Under our master contract in New York City, workers have access to free family healthcare.
Under our master contract in New York City, workers are guaranteed free family healthcare through the New York Hotel Trades Council and Hotel Association of NYC, Inc. Employee Benefit Funds (Health Benefits Fund, for short). Not only are union workers in New York City not paying anything out of their paychecks to have health insurance, but our contract requires employers to provide a very comprehensive plan, with no deductibles, no co-insurance, no co-pays for visits to the Health Centers, and minimal prescription co-pays. This coverage means that our members can focus on taking care of themselves and their loved ones, without worrying about sky-high prescription costs or surprise medical bills.
There is a common misconception that union dues pay for healthcare – that's not true. Union dues pay to keep the union strong: to hire attorneys, organizers, and business agents, who win the contracts that make employers fund 100% of these benefit plans. The funds are managed by a board of trustees, consisting of equal numbers of union-designated trustees and employer-designated trustees.
Extensive medical and hospitalization coverage is provided at no cost to eligible members, their spouses, domestic partners, and covered dependents. At a time when healthcare costs are skyrocketing, we are able to maintain free family healthcare by cutting out private insurance companies whenever possible.
The Health Benefits Fund owns and operates Health and Dental Centers in Midtown Manhattan, Harlem, Brooklyn, and Queens and directly employs hundreds of doctors, specialists, nurses, counselors, and administrative staff. Members who live in New York City use the Health Centers for their medical needs.
If any patient healthcare needs cannot be met at the Health Centers, they can be referred out to specialists and experts throughout the region.
The Health Benefits Fund has also partnered with CityMD, which has over 150 urgent care clinics located throughout New York and New Jersey. Union workers who have the Industry Health Plan can go to any CityMD location for free.
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield provides emergency coverage and hospitalization. Ambulances are covered in life-or-death situations or with a referral from a Health Center. There is a $5 co-pay for members who have EPO coverage.
Members who live in Staten Island or outside of New York City also have EPO coverage through Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, allowing them to see providers outside of the Health Centers for their healthcare needs.
Pharmacies are located at each of the Health Centers. A wide range of medications are available, with low co-pays. The pharmacies are open Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5:45PM. The Queens and Midtown Health Centers only are open on Saturdays from 8AM to 5:30PM.
Call the automated refill system of the pharmacy you wish to pick up your medication and follow the prompts to refill one or more prescriptions.
For medications prescribed by a doctor at the Health Centers, go online and use your account on www.MyFundsPortal.com, the same site you use to request an appointment, or check non-sensitive lab results.
Download and use the Refill Pro App to scan the barcode on your prescription to request a refill.
Extensive dental coverage, including oral surgery, is provided at no cost to eligible members and their covered dependents at one of the Health Benefits Fund’s four Dental Centers.
Orthodontia benefits are covered up to $1,000 for each minor dependent of an eligible member.
Participating members and their covered dependents can get eye examinations at no cost and reimburse up to $200 per year for the purchase of glasses or contact lenses. Any unused balances will roll over up to a maximum of $400. To download a copy of the Eye Care Benefit Reimbursement Form, click here.
Mental health and addiction coverage is provided to participating members and their covered dependents at no cost. Services include confidential evaluation and assessment, crisis/short-term counseling, prevention assistance for emotional, alcohol and drug-related problems, and free on-going counseling through individual and group sessions.
Under the plan, members are allotted funds to reimburse eligible health expenses, such as prescriptions and other over-the-counter qualified healthcare products. Currently, members covered by the Industry-Wide Agreement receive $200 per year through the HRA for single coverage or $400 per year for family coverage. Members can access their HRA funds on a pre-paid card or through the Optum Financial mobile app.
If you have not received your HRA card, contact the Benefit Funds at (212) 586-6400.
The Benefits Fund provides a death benefit of $10,000 for eligible members. To select or change the beneficiary, visit the Administrative Office located at 305 West 44th Street, New York, NY, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM or contact them by phone at (212) 586-6400.
The Benefits Fund provides an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit of up to $10,000 (based on the extent of the loss) for eligible members. To select or change the beneficiary, visit the Administrative Office located at 305 West 44th Street, New York, NY, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM or contact them by phone at (212) 586-6400.
The Benefits Fund offers Accident and Sickness Weekly benefits for eligible members who are unable to work due to an off-the-job accident or sickness. The benefit is 50% of a member’s salary, up to $300 per week, and is provided by The Standard Insurance. Benefits are payable for a maximum of 26 weeks in a rolling 52-week period.
To apply, the member and their physician must complete the required paperwork and return it to the Administrative Office located at 305 West 44th Street, New York, NY.
Under the IWA plan, members must only work 56 hours in a month to maintain health insurance for themselves and their family the following month. This means many members are able to keep their healthcare when they are on a reduced work week or working part-time.
Registration is required in order to receive benefits. You can register at the Administrative Office of the Benefits Fund located at 305 West 44th Street, New York, NY on the 2nd floor, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM.
Obtain a copy of the official Summary Plan Description. Call the Benefits Fund’s Office at (212) 586-6400 or view them online at www.HotelFunds.org.
For questions about coverage, enrollment, and billing, call the Benefits Fund’s Administrative Offices at (212) 586-6400.
To make an appointment at one of the Health Centers call (718) 606-3863.
Eligible pensioners may elect to get their medical and prescription drug coverage through the Health Centers after retirement. In order to do so, pensioners must qualify (read more here) and assign their Medicare Part B benefits to the Funds. Hospitalization is covered by Medicare Part A and is not part of the Funds coverage. For more information, please contact the Health Benefit Funds at (212) 586-6400.
