Mahopac Teachers Association Benefit Fund
  • Home
  • Accountability
  • Blog: News 4 U
  • Dental
  • Financial Counseling
  • Hearing
  • Leave of Absence
  • Legal
  • Life Insurance
  • Major Medical
  • New Hires
    • New Hires 2020 - 2021
  • NYSUT
  • Preferred
  • Retirement
    • 2021 UPSEU
    • 2021 MTA
  • Variable Benefit
  • Vision

Are You Retiring this Spring (or know someone who is)???????

5/19/2020

 
Picture
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.

Retiree Re-Enrollment

5/17/2020

 
Picture







​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: 
  1. Plan Re-Enrollment Forms 
  2. Dental Re-Enrollment Forms 
  3. RETIREE STATUS UPDATE FORM - You are being asked to fill this out to ensure that the MTABF has your most recent contact information. 
Please mail all 3 items back to Preferred. 

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 




Final Dental Payment Due by May 31st

5/15/2020

 
Picture
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

Open Enrollment/Dependent Certification FOR AETNA

5/11/2020

 
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
covid-19_impact_-_member_communication_district_with_7-1_oe__1_.docx
File Size: 17 kb
File Type: docx
Download File


REMINDER: DENTAL PAYMENT # 2 is DUE 4.30.2020

4/24/2020

 
Picture
If you  would like to take advantage of  a 3 month payment plan each payment is due no later then: 
  • Payment 1 due by March 31st
  • Payment 2 due by April 30th
  • Payment 3 due by May 31st​
​https://www.mtabenefitfund.org/blog-news-4-u/dont-forget-enroll-for-dental-for-2020-2021-school-year-now

WILL EXECUTIONS in NYS DURING COVID-19

4/19/2020

 
Picture
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:
  1. The person requesting that their signature be witnessed, if not personally known to the witness(es), must present valid photo ID to the witness(es) during the video conference, not merely transmit it prior to or after;
  2. The video conference must allow for direct interaction between the person and the witness(es), and the supervising attorney, if applicable (e.g. no pre-recorded videos of the person signing);
  3. The witnesses must receive a legible copy of the signature page(s), which may be transmitted via fax or electronic means, on the same date that the pages are signed by the person;
  4. The witness(es) may sign the transmitted copy of the signature page(s) and transmit the same back to the person;
  5. The witness(es) may repeat the witnessing of the original signature page(s) as of the date of execution provided the witness(es) receive such original signature pages together with the electronically witnessed copies within thirty days after the date of execution.” 
CONTACT MIRKIN & GORDON TO FIND OUT HOW THEY CAN DO THIS WITH YOU> THIS IS A FREE BENEFIT:  914 997-1576  

Student Loan Payments & Interest Suspended Due to COVID-19 Crisis

4/19/2020

 
Picture
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.

studentloanrelief4-20.pdf
File Size: 195 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


RAYMOND OPTICIANS

4/10/2020

 
Picture
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/



YOU & YOUR MONEY... MAKING THE MOST OF IT

4/10/2020

 
The COVID-19 Pandemic is creating many obstacles and uncertainly in our daily lives. It's important that you have somewhere to turn to with your questions—especially those that are financial in nature.  The Mahopac  Teachers Association Benefit Fund would like to remind you that you have a Financial Counseling Program available to you at no out of pocket cost (it is paid for by The Benefit Fund). 

​You can schedule your free financial consultation with Stacey Braun Associates, Inc., the provider of this potentially very helpful benefit. They will assist you with questions about any financial matters—whether it be navigating through day to day cash flow issues, determining how this crisis will affect your long term plans for retirement or determining how the new Government Stimulus plan might benefit you. They are here to help with any financial issue. ​
Picture
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.

MAILING DENTAL ENROLLMENT FORMS

4/1/2020

 
Picture
Would LOVE IT if you would mail your dental enrollment forms to PREFERRED & NOT the the MTABF PO Box
Thank you!
The address is on the bottom of the form as part of the TO DO checklist 

Legal Services Still Available

3/28/2020

 
Picture
As concern continues about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) Mirkin & Gordon's goal is to continue to meet the needs of our clients  with as little disruption as the law and government mandates allow. 
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.



