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Benefits
DC 37 Health & Security Plan Benefits
Eligibility, Enrollment & Retirement
Eligibility
For information concerning your eligibility for DC 37 Health &
Security Plan benefits, call the Inquiry Unit at (212) 815-1234. The current
hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, from 8am to 6pm and Fridays
8am to 5:30 pm. The lines are very busy on Mondays and Tuesdays. The best
time to call is later in the week, between 8 am and 9:30 am.
Enrollment
An enrollment card must be on file with the Health & Security Plan
before you can obtain benefits.
- If you are a new employee enrolling a spouse,
domestic partner or dependent child(ren)in the Plan for the first
time, then you must attach copies of your marriage certificate, domestic
partnership papers and birth certificate(s) of your child(ren) to
your enrollment records card.
- If you are a long-standing member and you recently
married, added a domestic partner or recently became a parent, then
you must complete a "Change of Status Card" adding your
new family members to your file. Be sure to attach copies of the appropriate
documents to the card before returning it to the Plan.
- If you are adding a spouse or domestic partner,
be sure to include all spousal or domestic partner employment and
insurance related information on the Change of Status Card.
- If the change in dependent status is due to a
death, separation, divorce or dissolution of a domestic partnership,
you must notify the Plan office of this, on a change of status card,
but documents are not necessary.
- If you are changing your status, please consider
updating your beneficiary information by requesting a change of beneficiary
card from the Plan office.
Most of these benefits also cover your legal spouse, domestic
partner and children (called dependents).
Your "legal" spouse is your wife or husband. Your "children"
are all your natural or adopted children, no matter where they live
(if you are responsible for their support), and the children of your
spouse or domestic partner who are living with you.
Children are covered until the age of 19. If a child is a day student
attending a vocational or academic school full-time, the child is covered
until the age of 23. However, in order to determine eligibility for
such dependents, the Plan must have a letter from the Registrar's Office
on file indicating the dependent's current full-time status at the time
these benefits are sought. To avoid an interruption in coverage, proof
of schooling should be submitted twice yearly, at the beginning of the
spring and fall semesters. (See Proof of Schooling section.)
A totally disabled child is covered regardless of age, as long as the
disability, physical or mental, began before the child reached age 19
or 23 if attending college full-time and the dependent is residing
with the covered member. If the disabled dependent is at any point no
longer totally disabled after his/her 19th or 23rd birthday, as the
case may be, he/she will thereafter be ineligible as a covered dependent
even if a subsequent disability is a recurrence of a prior condition.
In order to establish eligibility for a totally disabled child, medical
records and/or clinical evaluation(s) must be submitted to the Plan
office. You must apply for coverage for a disabled dependent within
6 months of the member becoming eligible for Health and Security Plan
benefits. (See Disabled Dependent section.)
Married children are not covered; nor are children who regularly work
more than 20 hours a week.
In order to facilitate enrollment, it is necessary that all forms and
documents received in this unit have the member's name, social security
number or PID number on it. A member needs only complete one enrollment
card. All changes made after that card is on file, must be done on a
change of status card (blue) or change of beneficiary card (yellow).
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All enrollment cards must be completed and signed
by the member.
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Change of beneficiary cards must be signed and
notarized.
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All change of status requests must have proper
documentation attached (i.e., copy of birth certificate).
Proof
of Schooling Required for dependents age 19-23
Children are covered until the age of 19. If a child is a day student
attending a vocational or academic school full-time, the child is covered
until the age of 23. However, in order to determine eligibility for such
dependents, the Plan must have a letter from the Registrar's Office on
file indicating the dependent's current full-time day status at the time
these benefits are sought. To avoid an interruption in coverage, proof
of schooling should be submitted twice yearly, at the beginning of the
spring and fall semesters. A letter from the Registrar's office is the
only document that will be accepted as proof of schooling. Bills, programs
and bursar's receipts are not acceptable, nor are letters dated prior
to the beginning of the semester. Proof of schooling must include the
member's name, social security number or PID number. If proof of schooling
has to be determined retroactively, a grade report or transcript will
be accepted.
Change of Status
A change of status card must be submitted along with the proper documents,
to the Health and Security Plan whenever any of the following changes
occur:*Effective June 1994, all enrollment cards submitted must include
a Marriage Certificate (adding spouse), Birth Certificate if adding a
dependent child(ren) and Proof of Schooling if the dependent child(ren)
is over 19 years old.
A. MarriageSubmit a copy of the marriage certificate along with
the change of status card.
