Whether you are new to our insurance plans or are currently enrolled in dental, life, or disability, you can add health insurance by completing an insurance eligibility application.
If you have been previously enrolled in health insurance with Freelancers Union, you must wait 9 months before you can re-enroll. We will waive the 9-month waiting period if you can show that you have been continuously covered by a comparable health insurance plan. The coverage must have started immediately after ending your coverage with Freelancers Union and must have ended no more than 60 days before your new application for eligibility.
If it has been less than nine months since your previous health insurance with Freelancers Union ended, please include proof of continuous health coverage, such as a HIPAA Certificate or other written proof from the prior insurance company, with your insurance eligibility application documents.
Once coverage begins, you may only switch plans during the annual open enrollment period, which happens typically in November or December of each year. You cannot switch plans at any other time of the year.
You can add dependents to your health coverage only during the annual open enrollment period or within 30 days of a qualifying event. You can remove dependents from your health coverage at any time.
The following dependents are eligible for health coverage:
Young adult dependents are not included under your coverage. They have their own coverage and must meet any applicable deductibles and coinsurance maximums.
The cost for your young adult dependent's coverage is the individual premium rate on your current FIC health insurance plan. This cost will not appear on your monthly insurance invoice. Instead, your young adult dependent will receive his or her invoice by mail and the invoice must be paid by paper check.
Please download the Guide to Young Adult Dependent Coverage (PDF) for more information on young adult dependent eligibility and how to enroll, or contact Freelancers Union Member Services at 800.856.9981 or membership@freelancersunion.org.The domestic partner of a subscriber and the domestic partner's dependent children, if any, may be eligible for coverage. A domestic partner is an unmarried adult who is not related to the subscriber by blood in a manner that would bar marriage under applicable state laws, and who resides with the subscriber in a continuous relationship of indefinite duration in which the subscriber and the domestic partner have responsibility for each other's welfare and financial well-being.
In order to be eligible for domestic partner coverage, FIC requires proof of the following:
A Domestic Partner cannot be added if either the subscriber or the domestic partner has been a member of another domestic partnership within the last 6 months. All persons added under this section will be considered family members.
The dependent child(ren) of a covered domestic partner may also be added to your FIC health insurance plan. Dependent children are governed by the same terms and conditions that apply to a member's child(ren).
Similar to COBRA, New York Continuation Health Coverage allows people to continue to be covered under a group plan for a period of time after they become ineligible because of a qualifying event.
If you become ineligible for Freelancers Union's insurance group because you no longer meet the eligibility requirements, you will be eligible for continuation coverage. With the exception of young adult dependents, your dependents are also eligible for continuation coverage after a qualifying event. These qualifying events are:
If you are eligible for continuation coverage, the cost is the same as your plan, plus a 2% administration fee.
Your dependents can elect to continue coverage under New York State Continuation Health Coverage by contacting Member Services. You will receive a packet that you must complete and return within 90 days of the qualifying event, along with proof of event. The effective date for coverage will be retroactive to the event date.
To elect to continue coverage, proof of the qualifying event must be provided. Proof includes:
Continuation coverage lasts for 36 months after the qualifying event, unless you become eligible for another group insurance plan. Your coverage will end on the last day of the 36th month of coverage, unless terminated by you prior to that date.
To end continuation coverage, the participant must contact Member Services. Coverage will officially end on the last day of the month in which they requested termination and cannot be made retroactively.
You can add dependents at the time you enroll in a plan. Otherwise, you can add dependents during the annual open enrollment period for your plan, or as the result of a qualifying event. These qualifying events are:
Please note: No qualifying events are required to add dependents to term life coverage. No dependents can be added to long term disability insurance.
You can enroll your young adult dependents (unmarried dependents between the ages of 19 and 29 who are not full-time students) in health insurance at the time you first enroll, anytime during the special enrollment period (ending December 31, 2010), or, once the special enrollment period ends, during open enrollment. Please download the Guide to Young Adult Dependent Coverage (PDF) for more information, or contact Freelancers Union Member Services at 800.856.9981 or membership@freelancersunion.org.
Except for young adult dependents, you must add your dependents within 30 days of the qualifying event that makes them eligible.
Newborns or newly-adopted children may be added after 30 days from the birth or adoption, but the effective date of coverage will then be the 1st of the month immediately following the month in which the request was received.
Except for a new child (see rules above), the effective date for coverage is the first of the month immediately following the date of the event.
With the exception of young adult dependents, you can add a dependent to your insurance plan after a qualifying event, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. You will be asked to send proof of the event to our Administrative Office by fax or mail. Proof includes:
If you have any questions, contact our Administrative Office.
