Financial Counseling

Free professional financial planning is available to all active Local 237 Welfare Fund participants.  The program is administered by Stacey Braun Associates and provides access to qualified professionals, Certified Financial Planners, and Registered Investment Advisors to assist with:

• Budgeting
• Debt Management
• Retirement planning
• Insurance
• Investing
• College Planning
• Taxes
• Inheritance Issues
• Financial Education

Contact Stacey Braun Associates at (888) 949-1925 for a free consultation or more information
or log on to www.staceybraun.com
User ID: tl237
Password: money

Introductory Video

Welfare Fund FAQs - Retirees

How does a Retiree get benefit forms?
Call the Retiree Fund Office at (212) 924-7220 to request forms for optical, hearing aid or supplemental medical.

What must be done to add a new dependent?
The retiree must request and then fill out a new enrollment form and submit it along with a copy of the marriage certificate, birth certificate or domestic partner registration to the Fund Office. Call (212) 924-7220 for cards and additional information. The name of a spouse or other dependent will not appear on the Retirees' drug card until the new enrollment card is on file.

What happens if a Retiree has dental, optical or prescription expenses before his or her name appears on the eligibility listing?
Retirees should save all receipts for dental, optical and prescription expenses from the effective date of retirement, and submit them for reimbursement according to the Plan schedule of allowances after their name appears on the eligibility listing. Optical is only reimbursable for Retirees out of the metropolitan area.

How can a Retiree find out how much money has been used for prescriptions during the current year?
By calling Aetna Customer Service, at (855) 352-1599 or the Fund Office, at (212) 924-7220 can be contacted to obtain this information.

What should a Retiree do if he or she has not received a Drug Card and needs to have a prescription filled right away?
The Retiree can call the Fund Office, at (212) 924-7220 in order to get the prescription filled. The Fund will then request that a card be issued in the Retiree's name. This will take about 10 business days.

Why doesn't a Retiree's spouse or other dependent appear on the Drug Card?
The name of a spouse or other dependent will not appear on the Retiree's drug card until the new enrollment card is on file at the administrator's office. Call the Fund Office to request a new enrollment card.

Is there a prescription mail-away program for Retirees?
Yes.  Call the Retiree Fund Office at (212) 924-7220 for further information or by calling Aetna Customer Service, at (855) 352-1599.

The Importance of Naming a Beneficiary, Your Life Insurance

By Mitch Goldberg
Director of the Welfare Fund

There are certain important topics that people feel uncomfortable discussing. At the top of this list is Life Insurance. The Welfare Fund provides for a Group Term Policy with MetLife Life. This benefit is paid to your designated beneficiary at the time of your death. The beneficiary may be any person of your choice. You can name a beneficiary by contacting the Fund office (212) 924-7220 and requesting a new enrollment form and completing the beneficiary designation portion of the enrollment form. In order to be in effect, your designation must be on file in the Fund office or with MetLife. If there is no designated beneficiary living at the time of your death, the Death Benefit will be paid to your estate. This creates a delay in payment and can be time consuming for the executor of your estate who must go to Surrogates Court to obtain the proper papers needed by MetLife Life before payment can be made. Life sometimes brings unexpected changes. Your personal situation may have changed due to divorce, death of your original beneficiary or you may simply want to name a new beneficiary. If you are unsure of who is listed as your beneficiary, we suggest you complete a new enrollment form or call MetLife.

The current benefit provided under our Group Term Policy is $15,000 should you the member die. The spousal benefit is $5,000 if your spouse passes before you. The dependent benefit is $5,000.

MetLife also offers Voluntary Benefits by payroll deduction for additional Life Insurance. If you require further information or clarification regarding this article, please call the Fund at (212) 924-7220. We are here to help.

Updated May 1, 2020

Welfare Benefit Fund FAQs – Active Members

Who in my family is eligible for dental and/or optical coverage?
Members, their spouses, domestic partners and their children up to age 26 are eligible under the Local 237 Welfare Fund for dental and optical benefits. Members receive a card from Healthplex for your dental benefits once eligible. To utilize your optical benefit obtain a claim form at the optical services provider of your choice that participates in the Comprehensive Professional Systems (CPS) PPO Network.

To find a participating provider, go to the CPS website. Under the "Select Your Plan" pull down menu, choose “LOCAL 237 TEAMSTERS ACTIVE AND RETIRED ACTIVE FUND”, enter your zip code and submit. If you want to speak to a CPS representative to find a location call (212) 675-5745.

What documentation does the Welfare Fund need in order to provide coverage for my dependents?
The Fund's rules require that proper documentation be on record before enrollment of eligible dependents can be completed. The documentation required is in the form of a marriage license, birth certificate or domestic partner registration certificate. This procedure allows the Fund to provide coverage for all of our members' dependents.

Why doesn't the Welfare Fund provide information on my medical coverage?
Medical coverage is provided by the employer, The City of New York and not by the Welfare Fund. Members should call the Office of Labor Relations (OLR) for health plan information and questions. OLR (212) 306-7200

Can I get a second drug card for my spouse to carry?
Single members are issued one card. Married members or members with dependents are issued two cards. Additional cards may be requested if lost or stolen. The request must be in writing and can be mailed to the Local Teamster 237 address or you may request it by going directly to Aetna.com

I’m having a problem with my dentist. What can I do?
If the problem is with a "participating dentist," the member should call HEALTHPLEX, the fund's dental administrator, at (800) 468-0600.

How does a member file for disability coverage and what is the length of coverage?
The Group Disability Form must be completed by the member, his or her doctor and the employer, and mailed to the Fund office within 30 days of the start of the disability. Benefits are payable up to $300 per week for up to 52 weeks within a 104 week period with continuous certification from the medical doctor of the member's inability to work.

When a member retires, does he or she have to come to the Fund office to enroll, and how long will it take for Retirees to receive benefits?
The best and fastest way for a retiree to enroll for eligible benefits under the retiree is Plan is for the Retiree to bring, mail or fax a copy of their first pension check and a copy of their Health Benefits Application to the Fund Office.

The Retirees’ former Department or Agency will add his or her name to a retiree eligibility list which they will transmit to the Fund office. This prompts us to send out a Retirees Welfare Fund package which include an enrollment card. As soon as the Retiree's name appears on the eligibility listing (receives first pension check) and we receive the completed enrollment card, the retiree will be able to start receiving benefits directly.