B. Separation/DivorceOnly change of status card is required.
C. Registration of Domestic PartnersDomestic Partners are
two people who are both eighteen years or older and neither of whom are
married or related by blood in a manner that would bar his or her marriage
in New York State; who have a close and committed personal and financial
relationship and are living together on a continuous basis; and are residents
or employees of, or former employees of New York City. Domestic Partners
can obtain a blank Domestic Partner Affidavit from the Office of the City
Clerk, or they may contact the office by calling (212) 669-8190 for other
locations where the form can be obtained. Both partners must sign the
affidavit in the presence of a Notary Public, who will counter sign and
notarize the Affidavit.
The notarized affidavit must be submitted to the City Clerk's office,
1 Centre Street, Room 265. Each partner must present one form of personal
identification (i.e, drivers license, birth certificate, passport, immigration
card, etc.) along with the notarized affidavit.
For those who qualify, the Clerk will issue a signed Certificate of Domestic
Partnership, embossed with the City Seal. A copy is made for the City
records and the original certificate will be given to the partners.
To register domestic partners with
the Health & Security Plan, the following documents have to be submitted:
1. Certificate of Domestic Partnership or "civil
union" certificate.
2. Change of Status Card.
Domestic Partners who are retired and are Non-Residents
of N.Y.S., must submit the following:
1. Alternative Affidavit
2. Change of Status Card.
D. Separation/Termination of Domestic Partners
Once a Domestic Partner severs its partnership, the member cannot
re-register with another partner until after six (6) months have passed.
E. Widowed
If a member becomes widowed, only a change of status card is necessary,
indicating month and year of spouse's death or call the Eligibility Enrollment
Unit at 212-815-1620 to notify the Plan.
F. Adding a Dependent
If the member or a spouse gives birth, adopts, or marries someone
with dependent children, a copy of the birth or adoption papers must be
submitted to the Plan.
Disabled Dependent
The following documents must be submitted for a disabled dependent
who was disabled prior to age 19 or before age 23 if attending college
as a full-time student, in order to establish eligibility for Health &
Security Plan Benefits. You must apply for coverage for a disabled dependent
within 6 months of the member becoming eligible for Health and Security
Plan benefits.
A medical transcript from the physician/psychologist/psychiatrist. Medical
records must indicate diagnosis, dates of treatment, and hospitalization
dates if applicable.
Upon receipt of the required documents, an in-house review will be made
by the Health & Security Plan in consultation with the Plan's Medical
Consultant and a determination will be made regarding the eligibility
of the dependent. If the dependent is considered not eligible, a rejection
letter will be sent to the member. The member then has the option of appealing
the decision to the Appeals Committee of the Health & Security Plan
Board of Trustees.
Guardianship
The arrangement by which certain close relatives* under age 18, may
be treated as "dependent children of the member" for the purposes
of making them eligible to receive Health and Security Plan Benefits.
In order to establish eligibility, the following must be submitted:
a. Current guardianship papers or other court documents
indicating current custodial rights..
b. Copy of the latest federal income tax form (1040)
indicating that the dependent child was claimed as a dependent.
c. Provide name and location of the school the child
is attending (if child is of school age).
d. A letter...
- authorizing the Health and Security Plan to contact
the child's school for verification of address, custodial arrangements,
etc.
- indicating the whereabouts and employment status
of natural parents; and
- explaining the circumstances how the member obtained
custody of the child.
*grandchildren, nieces, nephews and infant siblings
Change of Beneficiary
When a member completes an enrollment card a beneficiary is also designated
for the Plan's Death Benefit. If a member experiences status changes
as indicated above, or a previously named beneficiary has moved or is
deceased, it is recommended that the member consider updating the Plan's
records. Please note that the Plan cannot release the name of your beneficiary
to you by phone or in writing. You can call the Plan office and request
a change of beneficiary form. This form should be completed naming your
current beneficiary of choice, signed, notarized and returned to the
Plan office. Once the Plan has received this change of beneficiary form
it will replace all previously submitted named beneficiaries.
Retirement and Health & Security Plan Benefits
When you retire, your job status changes and this can affect your Health
& Security Plan benefits. You may be eligible to continue benefits
as a retiree. If you are pension eligible, you must send a copy of your
pension check stub (partial or full) along with a copy of your agency
completed and signed health insurance benefits form (ERB2000 for city
employees and PS404 for State employees) to the DC 37 Health & Security
Plan, 125 Barclay St., NY, NY 10007 Attn: EEU or fax the copies to 212
815- 1649. Failure to contact the Plan or provide the necessary documentation
could result in a disruption of your benefits.If you are not pension
eligible, but meet certain criteria in the following titles: Former
Hourly Dept. of Education employee, Former School Crossing Guard or
Former College Assistant, you may be eligible for a non-pensionable
benefit package. Please call the Plan office for more information, 212
815-1234.
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