 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  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  More information at: https://www.24hourfitness.com/gyms/yorktown-heights-ny/yorktown-heights-supersport  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 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.  Check out some of the benefits & an explanation of each:
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Each building will hold its own session. Can't make the one in your building, feel free to attend another.
The attorneys retained by the MTA Benefit Fund will be giving FREE consultations in each of the buildings throughout the school year. Members may meet with one of the attorneys at any of the schools. Members should call Mirkin & Gordon ahead of time for an appointment & then meet with the lawyer at the designated building at a time that is convenient for both the member & the lawyer. The lawyers will only come if you call ahead of time. To make an appointment with an attorney call the offices of Mirkin and Gordon at 914-997-1576 Find out more about your LEGAL OPTIONS   It is your responsibility to inform the MTABF in writing of a CHANGE OF ADDRESS or CHANGE OF STATUS (birth, death, divorce, legal separation, a child losing dependent status, retirement, etc.) within 60 days of the date of the event. You can Update your MTABF information by filling out a CHANGE OF STATUS FORM. For additional information on eligibility & enrollment, visit the MTABF website.  The Variable Benefit Plan was implemented to further minimize out-of-pocket expenses to you and your family. The Variable Benefit Plan provides a monetary reimbursement per plan year (July 1 through June 30) per family for eligible expenses incurred in any combination of the above benefits. Claims must be filed no later than July 31st of the covered year (July 1 through June 30). Get all the info... https://www.mtabenefitfund.org/variable-benefit.html |
MTABF
P.O. Box # 656 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 Phone: 845.380.8629
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Damian Gadal
