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Good and Welfare:
Medicare
Part B Additional Reimbursement
NYC reimburses us
Medicare Part B payments (if you notify the city) for the standard payment. For 2009 (August 2010 check) it was $96.40 a month
or $1,156.80 a year for both you and for your spouse if also on Medicare. Depending on your yearly income you may have had
to pay additional premiums. You must file a claim with NYC for the additional reimbursement. Information and forms are on
the Office of Labor Relation Health Benefits Programs web site. The link is http://www.nyc.gov/html/olr/downloads/pdf/healthb/irmaa.pdf . P2/10
VA Healthcare
Eligibility Rules Change
VA healthcare eligibility
rules changed on Monday, June 15, 2009 making it easier for more veterans to enroll in VA's health care system. This expansion
opens VA health care to an additional 266,000 veterans who were previously barred from access to veterans’
facilities. When you visit the new web page you will find a calculator to enter your income information, number of dependents,
and zip code to determine if your income falls within the new income threshold adjustments.
To check and see
if you qualify under the new rules go to this website http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/ . You are also encouraged to contact the Health Resource Center
at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) if you have further questions. P 6/09
Express Scripts Drug Plan
The UFOA has revised the Express Script Drug
Plan for Medicare Members. Express Scripts now has a Medicare Part D plan. If you were in the UFOA drug plan last year and
on Medicare you were automatically enrolled in the new plan. Unfortunately both the UFOA and Express Scripts could have provided
a better explanation as what we had to do.
A major change is that both you and your wife
have plan different ID numbers. You should have received new cards in the mail along with an explanation of the new plan.
If you had an internet account and were ordering your renewals on line you will notice that your prescriptions are no longer
listed under your old account number. You will have to reregister using the new account numbers. You will need a separate
internet account for your wife. For your account all you will have to do is reregister. For our wife’s account as the
credit card number was not transferred to her new account you will also have to contact Express Scripts by telephone and give
them a credit card. Once you reregister all your prescription information will appear. If your spouse is not on Medicare check
with Express Scripts as to procedures to be followed.
When ordering prescriptions at a local pharmacy
you will have to reregister using the new ID numbers. You now can get some 90 day orders directly from your pharmacy and not
have to use mail order. There will be a slight price difference which you can check.
I also checked with the UFOA and Express Scripts
regarding the ability to get 90 day supply of certain prescriptions directly from a pharmacy (Coctco – Shop-Rite, Wallmart
etc) at a lower price than the co-pay Express Scripts charges. They both have no problem with it and encourage you to get
the best price you can. The only thing the UFOA said is not to give the pharmacy your Express Script card as they might send
the charge into Express Scripts. Either go to a different pharmacy or check with your present pharmacy to make sure they will
give it to you without using the plan. This can be a substantial savings. (P1/09)
HELPS
HELPS is a new retiree
health care benefit that provides a tax-free distribution of up to $3,000 from retirement plans to help retirees pay for health
insurance or long-term care insurance.
The IAFF won an unprecedented congressional
victory with the passage of the Health Care Enhancement for Local Public Safety Officers (HELPS) act. Under it, retirees
can receive a tax-free distribution of up to $3,000 from retirement plans to help pay for health insurance or long-term care
insurance premiums. The IAFF encourages affiliates to remind retirees about the HELPS benefit.
Under the benefit, the IRS will allow
retired fire fighters to exclude from income distributions made from eligible retirement plans up to $3,000 annually to pay
the costs for accident or health insurance or long-term care insurance. The funds can cover the retiree, spouse or dependents.
The distribution must be made directly from the retirement plan to the insurance provider. Eligible retirement plans include
qualified trusts, section 403(a) plans, section 403(b) annuities and section 457(b) plans.
This is from the IAFF web site. I am
sure more detailed info will come. P2/08
Catastrophic
Insurance
It has come to our
attention that some retirees do not understand the deductible clause of the Catastrophic Insurance we purchase through the
unions. There is a $10,000 deductible that must be met before the Catastrophic
Insurance will cover the cost. However the deductible is not out of pocket expenses. Any expenses occurred even if they are
paid for by Medicare or your secondary insurance coverage count toward the deductible. The money does not have to come out
of your pocket.
It does not take
much to meet the deductible. A few days in the hospital, an MRI , Cat Scan, blood tests and doctor visits will quickly meet
the deductible. After that everything you have to pay out of your pocket is covered. Keep in mind you can get a second opinion
from a doctor or hospital covered by your plan.
Takes some time
to read about your insurance coverage before you need it. P1/08
FDNY
Expands WTC Medical Treatment to Staten Island
The FDNY has expanded its ability to treat
active and retired members. The FDNY has opened a satellite office on Staten Island for active
and retired members who are participants in the WTC Medical Monitoring & Treatment Program. If you are a retiree and recently
had a WTC Medical Monitoring exam, or if you are active and recently had your Company Medical, you may be eligible to visit
a satellite office. The satellite office will not be used for duty determination. It will be open one day per week (Wed) to
start out and will not perform actual medicals, focusing instead primarily on lung issues, as well as GERD, sinus and mental
health issues. The SI office will also be able to provide active and retired members with WTC-related prescriptions. For more
info or to make an appointment, contact FDNY BHS WTC Medical Monitoring & Treatment Program 718-999-1858 or by emailing
. For more info go to www.fdnyinsider.com P9/07
Counseling and Support services
There are several organizations that will provide counseling and support to active and retired
firefighters and their families. They offer a vast variety of services.
Friends of Firefighters – 199 Van Brunt St
Brooklyn NY 11231
- 718-643-0980
Safe Horizion – 26 Broadway Suite 767, NY 10004 – 212-747-0733.
Crisis support line - 1- 800-621- HOPE or 212-577-7777 – Web Site -www.SafeHorizons.org.
If you, or anyone in your family are having reactions from a traumatic event such as 9/11 please
contact them.
Retiree Checklist
The UFA has posted a Retiree Checklist
on its web site (www.ufalocal94.org).
It has a lot of updated information on Security Benefit Fund benefits and carriers. It also has a list of procedures and notifications
that must be made. (Similar to our “What to Do” section)
The Security Benefit section contains a list of forms that may be downloaded They include NYC,
NYFD, and UFA forms. The NYC and FDNY forms are pertinent
to members of both the UFA and UFOA. P11/06
Retiree Liaisons
Mike Donavan, is the Retiree Liaison for the
UFOA Family Protection Plan. The FPP is co-directed by Kevin Sullivan and Rich Goldstein.
James Dahl is the Retiree Liaison for the UFA
Security Benefit Fund.
FDNY VFW Post:
The
FDNY now has its own VFW post. FDNY Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #
12033 was instituted on 8/12/2005, in memory of SSGT Christian P. Engeldrum of Ladder 61. He was the first NY Firefighter to die in the war in Iraq. 103 NY Firefighters have been activated since
9/11. Chris also fought in the first Iraq
war.
In
keeping in the spirit of our national organization, we have been steadfast supporters of the rehabilitation of disabled
veterans from Walter Reed and Bethesda Hospitals,
assisted the widows and orphans of disabled and needy veterans and promoted Americanism through education in patriotism and
service to the community of New York City.
Anyone interested in joining can contact them on there web site www.FDNYVFW.com . It has a list of current members as well as contact and meeting information. P10/24
Inside the FDNY
“Inside the FDNY” is the Official
Resource web site for FDNY personnel. It contains news articles, Department Orders, FDNY news, etc.
You can sign up for E-Mail notification of announcements.
(Icon of top right)
www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/inside/index.shtm
The Official FDNY web site is www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/home2.shtm
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