October 4, 2024
Keep scrolling down to read about these important topics:
Reps’ Corner: Health Insurance ~ Upcoming Events and Important Dates
Adjunct Technology Fund: By the Numbers ~ Sign Your Union Card ~ Helpful Links
HEALTH INSURANCE
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on Health Insurance.
Q: Am I eligible for health insurance?
A: In most cases, yes: Access to NYU health insurance is a union-won benefit. After working at NYU for one year, adjuncts may apply annually for health insurance through the university's United Healthcare plans. After qualifying, adjunct faculty must have an appointment for the current or the next Academic Year in order to participate. Adjunct faculty who are employed for one year and do not obtain an appointment for the current or the next Academic Year are not qualified to participate.
Q: When can I sign up for health insurance?
A: The sign-up window will be open from October 21 - November 4. Both the union and the university will send reminders via email. Coverage begins on January 1, 2025. Payments are not automatically deducted from your paycheck. You will receive a package of 12 monthly invoices in late December from Employee Benefit Plan Administration, Inc. (EBPA), the billing administrator for NYU. To keep your coverage in effect, payments must be received by EBPA each month before the due date indicated on each invoice.
Q: How much will I pay for health insurance?
A: The amount you pay for health insurance is directly related to how many contact hours you taught in the previous academic year. That means NYU will subsidize your insurance based on your record for academic year 2023-24: Fall 2023, January 2024, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024.
Although we do not know the exact rates for next year, our contract lays out the subsidies. See estimates below, based on 2024 premiums for individual or family (i.e. individual, spouse/domestic partner, and child(ren)) coverage. These amounts exclude dental and vision coverage, which is separate.
Estimated Premiums for Individual Coverage:
Q: If I sign up for health insurance, will I only be covered while I am teaching?
A: No. NYU’s coverage continues all year (January 1 - December 31), whether or not you are teaching for a semester or two, however, remember that taking a semester off might affect your subsidy level in the following year.
Q: Is October the only time I can apply for health insurance?
A: Generally, there is only one time a year when you can sign up for NYU insurance, and that is in October during open enrollment. This coverage will start on January 1.
However, there is a thing called a "qualifying life event," and if you qualify, you may be allowed to switch over earlier. Examples of Qualifying Life Events:
Marriage/Divorce
Losing a job where you had health insurance
Birth/Adoption of a child
Loss/Gain of spouse/domestic partner coverage
Estimated Premiums for Family Coverage:
Upcoming Events
& Important dates
Here is a list of noteworthy dates. Click on the designated links for details. View our ACT UAW calendar here.
Monday, October 21, 12:00 pm
Joint Council Meeting
As always, we encourage member attendance to observe so they know what’s going on with their union! Please register in advance so we can confirm your membership and send you the Zoom link.
October 21 - November 4, 2024
Annual Enrollment for 2025 Benefits
Whether you would like to continue your NYU benefits or if you are enrolling for the first time, you must actively make an election during Annual Enrollment. Unless you experience a qualifying life event, Annual Enrollment is your only opportunity to elect benefits that become effective January 1, 2025.
As always, we encourage member attendance to observe so they know what’s going on with their union! Please register in advance so we can confirm your membership and send you the Zoom link.
Tuesday, October 22 (Manhattan) & Wednesday, October 30 (Brooklyn)
NYU Benefits Fair
Representatives from NYU and our benefits providers will be available to meet you and answer your questions.
Tuesday, October 22
Adjunct Union Orientation Drop-In
New hires, please save the date for this explanation of your rights as union members. This meeting is open to all members who may be interested in learning more about their contract.
Tuesday, October 22, 6- 8pm
Launch of UAW Worker Power Institute
The 9A Worker Power Institute—part of UAW Region 9A’s education program—consists of a series of trainings, conferences, programs, and workshops throughout the year designed to empower and equip UAW Region 9A members with the tools they need to take on their bosses on the shop floor, at the bargaining table and on the picket line.
Technology fund
A look at the Technology Fund by the numbers for Academic Year 2023-2024.
In Academic Year 2023 - 2024 the adjunct technology fund was $200,000. This included a rollover of $100,000 from the 2022 - 2023 technology fund amount, since the new contract wasn’t ratified until November 2022 and it took some time to get the technology fund up and running.
Here are some numbers summarizing the 2023 - 2024 technology fund:
The first installment of the 2024 - 2025 technology fund is nearly exhausted. The second installment will become available on the first day of the Spring semester (January 21, 2025). Click here to access the application form as well as a description of the policies governing the fund, if you would like to apply.
Have you signed your card?
If you haven’t done so, now is the time.
Download the card here, fill out the pdf and add your e-signature in the two designated areas and then email the completed form with your signatures at both the middle and at the bottom of the form to mail@actuaw.org and nyu@actuaw.org.
Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.
If you have any difficulties filling out the pdf, email staff organizer Julia Geiger at jgeiger@actuaw.org.
Union membership is not automatic.
If you are an adjunct or part-time faculty member who works 40+ contact hours per academic year (September 1-August 31), or 75+ contact hours of individual instruction or tutoring during a semester, you are eligible to join the union.
The payment of either union dues or an agency fee is a condition of continued employment at NYU.
We need your participation to help ensure a strong union.
Please email your completed card to the Union Administrator
Cheryl Coles mail@actuaw.org and CC nyu@actuaw.org