By Diana Nappi Director of the Welfare Fund

The Welfare Fund office is always available to help our members with questions and concerns regarding their ancillary benefits. However, in many instances if a member call one of our benefit providers or creates an online account with the carrier they can quickly download provider listings or obtain a copy of their card or even view their claims history. When you need to get timely benefits information often it is best to go directly to the carrier for specific information, although staff are always available to help.

Health Insurance
Office of Labor Relations/Employee Benefits Office, 22 Cortlandt St., NY, NY 10006
212-513-0470 – Call them if you plan to change your health insurance plan or any issue regarding your Health Insurance Coverage.

Prescription Drugs
Aetna, if you have any questions call Aetna at 1-855-352-1599 or visit the website at www.Aetna.com. Registering on the website will allow you to set up your secure account which will provide you with information and tools regarding your prescription drug coverage. You will be able to download forms and research drugs, look at your Rx history for drugs you may be taking to name a few.

Dental
United Healthcare’s Customer Service Department is available Monday through Friday for any eligibility, claims or provider availability questions, call 1-877-591-1789. You can also visit the MYUHC website at www.myuhc.com view your account. Once your account is set up, you can look at your group number, order cards or print one out instantly and review your claims history, plus much more information regarding your plan. Searching for a provider, especially for a specialist, is one of the most helpful tools provided on the website.

Vision Coverage
CPS, to find a network provider, go to the CPS website. This can be accessed either directly at www.cpsoptical.com/FindProvider.aspx or through the Local 237 website local237.org. If using the Local's website, under the Benefits tab, select NYC Agencies. Then scroll down and click the link for Welfare Fund Optical Plan. After that, select the Search for a Provider near You link. Once on the CPS site, under Select Your Plan, choose the option for Local 237. Then complete the Zip and Search Radius fields. You may wish to search near your home or work location. If you do not have internet access or want to speak to a CPS representative to find a location, call CPS at (212) 675-5745.

The Importance of Naming a Beneficiary for Your Life Insurance
There are certain important topics that people feel uncomfortable discussing. At the top of this list is Life Insurance. The Welfare Fund provides for a Group Term Policy with Met Life. Life sometimes brings unexpected changes. Your personal situation may have changed due to divorce, death of your original beneficiary or you may simply want to name a new beneficiary. If you are unsure of who is listed as your beneficiary, we suggest you complete a new enrollment form or register on the Met Life website.
• You can name a beneficiary by registering on the MetLife website at www.metlife.com/mybenefits or by contact the Fund Office (212) 924-7220 and request a new enrollment form and complete the beneficiary designation portion of the enrollment form.
• This benefit is paid to your designated beneficiary at the time of your death.
• The beneficiary may be any person of your choice.
• To be in effect, your designation must be on file in the Fund office or with Met Life.
• If there is no designated beneficiary living at the time of your death, the Death Benefit will be paid to your estate. This creates a delay in payment and can be time-consuming for the executor of your estate who must go to Surrogates Court to obtain the proper papers needed by Met Life before payment can be made.