Don't forget - enroll for dental for 2020-2021 school year now

3/19/2020

 
Picture
​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:
Picture
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

follow us on twitter & Facebook

3/18/2020

 
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.
Picture
@MTABF1
Picture
Mta Benefit Fund

Financial Coun$eling in Person Sessions Suspended, BUt...

3/12/2020

 
​In light of covid-19 developments Stacey Braun is suspending the face to face consultation component of the Financial Counseling Program until further notice.  In the interim they are offering consultations via web conferencing or phone consultations. 
​Stacey Braun has engaged an encrypted and very user friendly web conferencing service.  Members can also continue to access their website (which has been recently upgraded) using the same user id and password that was assigned when your group began the Program. 
Picture
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.

AETNA PARTICIPANTS - information from PNW BOCES Health Consortium

3/11/2020

 
 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

march is dental enrollment month

3/2/2020

 
Picture
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:
Picture
​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

WANT to keep your new years resolution?

2/27/2020

 
Picture
More information at: https://www.24hourfitness.com/gyms/yorktown-heights-ny/yorktown-heights-supersport

Major Medical Reimbursement for 2019 Due by 1.31.2020

1/9/2020

 
Picture
The Mahopac Teachers Association Benefit Fund will reimburse the member a portion of his/her out-of-pocket major medical deductible incurred on behalf of the member and/or his/her eligible dependents, once during a calendar year. This benefit will be paid upon reaching the deductible or at the end of the calendar year whichever comes first.

To obtain this benefit, the member must submit all necessary major medical statements showing the date, doctor or hospital, and event for which the deductible was used and submit them with the Benefit Fund claim form within 90 days of reaching the deductible or the end of the calendar year, whichever comes first. Completed forms should be mailed to:

Mahopac Teachers Association Benefit Fund
c/o Preferred Group Plans
P.O. Box 15136
Albany, NY 12212-5136

Get all the info & correct claim form here: ​https://www.mtabenefitfund.org/major-medical.html

LEGAL BENEFITS - teacherslegalfund.com

11/20/2019

 
All covered members are eligible for a comprehensive set of benefits. Check out the LEGAL FUND WEBSITE at http://teacherslegalfund.com/

If you wish to make an appointment to consult a lawyer call Mirkin & Gordon at 914.997.1576.
Picture
​​Check out some of the benefits & an explanation of each:
  • Legal Defense Benefit/Representation in Civil Matters (amended October 26,2011)
  • Legal Separation Benefit
  • Divorce Benefit
  • Uncontested Annulment Benefit
  • Adoption Benefit
  • Personal Bankruptcy Benefit
  • Change of Name Benefit
  • Homeownerʼs Rights Benefit  (amended October 27, 2011)
  • General Consultation Benefit
  • Document Review Benefit
  • Will Benefit
  • Living Will/Health Care Proxy Benefit
  • Planning for the Elderly Benefit
  • Probate and Estate Administration Benefit
  • Personal Injury (Negligence) Benefit
  • Arraignment Assistance-Telephone Consultation Benefit
  • Consumer Protection Benefit
  • Identity Theft Protection Benefit
  • Counseling of Un-emancipated Children Benefit
  • Designation of Person in Parental Relation Benefit
  • Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains Benefit
  • Estate Planning Benefit
  • Prenuptial Agreement Benefit
  • GENERAL EXCLUSIONS
Legal Benefits Summary
File Size: 1906 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Aetna Fall 2019 NewSletter

11/18/2019

 
Picture
Read the  Fall Newsletter provided by the Putnam/Northern/Westchester Health Consortium (BOCES).
Fall 2019 NewsLetter
File Size: 2191 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


<<Previous
Forward>>
    Picture
    MTABF
    P.O. Box # 656
    Baldwin Place, NY 10505
    ​
    Phone: 845.380.8629


    Picture

    MTABF Events Calendar

    Find out what's going on & what deadlines you don't want to miss.

    Picture
    Picture

    MTA Web Site

    NEWS Archive

    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Damian Gadal
  • Home
  • Accountability
  • Blog: News 4 U
  • Dental
  • Financial Counseling
  • Hearing
  • Leave of Absence
  • Legal
  • Life Insurance
  • Major Medical
  • New Hires
    • New Hires 2020 - 2021
  • NYSUT
  • Preferred
  • Retirement
    • 2021 UPSEU
    • 2021 MTA
  • Variable Benefit
  • Vision