As part of your Union’s continuing efforts to deliver cost efficient, high quality benefits to the Welfare Fund’s participants, we are pleased to announce that, effective April 1, 2008, the hospital/medical provider network for the Fund’s coverage will be provided by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.As you may know, Blue Cross has the largest network of participating providers throughout the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area and beyond.
THIS CHANGE IN PROVIDER NETWORKS WILL NOT RESULT IN ANYCHANGES TO THE BENEFITS COVERED UNDER YOUR PLAN.The change only expands the doctors and hospitals in the Fund’s network at your disposal.The Fund’s out-of-network benefit structure will remain the same.
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield will be sending more information about its network, as well as your new Identification card(s), in March, 2008.If you have any questions regarding the new network, please contact Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Customer Service Representatives at 866-513-2473. To locate an Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO provider in your local area or nationally, please log on to www.empireblue.com and access the “Find the Doctor” feature, or call the number listed above for more information.The phone number will not be available for use until approximately March 20, 2008.
The Fund will be sending you more information about this change soon. You should continue to use your current MagnaCare card to access health benefits until March31, 2008.NOTHING IS CHANGING WITH REGARD TO THE FUND’S NETWORK BEFORE APRIL 1, 2008.
As always, please contact the Fund Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00 PM if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Local Union Delegates
DIVISION 1181 A.T.U. – NEW YORK WELFARE FUND
101-49 Woodhaven Boulevard, Ozone Park, N.Y.11416
(718) 845-5800
February 19, 2008
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that, effective April 1, 2008, the Fund’s hospital/medical provider networks will be provided by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (“Empire”), the largest network of participating providers in the New York metropolitan area. The Fund and Empire will be sending more information about this change, as well as your new network card, in March, 2008.This letter will provide the basic information about this change.
First, it is important to understand that THIS CHANGE IN PROVIDER NETWORKS WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY CHANGES TO THE BENEFITS COVERED UNDER YOUR PLAN.
The change only expands the doctors and hospitals in the Fund’s network at your disposal.With the Empire network, you are allowed to choose from among the physicians, hospitals and medical specialists in the network. If you use an Empire network provider, you only pay the co-payment, if any, to receive treatment for services covered by the Plan.Using a network provider saves you and the Fund money.
The Fund’s out-of-network benefit structure is not changing, but Empire will process the out-of-network claims.However, since Empire has relationships with more doctors, you may find that your ‘out-of-network’ doctor now is in the Empire network! Also, Empire has relationships with other Blue Cross networks across the country, so you may even save money on out-of-networks claims if you have to receive medical services in another part of the country outside of the Empire network.
To locate an Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO provider in your local area, please log on to www.empireblue.com and access the “Find the Doctor” feature, or call 866-513-2473 for more information.
NOTHING IS CHANGING WITH REGARD TO THE FUND’S NETWORK BEFORE APRIL 1, 2008.You should continue to use your current MagnaCare card to access health benefits until March 31, 2008.
As always, please contact the Fund Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM if you have any additional questions.
Very truly yours,
ROBERT D’ULISSE
Director
RD:ji
DIVISION 1181 A.T.U. – NEW YORK WELFARE FUND
REMINDERS OF IMPORTANT PLAN RULES
IF YOU RECENTLY GOT MARRIED OR DIVORCED, YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OR DIVORCE PAPERS TO THE FUND OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU RECENTLY GOT LEGALLY SEPARATED OR DIVORCED, YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF THE LEGAL SEPARATION OR DIVORCE PAPERS TO THE FUND OFFICE WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE CHANGE.
YOU SHOULD CHECK TO SEE WHO YOU DESIGNATED AS YOUR BENEFICIARY FOR YOUR LIFE INSURANCE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY NEW DEPENDENTS, BIRTH CERTIFICATES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE FUND OFFICE BEFORE THE FUND CAN PAY ANY CLAIMS.
IF YOU HAVE AN ELIGIBLE DEPENDENT WHO HAS REACHED 19 YEARS OF AGE AND IS NOT ATTENDING COLLEGE, WELFARE FUND COVERAGE WILL TERMINATE AS OF DECEMBER 31 OF THE YEAR.CONTACT THE FUND OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR INFORMATION ON THE RIGHT TO PAY TO CONTINUE COVERAGE FOR YOUR CHILD.
IF YOU HAVE A DEPENDENT WHO IS ATTENDING COLLEGE, ORIGINAL LETTERS FROM THE SCHOOL CONFIRMING FULL TIME ENROLLMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE FUND OFFICE FOR EACH SEMESTER.
IF YOU HAVE A DEPENDENT APPROACHING AGE OF 23, CONTACT THE FUND OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR INFORMATION ON THE RIGHT TO PAY TO CONTINUE COVERAGE FOR YOUR CHILD.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING RETIREMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, YOU SHOULD:
·REVIEW WHO YOU DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY OF YOUR LIFE INSURANCE
·YOU SHOULD ALSO CONTACT THE FUND OFFICE REGARDING COVERAGE FOR YOUR DEPENDENT(S) AS WELL AS YOURSELF BEFOREMAKING A DECISION ON A RETIREMENT DATE
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUND OFFICE TO MAINTAIN CORRECT RECORDS.SEE YOUR SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION FOR THE FULL PLAN RULES.
