--------------------The United Federation of Teachers in District 11 -------------------------------------Alice Cooper-Jackson, District Representative---------------------

Welfare Fund Online

 To join the Welfare Fund you must first register on the UFT website at:  https://www.uft.org/register/index.html

Once registered, you should log in and join the Welfare Fund online at: www.uft.org/welfare/enroll

If current members need to make changes such as:

  • Make changes to your name
  • Update your mailing address
  • Update your family profile including dependents and beneficiaries

You can do so at: https://www.uft.org/welfare/cos

Members may also continue to use the blue “Change Of Status” packets that are available through your chapter leader or by calling the UFT Welfare Fund forms hotline at 212-539-0539.

Welfare Fund Plan

For your detailed information on your:

  • Prescription Plan
  • Optical Plan
  • Dental Plan
  • Disability Plan
  • Hearing Aid Benefit Plan
  • Death Benefit
  • Continuation of Coverage
  • Supplemental Benefits

Click Here

Summary of Your Welfare Benefits

Here are your key benefits through the UFT Welfare Fund:

·  Prescription Drug Plan. This plan covers you, your spouse or domestic partner, and your eli­gible dependents for prescription drugs (but not those sold over the counter).

–    Be sure to save receipts for prescription drugs you paid for before receiving your drug card so you can be reimbursed.

–    When you need to fill a prescription, go to a participating pharmacy, show your UFT drug card, and pay a copayment.

–    If you need to use drugs over a long period of time (known as “maintenance drugs”) you have two options for getting a 90-day supply:

Going to a local Retail Maintenance Network pharmacy or Using the Home Delivery option, which is convenient and less expensive when using brand-name drugs. For this option, get an Express-Scripts envelope from your chapter leader or by calling the Fund Hotline at1-212-539-0539. You can expedite refills via the Internet (www.express-scripts.com) or telephone.

–  The UFT Welfare Fund Drug formulary is a great tool for understanding whether a pre­scription drug is covered and how to obtain it. The formulary is available on the UFT

·  Dental plan. Through the Welfare Fund you can choose between two plans:

–    A dental HMO (Dentcare) with no co-pay­ment or

–    A Scheduled Benefit Plan that allows you, your spouse or domestic partner, and your eligible dependents to use participating dentists (at no charge or with a small copayment) or nonparticipating dentists with reimbursement according to the fee schedule.

·  Optical plan. You, your spouse or domestic partner, and your eligible dependents qualify for an optical benefit every two years.

–    It covers the cost of an eye exam and eye­glasses entirely or gives you an allowance that you can apply toward an upgrade.

–    This may be used at one of our optical pan­elists or you may choose your own.

–    The Fund will issue you an optical voucher that explains the details of the plan.

·  Hearing aid. Members are entitled to one hear­ing aid every three years with a small deductible.

–    Participating providers have agreed to offer a second aid, if necessary, at a reduced rate.

–    The Fund will issue you a hearing aid voucher that explains the details of the plan.

·  Disability insurance. Qualifying pedagogues may be covered for $350 per week, paras may be covered for $250 for a maxi­mum of 28 weeks. Call the UFT Welfare Fund at   1-212-539-0500 if you need an application or more details.

·  Death benefit. When you enroll in the UFT Welfare Fund, you should designate a benefici­ary in case of death.–    The younger you are, the higher the death benefit will be, starting at $30,000 and declining through the years.This complements the death benefit that accrues through the pension system or any other life insurance you may have

Drug Formulary 2007

For a copy of the 2007 Formulary, click here

Changes to the Welfare Fund

Effective January 1, 2007:

PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN

• Co-payments for in-service members will be capped at $1,000 per family per year. This includes all co-pays except the Cost Care Ancillary charges. Once the cap is reached, the Welfare Fund will cover the cost of all generic and preferred brand-name drugs and there will be no co-pays for the member. However, non-preferred brand-name drugs (those not on the formulary) will require a $35 co-pay.

• For retirees in the Medicare Part D program who reach the catastrophic tier that requires them to pay 5 percent of drug costs, the Welfare Fund will reimburse the 5 percent for calendar year 2006.

DISABILITY PLAN

• Weekly disability pay for pedagogues will increase from $275 to $350; for paraprofessionals from $175 to $250. These payments will be made for up to 28 weeks

HEARING AID BENEFIT

• The hearing aid benefit will increase from $400 to $500 and continues to be available once every three years. In addition, members do not have to go to a panel provider but may select any provider. They must call the Welfare Fund for a validated voucher, have their provider complete the necessary information and submit this along with the itemized original bill to the Fund for reimbursement.

DEPENDENT SURVIVOR COVERAGE

• Welfare Fund coverage for dependent survivors of both in-service and retired members will increase from one month to four months, beginning with the month in which the member died.

RETIREE OPTIONAL RIDER REIMBURSEMENT

• For retirees who have an optional rider for drug coverage, the reimbursement will be increased from $600 to $660 for the 2006 calendar year.

 These benefits are in addition to the $15 million improvement to the dental program last July as well as almost a 90 percent increase in the optical reimbursement which became effective last April.