Health Benefits
Geof Sorkin
Executive Director, UFT Welfare Fund
UFT Welfare Fund contact information
The UFT Welfare Fund is here to assist you. Our health benefit representatives are available during our summer office hours: 9 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday. If you require assistance, please call our main number at 212‑539‑0500. To request a health benefits form, please call our hotline at 212‑539‑0539.
You can also use the following email addresses to contact the Welfare Fund:
- For prescription drug assistance, rxhelp [at] uftwf [dot] org (rxhelp[at]uftwf[dot]org)
- For COBRA assistance, cobrahelp [at] uftwf [dot] org (cobrahelp[at]uftwf[dot]org)
- For assistance with our dental benefits, dentalhelp [at] uftwf [dot] org (dentalhelp[at]uftwf[dot]org)
- For assistance with all other health benefit issues, healthbenefithelp [at] uftwf [dot] org (healthbenefithelp[at]uftwf[dot]org)
Should you require immediate assistance with a prescription drug issue outside of office hours, please call Express Scripts at 800-723-9182.
Manage your benefits
Enroll in the Welfare Fund
Register with the UFT Welfare Fund, which is separate from your city health plan coverage, to access your supplemental benefits.
Update your information
Did you get married, have a baby, or drop or add an eligible dependent? You must notify the Welfare Fund.
Download forms
Access important forms and documents related to your health coverage.
The Red Apple
Learn about the health benefits available to you and your family in the updated edition of the Red Apple.
Explore your benefits
Optical
As a member of the UFT Welfare Fund, you and your eligible dependents can obtain optical services once every two years.
Hearing aid
All eligible UFT Welfare Fund members and dependents are covered for hearing aid benefits.
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.
New and noteworthy
Pool of network dentists triple
Benefits now include three times the amount of in-network dentists while reimbursement rates have also increased for out-of-network providers.
Optical benefits look sharper
Members can now get eyeglasses or contact lenses more frequently, for less money out of pocket and from more optical stores than ever.
Death benefit for in-service members increased
If a UFT member should die while still in service, their beneficiaries will now receive a flat payment of $50,000 regardless of age.
Frequently Asked Questions
A list of the most commonly asked questions.
A family member or beneficiary must submit a Welfare Fund Death Benefit Notification Form (available by calling the Fund’s Death Benefit Unit) along with a certified or original death certificate to the Welfare Fund. After verification of the information, the Fund will contact the beneficiary(ies) and process the claim payment.
You have options on how to receive your dental care. If you are enrolled in the Scheduled Benefit dental plan, the best choice would be a UFT Welfare Fund participating dentist. However, you can choose any non-participating dentist. See more information about your dental coverage options through the Welfare Fund.
A Dental Schedule on the UFT Welfare Fund website displays the charges and reimbursements for most procedures. If you use a participating dentist, the procedures in black are free while those in red require a co-payment. If you choose a non-participating dentist, the amount you will be reimbursed is listed.
If you see a participating dentist and authorize the dentist to be paid directly by CIGNA, there will not be a reimbursement to you. If you use a non-participating dentist, your claim will be processed and a reimbursement will be sent to you.
Cleaning for adults is covered every three months. Exams are covered every six months (if using a participating dentist, there is a $15 co-payment).