Dependents can be removed from your health, PPO dental, or life insurance plans for any reason at any time. To remove a dependent, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. These termination requests cannot be made over the phone.
The dependent's coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the termination is requested. Please note that terminations cannot be made retroactively, but payments made for future months will be refunded.
If your coverage has been terminated because of non-payment, you have 30 days from the effective date of the termination (or until the last day of the month in which the reinstatement period takes place) to reinstate your coverage. The reinstatement is retroactive to the effective date of your termination, meaning you will have had continuous coverage.
Please note: If you live outside of the group health insurance coverage area and do not reinstate your coverage within the reinstatement period, you will not be able to re-enroll, even after the 9-month waiting period.
To reinstate, you must make a payment for your entire past due amount plus the reinstatement fee no later than the deadline described above. You can make a payment online or send in a check. Checks must be received by the deadline described above. Upon receipt of your payment, coverage for you and your dependents will be reinstated. Reinstatement requests received after the deadline will not be honored.
Your monthly invoice will be posted on the billing and enrollment website on the 15th of each month (or next business day). You will also receive an invoice reminder via email on the 15th of each month, 45 days before the coverage month being billed. The invoice will include charges for all plans in which you are enrolled, as well as any applicable fees. So, a bill received on April 15 is for coverage starting June 1 and any related fees.
Paper invoices can be mailed to you upon request for a fee of $2 per invoice.
Please note: Young adult dependents enrolled in Freelancers Insurance Company health insurance plans are billed separately from you. Their invoices cannot be viewed or paid online. Please see the Guide to Young Adult Dependent Coverage (PDF) for more information.
Payments can be made by automatic EFT, one-time EFT, or by paper check. If you choose to pay by automatic EFT, your full outstanding balance will be debited from your account on the 2nd of the month or the following business day.
Payment for your total outstanding balance is due on the 1st of the month before the start of the coverage month. If your payment is late, you will receive two reminder notices: one on the 10th and one on the 20th prior to the start of the coverage month. If full payment is not received by the 1st day of the coverage month, your coverage will be terminated as of the last day of the month for which you have paid. Any claims accrued after your termination date will become your responsibility to pay.
Example: For June coverage, you will receive a bill on April 15. Payment is due by May 1 (if you elect to pay by automatic EFT, payment will be debited from your account on May 2). You will receive two standard late notices around the 10th and 20th of the May. If you have not paid for June by June 1st), your insurance coverage will be terminated as of May 31st.
* Paper invoices can be sent for an administrative fee of $2 per invoice.
**If you choose to pay by automatic EFT, your full outstanding balance will be debited from your account on the 2nd of the month or the following business day.
You can terminate your coverage for any reason at any time, except for the first two months of coverage. Once coverage begins, you can only terminate you coverage after these first two months.
Any payments you have made for future months of coverage will be refunded. The effective date of the termination will be the last day of the month in which the termination is requested and cannot be made retroactively. For all plans, your termination from a plan for any reason will result in termination of any and all dependents.
To terminate your coverage, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts.
NOTE: If you want to remove a dependent from your plan but do not want to completely end your coverage please see Adding/Removing Dependents
You can add dental insurance by completing an insurance eligibility application. If you do not enroll in dental when you first become approved for insurance, you must wait for the annual dental open enrollment period, typically September of each year.
If you have been enrolled in dental insurance with Freelancers Union before, you must wait 12 months from the date your coverage ended to re-enroll in dental insurance.
* If you are enrolled in health, life, or disability insurance at the time you want to re-enroll in dental, you must wait until the first open enrollment after you've met the 12 month waiting period to add dental insurance. You will not be required to complete an insurance eligibility application.
* If you are not enrolled in any other coverage through Freelancers Union, you can add dental insurance as soon as you've met the 12 month waiting period. You will have to complete an insurance eligibility application.
Once your coverage begins, you may switch plans only during the annual open enrollment period, typically in September of each year. You cannot switch plans at any other time.
You can add or remove dependents only during the annual open enrollment period or within 30 days of a qualifying event.
The following dependents are eligible for dental coverage:
Legal spouse (unless legally separated) and common-law spouse where legally recognized by the state.
Dental coverage ends at the end of the calendar year in which the dependent turns 26
The domestic partner of a subscriber and the domestic partner's dependent children, if any, may be eligible for coverage. A domestic partner is an unmarried adult who is not related to the subscriber by blood in a manner that would bar marriage under applicable state laws, and who resides with the subscriber in a continuous relationship of indefinite duration in which the subscriber and the domestic partner have responsibility for each other's welfare and financial well-being.
In order to be eligible for domestic partner coverage, FIC requires proof of the following:
A Domestic Partner cannot be added if either the subscriber or the domestic partner has been a member of another domestic partnership within the last 6 months. All persons added under this section will be considered family members.
