 If YOU are moving, getting married (or divorced), or expecting a new arrival from the stork, etc., it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to update the MTABF. Fill out a new enrollment form and check the box that says change of status. Include a copy of the needed documentation. Without this information you will not be able to file for claims reimbursement.  CHANGE OF STATUS If you are getting married (or divorced) this summer or expecting a new arrival from the stork, moving, et al., it is your responsibility to update the benefit fund. Fill out a update enrollment form and check the box that says change of status. Include a copy of the needed documentation. Also don’t forget….. If you are submitting a claim form for The Variable Fund benefit, the plan year ends June 30th. Claims must be filed and postmarked no later than July 31st, 2020. Claims that are not properly completed or filed after July 31st will be returned to the member. The plan year runs from July 1 2019-June 30, 2020. Please fill in the claim form and submit it with proper documentation to The Preferred Group. If you are not sure if you have used up your variable benefit please contact Preferred 518-641-0321. The Variable Fund provides reimbursement up to $650.00 for all in network medical co-pays, prescriptions, optical, and charges in excess of the dental plan fee schedule. Please visit the website www.mtabenefitfund.org for a complete list of benefits.  The CARES Act provides fast and direct economic assistance for American workers and families, small businesses, and preserves jobs for American industries. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Everything you need to know is provided in a half-hour webinar that was prepared by the financial planners at Stacey Braun Associates, Inc., the firm that offers our Financial Counseling Program. Learn what the government has made available to you during these stressful times and know what your options are to keep your personal finances in order. You can access the webinar at: https://vimeo.com/414045605/bca7bdc26e  MTABF has knowledge of 16 people RETIRING THIS SPRING. We want to make sure everyone gets the info to continue their MTABF BENEFITS.... which are DIFFERENT FROM & IN ADDITION TO what MCSD offers you. If you are RETIRING (or know someone who is) please contact Christine at: MTABenefitFund@gmail.com Forms & virtual meetings will be forthcoming in June.  For those who are ALREADY RETIRED re-enrollment packets were mailed by Preferred on Friday, May 15th. Dear Retiree, We hope that this letter finds you in excellent physical and mental health and enjoying your retirement. Enclosed with this letter you should find 3 things:
There is one change to certain retirement plans that we need to bring to your attention. If you choose to maintain a LEGAL BENEFIT with the MTABF, there is an annual increase of $6.00 ($0.50 monthly) to the plan. There are no other changes to the plan. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` There are a variety of ways to keep yourself informed of all MTABF updates: ❖ Website: www.mtabenefitfund.org ❖ Facebook: www.facebook.com/MTABF ❖ Twitter: twitter.com/MTABF1 ❖ Sign up for email updates by emailing: mtabenefitfund2@gmail.com Working with YOU, for YOU, The MTABF Trustees  Reminder... if you decided to pay for your dependent(s) dental in 3 installments, # 3 is due to Preferred by May 31st. Get all the info here: https://www.mtabenefitfund.org/blog-news-4-u/dont-forget-enroll-for-dental-for-2020-2021-school-year-now THIS WAS EMAILED TO ALL EMPLOYEES FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON MAY 8TH. THE MTABF ARE PASSING THE INFORMATION ON & IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUR AETNA HEALTH INSURANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE DISTRICT OFFICE REGARDING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the closure of the Mahopac School District, the open enrollment period for health insurance changes and buyout elections has been changed to AUGUST 15 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2020. Please carefully read the attached notification. Have a good day. Michele M. Bellantoni Health Benefits Assistant/District Office bellantonim@mahopac.org (845) 628-3415 x10200 (845) 628-0261 Fax 
 If you would like to take advantage of a 3 month payment plan each payment is due no later then:
 FROM MIRKIN & GORDON: The Governor issued an Executive Order addressing “remote witnessing” (for the duration of “the Disaster Emergency”). The Executive Order states as follows: “For the purposes of (citing several New York State statutes), the act of witnessing that is required under the aforementioned New York State laws is authorized to be performed utilizing audio-video technology provided that the following conditions are met:
 FROM MIRKIN & GORDON We thought you and your members might be interested to learn that student loan relief is contained in the CARES Act. It includes an automatic 6½ month suspension of loan payments and interest. This may be particularly helpful to family members who have lost their jobs or been temporarily furloughed and now have less income to pay their bills. Attached is a summary of the student loan relief for borrowers for you to distribute to your members. 
