Benefits: Here’s how to get answers

It’s time for some spring cleaning. Through the years, I’ve printed and sent out list after list of phone numbers for benefit resources. I thought I’d take this opportunity to update some of the most commonly used benefit phone numbers and Web addresses.

UUP’s Web site is http://www.uupinfo.org; the Administrative Office can be reached at (800) 342-4206. You can contact the UUP Benefit Trust Fund at benefits@uupmail.org or at (800) 887-3863.

The following companies are the dental and vision providers for UUPers. The plans are available to employees who are eligible for the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP): Delta Dental of NY, http://www.deltadentalny.org, (800) 932-0783; DeltaCare Dental HMO, (800) 422-4234; and Davis Vision, http://www.davisvision.com, (800) 999-5431.

Both Delta Dental and Davis Vision can be used to locate a participating provider; at the Davis Vision Web site, you can access eligibility information.

The union’s scholarship program is provided by the UUP Benefit Trust Fund. The program is available to employees who are eligible for NYSHIP. For applications, go to http://www.uupinfo.org or call (800) 887-3863.

UUPers, when first hired, have a choice of pension systems. The state systems are defined benefit plans. The Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) is a defined contribution plan. Members in the ORP have the ability to invest with four different companies and can transfer all or part of their money to different companies at any time.

The pension systems are: Employees’ Retirement System, http://www.osc.state.ny.us, (518) 474-7736; and Teachers’ Retirement System, http://www.nystrs.org, (800) 782-0289. The ORPs are: Aetna, http://www.aetna.com, (800) 677-4636; Metropolitan, http://www.metlife.com, (800) 638-5433; TIAA-CREF, http://www.tiaa-cref.org, (800) 842-2776; and VALIC, http://www.valic.com, (800) 448-2542.

If you need help navigating your benefits, please contact the UUP Administrative Office for assistance.

I will provide phone and Web listings for the Empire Plan and other benefits in a future issue of The Voice.

— Gail Maloy, Director of Member Benefits and Services