Am I covered by this agreement?
All municipal workers and retirees covered by the New York City Employee Health Program are covered by the MLC agreement. This includes employees in the mayoral agencies, the Board of Education, all public library systems and most cultural institutions, the City University, the NYC Transit Authority, the NYC Housing Authority and the Health and Hospitals Corp.

The agreement does not include state court workers in Local 1070 and rent regulation workers in Local 1359. Workers at the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority in Locals 1655 and 1931 are not covered.

What is happening with asthma, chemotherapy, psychotropic and injectable drugs?
Beginning July 1, they will be covered by the health care insurers instead of the DC 37 Prescription Drug Benefit. Co-payments from members’ pockets will be reduced or eliminated.

Psychotropic drugs include such medications as Prozac, Zoloft, Thorazine and Paxil, but not anti-anxiety drugs, such as Valium.

I am a Medicare-eligible retiree. Does the change in coverage for asthma, chemotherapy, psychotropic and injectable drugs affect me?
No. Since Medicare is your primary health insurance carrier and it doesn’t include prescription drug coverage, you will continue to receive coverage of those drugs through the DC 37 plan.

I contribute to the 457 savings plan. Why should I care that there will be a 401(k) plan?
Depending on your age and when you plan to retire, you might want to open a 401(k) account, which has certain advantages over a 457 plan. The 401(k) accounts allow for a higher maximum contribution and allow you to take out loans, which you can’t do with a 457 plan. Finally, unlike the 457 plan, 401(k) accounts are “portable,” if you have a new employer.

The union will provide education and counseling on the 401(k) plan once it is available. If you are close to retirement, it may be advantageous to stay in a 457 plan.

When will I be able to open a 401(k) account?
The city’s pre-tax savings program awaits the approval of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to provide this benefit.

What about the timetable for the other benefits, such as the college savings program and the bulk-purchasing program?
The college savings program should be available in the next few months through a payroll deduction. If you want information about New York State’s College Savings Program, you can call 877-697-2837 or visit the program’s Web site at www.nysaves.com. A labor-management committee will soon be established to develop the bulk-purchasing program.

I work at the Board of Education. Will I be able to participate in the TransitChek program and save on my taxes?
Yes. Currently, the TransitChek payroll benefit — which DC 37 won in 1999 for workers covered by the citywide contract — is in place at mayoral agencies. The new agreement calls for expanding the program to all municipal employees, including those at the Board of Ed., NYC Transit Authority, NYC Housing Authority, cultural institutions and libraries. By making pre-tax payments through your TransitChek payroll deduction, you should be able to save more than $200 a year in taxes.

When do the improvements in the GHI mental health benefits go into effect?
The change to the basic GHI Mental Health Program is retroactive to Jan. 1. As a result of this change, participants are eligible for unlimited in-network coverage with a $10 co-pay. The change in the rider for the GHI Mental Health Program takes effect March 1. The rider provides for 30 out-of-network visits per year with a $100 deductible and a reimbursement of up to 50 percent of the in-network allowance.

What about the HIP mental health changes?
Effective July 1, HIP will provide in-patient alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation treatments for up to 30 days without a co-payment. In addition, the out-patient mental health program will increase the limit on visits from 20 to 60. The co-payment for out-patient visits will be increased from $5 to $10.

Does all this extra money mean the union can expand union welfare benefits?
The trustees of the Health and Security Plan periodically review the plan’s fiscal situation with preserving benefits in the face of rising costs and improving them where possible. As the fiscal picture becomes clearer, the trustees will review the dental, vision and other benefits to see if they can be improved.

Will the infusion of funds enable the drug benefit to revert to its old co-payment structure?
No. The three new co-payment levels and the restructuring instituted last year were necessary to prevent further financial hemorrhaging of the drug plan due to escalating medication costs.

The new funds — two $175 payments for each member and retiree, followed by a permanent $200 per person increase in the city’s annual contribution — will ensure that current coverage continues and guarantee the fiscal stability of the drug plan for the near future.

Where should I call if I have questions about the benefits agreement?
Call the DC37 Health and Security Plan’s Inquiry Unit at (212) 815-1234 with questions about the prescription drug and other benefits.

Call your health insurance plan about the changes in coverage. For GHI, call (212) 501-4444. For HIP, call 1-800-HIP-HELP. You may also call the DC 37 Health Insurance Unit at (212) 815-1200 with questions about medical benefits.