Trustees Approve Change to Eligibility Requirements for Health Coverage |
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Faced with ongoing financial pressures resulting from rising healthcare costs, the Trustees of the Home Care Benefit Fund have approved a change to the eligibility requirements for Home Care members to obtain health coverage. Effective March 1, 2022, members will have to work 130 hours per month to be eligible for health coverage instead of the current 100 hours per month. For example, to be eligible for benefits effective June 1, 2022, members must have worked at least 130 hours in both March and April 2022. The Benefit Fund is sending your 1199SEIU employees and members notification of this change as well. Meanwhile, the Union is lobbying the governor and the New York State Legislature in an effort to obtain state funds to help ease the funding crisis, and the Benefit Fund will keep you informed as new information becomes available. If you have any questions about the change in eligibility requirements, please call the Employer Services Unit at (646) 473-6413. |
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Benefit Funds Reimburse Members for At-home COVID-19 Tests |
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In compliance with Biden administration guidance, the Benefit Funds will reimburse your 1199SEIU employees and members for at-home COVID-19 tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), up to eight tests per covered individual, per calendar month as long as the U.S. public health emergency is in effect. Members can get the tests at no cost—over the counter—at most pharmacies by presenting their 1199SEIU Health Benefits ID cards. Effective February 1, 2022, the Benefit Funds’ reimbursement to members for the cost of personal, at-home testing is limited to $12 per individual test or the cost per test, whichever is less,. Please note: The Funds do not cover testing (including at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests) for employment purposes.
To submit a reimbursement claim online, members will need to upload documents, including a payment receipt or invoice from the seller of the test that shows where the test was purchased, the date of purchase and the cost of the test. For more information about the reimbursement process, as well as a complete list of FDA-approved tests, members may visit the Benefit Funds’ website.
In addition, effective January 19, the Biden administration announced that every U.S. household may order four free at-home COVID-19 tests at www.COVIDTests.gov. |
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Benefit Funds Hosted Facebook Live Event on COVID-19 and Variants in January |
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The Benefit Funds’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Van H. Dunn, and Funds’ Wellness nurse Karen Larane, RN, hosted a Facebook Live panel discussion for your 1199SEIU employees and members, featuring an 1199SEIU member who shared her experience being vaccinated. Your 1199SEIU employees and members may view the event on the Benefit Funds’ Facebook and Instagram pages, at www.Facebook.com/1199SEIUBenefitFunds and www.Instagram.com/1199SEIUBenefitFunds, as well as on the Benefits Channel. |
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Training and Employment Funds Offer Foundational and Pre-College Programs |
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The Training and Employment Funds offer a variety of programs that provide your 1199SEIU employees and members with the academic and communication skills they need to advance in their healthcare careers. Night and weekend classes are available.
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Prep Academy prepares members to return to school at various levels of education, including high school and college. Classes focus on reading comprehension, essay writing, math and science.
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The High School Equivalency Program helps members earn a high school equivalency diploma. The program has two options: one relies on classroom instruction and test practice, while the other is self-guided with assistance from tutors and assessors.
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College Prep prepares members to perform college-level work by attending classes on how to take college entrance exams or by completing three-credit math and English courses at various City University of New York campuses.
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Skills Enhancement Training helps workers adapt to and thrive in a quickly changing healthcare industry through real-world learning experiences and competency-based instruction.
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Facility-based Training focuses on skills and occupations in areas of need identified by labor-management committees. Previous areas have included Electronic Health Records, Computer Education, Hospital Acquired Conditions and Care Coordination Fundamentals. Training is contingent on funding availability.
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Computers and Digital Literacy helps members become more comfortable with technology and proficient with the tools they need for work or school. Topics include using computer hardware, software and operating systems; the Internet; email; and video conferencing services.
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Spanish for Healthcare Workers Program helps members respond to the needs of the growing Latinx patient population. Participants develop conversational skills to communicate effectively with immigrant patients and their families and improve their awareness of and sensitivity to cultural values.
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English for Speakers of Other Languages Program helps adult learners improve their English-language conversation, reading and writing skills. The program offers six levels of instruction, from beginner to advanced, and incorporates healthcare topics into classroom teaching.
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Health Career College Core Curriculum is a supported program run through the College of Staten Island, Lehman College and Monroe College exclusively for 1199SEIU members with little or no experience in higher education who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in various allied health fields. Participants can earn up to 32 credits toward their undergraduate degree, with no out-of-pocket expense for tuition or fees. Free counseling and tutoring are available. Programs are currently being offered online, with some limited clinical work being conducted in-person.
For more information, including how to register, your 1199SEIU employees and members may call (844) 833-1199.
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Bertha Motta counts on her 1199SEIU mental health benefits during these stressful times.
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1199SEIU Funds News is a monthly email produced by the 1199SEIU Funds. Copyright 2022.
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