The dependent child(ren) of a covered domestic partner may also be added to your FIC health insurance plan. Dependent children are governed by the same terms and conditions that apply to a member's child(ren).
You can add dependents at the time you enroll in a plan. Otherwise, you can add dependents during the annual open enrollment period for your plan, or as the result of a qualifying event. These qualifying events are:
Please note: No qualifying events are required to add dependents to term life coverage. No dependents can be added to long term disability insurance.
Except for young adult dependents, you must add your dependents within 30 days of the qualifying event that makes them eligible.
Newborns or newly-adopted children may be added after 30 days from the birth or adoption, but the effective date of coverage will then be the 1st of the month immediately following the month in which the request was received.
Except for a new child (see rules above), the effective date for coverage is the first of the month immediately following the date of the event.
With the exception of young adult dependents, you can add a dependent to your insurance plan after a qualifying event, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. You will be asked to send proof of the event to our Administrative Office by fax or mail. Proof includes:
If you have any questions, contact our Administrative Office.
Dependents can be removed from your health, PPO dental, or life insurance plans for any reason at any time. Except for young adult dependents, you can remove a dependent by sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. These termination requests cannot be made over the phone.
Termination request for young adult dependents must be submitted in writing to Freelancers Union Member Services.
The dependent's coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the termination is requested. Please note that terminations cannot be made retroactively, but payments made for future months will be refunded.
If your coverage has been terminated because of non-payment, you have 30 days from the effective date of the termination (or until the last day of the month in which the reinstatement period takes place) to reinstate your coverage. The reinstatement is retroactive to the effective date of your termination, meaning you will have had continuous coverage.
To reinstate, you must make a payment for your entire past due amount plus the reinstatement fee no later than the deadline described above. You can make a payment online or send in a check. Checks must be received by the deadline described above. Upon receipt of your payment, coverage for you and your dependents will be reinstated. Reinstatement requests received after the deadline will not be honored.
Your monthly invoice will be posted on the billing and enrollment website on the 15th of each month (or next business day). You will also receive an invoice reminder via email on the 15th of each month, 45 days before the coverage month being billed. The invoice will include charges for all plans in which you are enrolled, as well as any applicable fees. So, a bill received on April 15 is for coverage starting June 1 and any related fees.
Paper invoices can be mailed to you upon request for a fee of $2 per invoice.
Please note: Young adult dependents enrolled in Freelancers Insurance Company health insurance plans are billed separately from you. Their invoices cannot be viewed or paid online. Please see the Guide to Young Adult Dependent Coverage (PDF) for more information.
Payments can be made by automatic EFT, one-time EFT, or by paper check. If you choose to pay by automatic EFT, your full outstanding balance will be debited from your account on the 2nd of the month or the following business day.
Payment for your total outstanding balance is due on the 1st of the month before the start of the coverage month. If your payment is late, you will receive two reminder notices: one on the 10th and one on the 20th prior to the start of the coverage month. If full payment is not received by the 1st day of the coverage month, your coverage will be terminated as of the last day of the month for which you have paid. Any claims accrued after your termination date will become your responsibility to pay.
Example: For June coverage, you will receive a bill on April 15. Payment is due by May 1 (if you elect to pay by automatic EFT, payment will be debited from your account on May 2). You will receive two standard late notices around the 10th and 20th of the May. If you have not paid for June by June 1st), your insurance coverage will be terminated as of May 31st.
* Paper invoices can be sent for an administrative fee of $2 per invoice.
**If you choose to pay by automatic EFT, your full outstanding balance will be debited from your account on the 2nd of the month or the following business day.
You can terminate your coverage for any reason at any time, except for the first two months of coverage. Once coverage begins, you can only terminate you coverage after these first two months.
Any payments you have made for future months of coverage will be refunded. The effective date of the termination will be the last day of the month in which the termination is requested and cannot be made retroactively. For all plans, your termination from a plan for any reason will result in termination of any and all dependents.
To terminate your coverage, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts.
NOTE: If you want to remove a dependent from your plan but do not want to completely end your coverage please see Adding/Removing Dependents
If you're not currently enrolled in health, dental, or disability insurance through Freelancers Union, you must complete the eligibility application process. You can enroll in life insurance effective the first day of the month following the approval of your application.
If you're already enrolled in any of these plans and you want to enroll in life insurance, you don't need to complete the eligibility application again. Just sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, follow the prompts, and select Change next to Life Insurance.
To change your benefit level, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, follow the prompts, and select Change next to Life Insurance. You will be asked to download and complete proof of insurability documentation that Guardian requires. Guardian will send you written notice when your coverage is approved, or if it is denied. The benefit level change will take effect on the date Guardian approves it.
