What is the UFT Welfare Fund/Express Scripts Prescription Drug Identification (ID) Card?
Each eligible member is issued a UFT Welfare Fund/Express Scripts Prescription Drug Identification (ID) Card authorizing any participating pharmacy to fill prescriptions that come under the scope of the plan. The plastic card is embossed with a UFT Welfare Fund alternate ID number (other than your Social Security Number) and the member’s name. Dependents' names do not appear on the card.
The member receives two (2) cards. Additional cards are available upon request to the Welfare Fund.
New members will be issued cards automatically, provided a properly completed Enrollment Form has been submitted to the Welfare Fund.
It is the responsibility of the member to update all dependent information using an Update Your Information Form.
When does eligibility for prescription drugs terminate?
The front side of the ID card states: “CARD NOT VALID AFTER EMPLOYMENT TERMINATES OR AFTER RETIREMENT*.”
* Eligibility for the drug program continues for the month in which you retire, or leave on deferred payability, plus two (2) months. For example, if you retire February 15, your drug coverage will continue through the end of April.
Members who leave on deferred payabilty should notify the Welfare Fund by submitting their retirement system letter.
Please note: Members on leave with pay are considered to have in-service status. Members on leave without pay do not have coverage unless covered by SLOAC (Special Leave of Absence Coverage).
What is the Prescription Benefit Record (PBR)?
Every December, a Prescription Benefit Record (PBR) is sent to all in service members with information regarding:
- each prescription drug obtained;
- where it was obtained;
- address and dependent information (e.g., name, date of birth...);
- or whom it was prescribed;
- cost to the Fund;
- copayments incurred.
If you discover any discrepancies in any of the above items, contact the Fund Office by indicating the discrepancy directly on the PBR and returning it to the Fund.
How are benefits obtained?
Members may obtain benefits by using any of the following:
- a participating pharmacy network; or
- home delivery service; or
- Smart 90 Walgreens/Duane Reade; or
- direct reimbursement.
What is direct reimbursement?
Under direct reimbursement, you are required to pay for the full cost of the drug and then submit to the Fund for payment. Reimbursement is made according to the fee schedule or the actual charge, whichever is less. This may arise in the following situations:
- you present a prescription to a participating pharmacy without your UFT Welfare Fund/ESI Prescription Drug Identification (ID) Card; or
- the prescription is for a non-listed dependent; or
- A prescription is filled for emergency medications and/or while traveling abroad with an FDA equivalent medication.
- Reimbursement will not be made for any out of network pharmacy.
In these cases, the pharmacist is allowed to charge the store's regular price.
How am I reimbursed?
In order to receive any reimbursement, you must submit a UFT Welfare Fund “Drug Reimbursement Form for In-Service Members.” The Drug Reimbursement Form for In-Service Members is also available by calling the UFT Welfare Fund Forms Hotline at 212-539-0539. You must complete and sign the form and attach detailed paid pharmacy receipts, showing the name, strength, and quantity of drug.
The completed form should be mailed to the UFT Welfare Fund at the address preprinted on the form, within ninety (90) days from the date the drug was dispensed.
Reimbursement will be made in accordance with the contracted rate of the medication limited to the same quantity and package rules, less the copayment that is applicable to participating pharmacies. This will most likely result in an out-of-pocket expense to you, which is in addition to the copayment.
Reimbursement for Controlled Substances is limited to the quantities mandated by federal, state or local laws for controlled substances in the jurisdiction in which the prescription is written.
What is the diabetes program?
Since 1994, New York law has required health insurance policies, including health maintenance organization (HMO) contracts, to cover certain equipment and supplies for the treatment of diabetes if recommended or prescribed by a physician or other licensed health care provider with prescribing authority. The law also requires coverage for medically necessary diabetes self-management education and education relating to diet, including home visits, when provided by a physician or other licensed health care provider legally authorized to prescribe treatment, staff as part of an office visit for diabetes diagnosis or treatment, a certified diabetes nurse educator, a registered dietitian, or a certified nutritionist or dietitian.
Since the Welfare Fund supplements your basic city health plan, it was no longer necessary for the Fund to cover these items.
The Welfare Fund has instituted a procedure to reimburse you for the difference in drug copayments between your basic health carrier and the UFT Welfare Fund.
For reimbursements, you should submit a “Drug Reimbursement Form for In-Service Members” completely filled out with all pharmacy receipts attached and/or a statement from your basic health carrier that they have paid or denied the claims. The form is also available by calling the UFT Welfare Fund Forms Hotline at 212-539-0539.
Members will only be reimbursed for copayment amounts over the applicable UFT Welfare Fund copayment.
What is the NYC PICA program?
Due to a negotiated citywide health benefit agreement, the PICA Drug Program, rather than the UFT Welfare Fund, covers two (2) categories of drugs, Self-Injectible Medications and Oral Chemotherapy. For more information regarding this program call Express Scripts, PICA's and the Fund's administrator, at 800-467-2006.
What is the Hepatitis C Treatment Program?
The UFT Welfare Fund has negotiated a program with Emblem Health to help eligible employees suffering from the Hepatitis C virus (“Hep C”). The program works to give 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.
Effective January 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. 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. If you have any questions, please contact the UFT Welfare Fund at 212-539-0500.
What is meant by Enteral Formula Coverage?
Enteral formulas are liquid food products that are specially formulated and designed to increase the amount of various food elements and nutrients that will maintain proper physiological function of the body process. They may also be used to correct an existing deficiency.
The New York State law regarding coverage of enteral formulas is not applicable to the Welfare Fund. However, we will cover these formulas providing the following guidelines are met:
- Members requesting access to these formulas will be subject to the Fund’s prior approval process.
- The formulas are for oral home use and have been prescribed by a physician or other legally authorized health care provider. These formulas are distinguished from nutritional supplements taken electively. They are not covered if they are administered via naso-gastric tube, via feeding gastrostomy or via needle-catheter jejunostomy since the patient’s health insurance plan usually covers it with prior authorization. The patient should contact their health plan.
- The patient’s physician must send a letter of medical necessity to the Welfare Fund’s Pharmacy program that states that the enteral formula is clearly medically necessary. This means that the formula has been proven effective as a disease-specific treatment regimen for those individuals who are or will become malnourished or suffer from disorders, which if left untreated, cause chronic disability, mental retardation, or death.
- The formulas must be for specific diseases, which include, but are not limited to:
- inherited diseases of amino-acid or organic acid metabolism;
- Crohn’s disease; Phenylketonuria Disease (PKU)
- gastroesophageal reflux with failure to thrive;
- disorders of gastrointestinal motility such as chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction;
- multiple severe food allergies.
- Coverage for a calendar year for any covered individual shall not exceed seven thousand, five hundred dollars ($7,500.00).
- Quantities are limited to 30-day supplies per dispensing and are considered non-preferred brand (Tier 3) for copayment purposes (see more information about prescription drug tiers).