Have you or a colleague ever unexpectedly lost a dentist because they stopped taking UFT dental coverage? Have you ever had to pay an enormous sum out of pocket to get what should be a routine dental procedure for you or a family member? Currently the UFT Welfare Fund’s dental plan has high out-of-pocket costs for members, and the number of in-network dentists is dwindling, especially pediatric and out-of-state dentists.
A major reason for the high out-of-pocket dental costs and low number of in-network dentists is the abysmally low reimbursements afforded by our welfare fund compared to other municipal labor funds. For example, the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) for CUNY educators on average has reimbursement rates that are 95% higher than rates at the UFT and pays dentists $591 for crowns, compared to the UFT Welfare Fund which only reimburses dentists $200. These low reimbursement rates persist despite the UFT Welfare fund earning an average of $94 million annually in excess revenue over expenses in the last 5 years. Additionally, since the Dental Schedule was last updated in 2016, benefits paid by the Welfare Fund have increased by only 11.6% (from $287,455,176 to $320,819,303), whereas the Welfare Fund’s investments have grown by 212% (from $208,339,102 to $650,050,943).
With this petition, we demand that the Welfare Fund Trustees raise reimbursement rates by at least 75% by the end of 2024 in order to decrease out-of-pocket costs for members and increase the number of in-network dentists so that members have more robust choices when it comes to their dental health.
Please join your fellow educators at the UFT and add your voice to demand better dental care. You’ve earned it!
(petition moved from change.org)
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 29, 2024
Reached 100 supporters
April 28, 2024
April 25, 2024
The UFT Welfare Fund is hoarding millions while we bleed cash at the dentist. If you have not sent this link to three colleagues yet, do it now because we hit one hundred signatures the moment you take action.
84 Comments
I have not been able to find an in-network dentist for our benefits for the last decade. I am very angry that the UFT is sitting on an $800,000,000 surplus and refuses to let us access good dental care.
My dentist dropped our union coverage two years ago. Our out of pocket costs for dental care is extremely and the reimbursement rates to providers is an embarrassment. The UFT needs to better and increase reimbursement rates to the providers in the network.
Please increase the reimbursements for dentists. They’re not charity workers. Effectively we don’t have dental insurance. We have something fake that kind doctors take until they remember they have to eat too
I had a $6,000 dental procedure and the welfare fund covered $110. Even to get that, I needed to file 3 times. That's not insurance. 75% increase is insufficient! Real insurance covers the full cost, less a nominal copay or deductible.
I had to pay almost $300 to fix a broken filling, something that I have never done with any other dental insurance. That is not acceptable!
We need to have some of it covered. Please
We deserve better care!
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Have you or a colleague ever unexpectedly lost a dentist because they stopped taking UFT dental coverage? Have you ever had to pay an enormous sum out of pocket to get what should be a routine dental procedure for you or a family member? Currently the UFT Welfare Fund’s dental plan has high out-of-pocket costs for members, and the number of in-network dentists is dwindling, especially pediatric and out-of-state dentists.
A major reason for the high out-of-pocket dental costs and low number of in-network dentists is the abysmally low reimbursements afforded by our welfare fund compared to other municipal labor funds. For example, the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) for CUNY educators on average has reimbursement rates that are 95% higher than rates at the UFT and pays dentists $591 for crowns, compared to the UFT Welfare Fund which only reimburses dentists $200. These low reimbursement rates persist despite the UFT Welfare fund earning an average of $94 million annually in excess revenue over expenses in the last 5 years. Additionally, since the Dental Schedule was last updated in 2016, benefits paid by the Welfare Fund have increased by only 11.6% (from $287,455,176 to $320,819,303), whereas the Welfare Fund’s investments have grown by 212% (from $208,339,102 to $650,050,943).
With this petition, we demand that the Welfare Fund Trustees raise reimbursement rates by at least 75% by the end of 2024 in order to decrease out-of-pocket costs for members and increase the number of in-network dentists so that members have more robust choices when it comes to their dental health.
Please join your fellow educators at the UFT and add your voice to demand better dental care. You’ve earned it!
(petition moved from change.org)
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 29, 2024
Reached 100 supporters
April 28, 2024
April 25, 2024
The UFT Welfare Fund is hoarding millions while we bleed cash at the dentist. If you have not sent this link to three colleagues yet, do it now because we hit one hundred signatures the moment you take action.
84 Comments
We pay way more into this system than we get from it. Our dental coverage is outdated and coverage hasn't kept up with today's costs. How do I know? My long-retired relatives had the same exact plan. No wonder why hard-working dentists don't want to accept it. Stop treating teachers like second-class citizens.
I have not been able to find an in-network dentist for our benefits for the last decade. I am very angry that the UFT is sitting on an $800,000,000 surplus and refuses to let us access good dental care.
My dentist dropped our union coverage two years ago. Our out of pocket costs for dental care is extremely and the reimbursement rates to providers is an embarrassment. The UFT needs to better and increase reimbursement rates to the providers in the network.
Please increase the reimbursements for dentists. They’re not charity workers. Effectively we don’t have dental insurance. We have something fake that kind doctors take until they remember they have to eat too
I had a $6,000 dental procedure and the welfare fund covered $110. Even to get that, I needed to file 3 times. That's not insurance. 75% increase is insufficient! Real insurance covers the full cost, less a nominal copay or deductible.
I had to pay almost $300 to fix a broken filling, something that I have never done with any other dental insurance. That is not acceptable!
We need to have some of it covered. Please
We deserve better care!
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We pay way more into this system than we get from it. Our dental coverage is outdated and coverage hasn't kept up with today's costs. How do I know? My long-retired relatives had the same exact plan. No wonder why hard-working dentists don't want to accept it. Stop treating teachers like second-class citizens.