Supplemental Health Insurance Program (SHIP)

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

• SHIP booklet [effective Jan. 2022]
• SHIP benefits [effective Jan. 2022]
• SHIP claim form You may use old SHIP forms if you have them. Please read the updated instruction page before filling in claim form.
• How to file a SHIP claim form
• Notice to all Medicare eligible SHIP members
• HIPAA Privacy Act form
• SHIP premium notices for those not on automatic deduction

You must first be enrolled as a UFT-RTC (Retired Teachers Chapter) member. Your SHIP application cannot be processed until your retirement date, therefore, please send your application and payment approximately one month prior to your date of retirement. 

Please refer to the SHIP card for the exact fees, as they depend on the time of year and whether or not you also enroll a spouse or domestic partner. You must pay upfront for the first year through December and the cost is $10.00 per month per person.

If there are any issues with your SHIP application, we will notify you via email to resolve any issues which may hold up your approval. 

The SHIP application process begins the day you retire and are enrolled as a UFT-RTC (Retired Teachers Chapter) member. We strive to have all applications processed on the day of retirement, but please allow for up to one week to complete the application process. 

Yes. The UFT's Supplemental Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is a unique package of benefits developed by the UFT's Retired Teachers Chapter exclusively for its members. 

You can download the SHIP application from the UFT website and mail it along with payment listed on the form to: SHIP, 52 Broadway, 17th fl., New York, NY 10004

You must include:

• Your name
• Address
• Phone number
• Retirement date
• Social Security number
• A pension deduction authorization

Please make sure to also sign off on the pension deduction authorization, or you will be charged a $30 administrative fee. If you would also like to enroll a spouse/domestic partner, you must attach a copy of either your marriage certificate or domestic partner registration along with the application. 

We strive to have all applications processed as soon after the date of retirement as possible, but due to a high volume of applicants, please allow for up to one week's processing time. You will receive a welcome packet once your SHIP enrollment is finalized. If there are any issues with your application that may hold up your application, we will notify you via email.