 Raymond Opticians has been deemed an essential business by Empire State Development & will continue to provide the best possible vision care for your members and their families. The following is the information that they have provided to the MTABF: We have suspended all Routine Eye Exams throughout our offices as per CDC recommendations. We are, however, open for business to handle your members essential Vision Care needs. At this time we are still capable of providing prescription eyewear, eyewear repairs, and contact lens replacements. We have limited staff and have limited the hours of operation at all offices. We have also temporarily closed some stores that we feel we're not essential due to their close proximity to other Raymond Opticians locations. If any of your members are having trouble getting ahold of their "home" store please ask them to check our website for a nearby store. Our hours are constantly changing in this very fluid situation but as of now we are reachable Monday through Friday from 10a-4p at most offices on an alternating basis. https://raymondopticians.com/ We have been getting phone calls from patients who do require eye emergency visits. We have an extensive team of referring Ophthalmologists who are able to handle any emergency eye issues that your members and families may have. We are in constant contact with these local Eye Care Professionals and are willing and able to help with the referral process. Most of these offices would handle claims through your members Medical Insurance (this will be separate from the usual Raymond Opticians Vision Insurance.) We are hoping to resume Routine Eye Exams at Raymond Opticians by sometime in May CHECK THEIR WEB SITE FOR Latest INFO: https://raymondopticians.com/
Financial planners are available to meet via web or phone conference. They can accommodate evening and day time appointments. Please contact Stacey Braun Associates, Inc. At 888-949-1925 for more information.
The address is on the bottom of the form as part of the TO DO checklist
Despite being mandated to close their physical office, Mirkin & Gordon is fully functional and working remotely. They can arrange telephone and video conferences, and are also prepared to conduct new client consultations and intakes remotely. Visit the LEGAL PAGE to obtain contact info. & find out the services provided by Mirkin & Gordon.  To : MTA, CSEA/UPSEU, Custodial Supers. & Managerial Confidential Members: It is time to enroll for dependent / family dental coverage. Please remember that you, the member, is covered at no additional charge. If you are covering a spouse or other eligible dependents, you must enroll them every year. The cost for dental during the plan year that runs July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 will be the same as last year and is as follows:  Enrolling a dependent(s) can only be done during the enrollment period of March 1 – 31. Dependents will be covered from July 1 - June 30. If you don’t re-enroll each year, you are electing to drop coverage for your dependent(s). Your dependent(s) must then wait 3 years to re-enter the dental plan. Dependent children are eligible for coverage from birth to their 26th birthday if they are not eligible for dental coverage under another plan. Please note that you use your variable benefit for the same year as the dental coverage is in effect, so you will be utilizing next year’s variable for next year’s dental coverage. A Variable Benefit Claim Form must be submitted w/ your dental enrollment. If you are planning on retiring, you are NOT eligible to utilize the Variable Benefit and may need to pay depending on the retirement plan you elect to participate in. Questions about your benefits should be directed to the trustee from your building. DENTAL ENROLLMENT ANNOUNCEMENT LETTER: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sq1vM54BeJ3KhKi82RpMgE2UA-KZOccEqfBrvqZQ9y0/edit?usp=sharing DENTAL ENROLLMENT FORM: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KKae2lzaUFFRRWyscwaatxEXocM9AP77sfVlzHg6jEk/edit?usp=sharing CLAIM FORM: ttps://docs.google.com/document/d/12H4qjZiaNSmL8f5xM-duAd-bah80G4hpX2-1ziXunjg/edit?usp=sharing VISIT THE DENTAL PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION Did you know in addition to our NEWS-4-U Blog we are on Twitter & Facebook. Keep up-to-date on all your MTABF News.
Members who take advantage of web meetings, will still be able to have in person one on one meetings later once Stacey Braun resumes offering them. By offering a web meeting and face to face meeting later Stacey Braun hopes to prevent member’s from using the change to procrastinate or delay their use of the program and mitigate consultation bottle-necks down the road.
The Putnam/Northern Westchester Health Benefits Consortium Plan through Aetna will waive co-pays for all diagnostic testing related to COVID-19. This policy will cover the test kit for patients who meet CDC guidelines for testing, which can be done in any approved laboratory location. Aetna will waive the member costs associated with diagnostic testing at any authorized location for all Commercial and Medicare Advantage plan members. For the next 90 days (beginning March 6, 2020), the Putnam/Northern Westchester Health Benefits Consortium Plan through Aetna will offer zero co-pay Teladoc visits for any reason. Aetna members should use Teladoc as their first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices. Cost sharing will be waived for all video visits through the Aetna-covered Teladoc for all Commercial plan members. To set up an account with Teladoc: ONLINE: Go to Teladoc.com/Aetna and click “set up account” MOBILE APP: Download the app at Teladoc.com/mobile and click “activate account” CALL TELADOC: Teladoc can help you register your account or answer any questions at 1-855-Teladoc (835-2362) If you have any questions at all regarding the above, please contact us. Thank you. Linda Quicci HEALTH BENEFITS CONSORTIUM 200 BOCES Drive Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 (914)248-2456 phone (914)962-6819 fax |
MTABF
P.O. Box # 656 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 Phone: 845.380.8629 Find out what's going on & what deadlines you don't want to miss.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Damian Gadal
