Welfare Trust Benefits

Health care, vision care, dental care, and hearing aid benefits are for members and their dependents. The yearly maximum per family for health care is $425. The yearly maximum per family for vision is $375 beginning October, 2022. These policy years run from October 1 to September 30. Submit Personal Health Care Claim Form and copies of the receipts for any unreimbursed medical expenses to the address on the Personal Health Claim Form. The total amount used is reported on the stub of the check sent to you by The Preferred Group.

The yearly maximum per person for dental coverage is $3000. The policy year runs from January 1 to December 31. There is NO orthodontia benefit. The participating providers have agreed to accept our Dental Schedule as full payment. You may continue to go to any dentist of your choosing. You would be responsible for any charges above the reimbursement from the plan. Each Welfare Trust representative has a copy of the dental payment schedule.Beginning July 2022 the payment to providers will increase by 20% from the previous amounts

Hearing aid benefits beginning January 2023 include $500 per family every 36 months for hearing aids, batteries, and adjustments. The Preferred Group will track each member’s 36-month term individually.

Retirees may renew their membership in the Welfare Trust each year. Early in September retirees will receive a letter from Steve Hertzog, 2nd Vice President in charge of memberhip, inviting them to join the Arlington Teachers' Association (ATA) Welfare Trust and the Arlington Retired Teachers' Association (ARTA).

There is a fee for the Welfare Trust and ARTA. The fee for the Welfare Trust is $415 and the fee for ARTA is $12. There is no cost for NYSUT and AFT membership for retirees.

If a retiree chooses not to continue their ATA Welfare Trust coverage when they receive the invitation in September, they will not be allowed to rejoin in the future.

Important new information about dependent children --

When a dependent child reaches the age of 19 and is a full time student, submit a Student Status Information Form to the address on the form. The form must be sent every year the dependent is a student once they have reached the age of 19. As long as a dependent child is a student they are eligible for the benefits until the end of the year they turn 25 years old.

If you need additional assistance, call Ron Higgins - Welfare Trust Chairperson - (845) 454-7002