Public Employee Press

Benefits phasing out S.S.N., so use your union P.I.D.

You no longer have to use your Social Security number to get most of your union benefits, now that DC 37 has assigned personal identification numbers to all participants. The plan is nearly finished phasing out its long-standing requirement that participants provide their SSN to get benefits or inquire about claims.

“We know people are very concerned about compromising their privacy through their Social Security number,” said Health and Security Plan Administrator Rosa R. Esperon. “Except for a few benefits, members and retirees can now use their PIN to help prevent identify theft.”

Your PIN appears as your ID number on your Innoviant prescription drug benefit card and on your local union membership card. You may also call the plan’s Inquiry Unit at 212-815-1234 to ask for your PIN.

The plan has been phasing out SSNs for 18 months. While participants no longer have to use their SSN when contacting the plan, the plan still uses the number (along with PINs) to track individuals’ claims histories. Participants who call the Inquiry Unit now can provide either their PIN or SSN when speaking to an interviewer.

SSNs are no longer included on disability and death benefit checks, and you no longer need your SSN to get reimbursements for your optical benefit. Members and retirees who have bought drugs without their prescription card no longer need their SSN on reimbursement claims.

The plan continues to work on phasing out the SSN for dental benefits and optical vouchers. The transition is complicated because with those benefits, the plan has to work with outside participating providers to implement the change.

While you may still need to use your SSN if you visit a private dentist, you need only your PIN for paperwork and treatment at the DC 37 dental centers.

Since the VDT (video display terminal) benefit is provided through the city, members still must use their SSN to obtain it. Despite objections raised by unions and individuals, the city continues to use SSNs to identify its employees and retirees.

Because Medicare relies on Social Security numbers for identification, the plan must continue to use those numbers for retirees when researching Medicare Part D (drug) coverage.

The plan encourages members and retirees to use the special DC 37 Web portal of the prescription drug administrator, Innoviant. Access the site at https://member.innoviant.com. The portal lets you to track your medication claims history and provides a comprehensive description of the drug benefit.