes to be made at other times of the year, a qualifying event must occur, such as a marriage, birth, adoption, etc., and even for those times, deadlines apply.

Does the union offer psychological counseling/support groups for members?

Yes, the union's Member Assistance Program (MAP) has trained professional counselors who can guide you through the problems that can put your health and job in jeopardy. Our services are free, confidential, professional and supportive.

As a UFT member, you may receive short-term individual counseling a trained licensed mental health professional through MAP. MAP also offers referrals to outside mental health services that accept your insurance plan. 

Please call MAP at 212-701-9620 to set up an appointment. You can also contact us via email at mapinfo@uft.org. 

In case of an emergency, please call 911. If you need help after hours, please call 1-800-LIFENET, a 24-hour city mental health hotline. 

Am I eligible for prescription drug coverage? Is there a waiting period?

All eligible in-service UFT members and their dependents have prescription drug coverage through the UFT Welfare Fund. There are no waiting periods for this coverage.

In fact, after enrolling in the Welfare Fund, newly enrolled members who are awaiting their Welfare Fund Express Scripts (ESI) Prescription ID drug cards can purchase the prescription drugs they need and, once their cards arrive, submit the original receipts to the Welfare Fund for reimbursement.

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