Coverage amounts for members and their dependents decrease by 50% at age 65 and terminate at age 70.
If you are not enrolled in any other Freelancers Union insurance plan (health, dental or disability insurance), and you wish to re-enroll in life insurance, you must first complete the eligibility application. You will be charged an Application Fee. You will also be charged the annual Access Fee if it has been more than one year since you last paid it.
If you are enrolled in health, dental, and/or disability insurance at the time you wish to re-enroll in life insurance, you will not need to complete the eligibility application again. You may enroll in life insurance effective the first day of the next month after your enrollment is processed.
To re-enroll in any of our life insurance plans contact Member Services.
If you are enrolled in term life insurance, you can add coverage for your spouse or child(ren) at any time.
Spouses are eligible for up to 50% of the member's benefit level. Children are eligible for benefits as follows:
Birth to 14 days: Not eligible for benefits
14 days to 6 months: Eligible for $2,500 of coverage
6 months to 23 years (or 25 for full-time student): Eligible for up to a maximum of $4,000
You can add dependents at the time you enroll in a plan. Otherwise, you can add dependents during the annual open enrollment period for your plan, or as the result of a qualifying event. These qualifying events are:
Please note: No qualifying events are required to add dependents to term life coverage. No dependents can be added to long term disability insurance.
You must add your dependents within 30 days of the qualifying event that makes them eligible.
Newborns or newly-adopted children may be added after 30 days from the birth or adoption, but the effective date of coverage will then be the 1st of the month immediately following the month in which the request was received.
Except for a new child (see rules above), the effective date for coverage is the first of the month immediately following the date of the event.
To add a dependent to your insurance plan after a qualifying event, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. You will be asked to send proof of the event to our Administrative Office by fax or mail. Proof includes:
If you have any questions, contact our Administrative Office.
Dependents can be removed from your health, PPO dental, or life insurance plans for any reason at any time. To remove a dependent, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. These termination requests cannot be made over the phone.
The dependent's coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the termination is requested. Please note that terminations cannot be made retroactively, but payments made for future months will be refunded.
If your coverage has been terminated because of non-payment, you have 30 days from the effective date of the termination (or until the last day of the month in which the reinstatement period takes place) to reinstate your coverage. The reinstatement is retroactive to the effective date of your termination, meaning you will have had continuous coverage.
To reinstate, you must make a payment for your entire past due amount plus the reinstatement fee no later than the deadline described above. You can make a payment online or send in a check. Checks must be received by the deadline described above. Upon receipt of your payment, coverage for you and your dependents will be reinstated. Reinstatement requests received after the deadline will not be honored.
Your monthly invoice will be posted on the billing and enrollment website on the 15th of each month (or next business day). You will also receive an invoice reminder via email* on the 15th of each month, 45 days before the coverage month being billed. The invoice will include charges for all plans in which you are enrolled, as well as any applicable fees. So, a bill received on April 15 is for coverage starting June 1 and any related fees.
Payments can be made by automatic EFT**, one-time EFT, or by paper check.
Payment for your total outstanding balance is due on the 1st of the month before the start of the coverage month. If your payment is late, you will receive two reminder notices: one on the 10th and one on the 20th .prior the start of the coverage month. If full payment is not received by the 1st day of the coverage month, your coverage will be terminated as of the last day of the month for which you have paid. Any claims accrued after your termination date will become your responsibility to pay.
Example: For June coverage, you will receive a bill on April 15. Payment is due by May 1 (if you elect to pay by automatic EFT, payment will be debited from your account on May 2). You will receive two standard late notices around the 10th and 20th of the May. If you have not paid for June by June 1st), your insurance coverage will be terminated as of May 31st.
* Paper invoices can be sent for an administrative fee of $2 per invoice.
**If you choose to pay by automatic EFT, your full outstanding balance will be debited from your account on the 2nd of the month or the following business day.
You can terminate your coverage for any reason at any time, except for the first two months of coverage. Once coverage begins, you can only terminate you coverage after these first two months.
Any payments you have made for future months of coverage will be refunded. The effective date of the termination will be the last day of the month in which the termination is requested and cannot be made retroactively. For all plans, your termination from a plan for any reason will result in termination of any and all dependents.
To terminate your coverage, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts.
NOTE: If you want to remove a dependent from your plan but do not want to completely end your coverage please see Adding/Removing Dependents
If you're not currently enrolled in health, dental, or life insurance through Freelancers Union, you must complete the eligibility application process. You can enroll in disability insurance effective the first day of the month following the approval of your application.
If you're already enrolled in any of these plans and you want to enroll in disability insurance, you don't need to complete the eligibility application again. Just sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, follow the prompts, and select Change next to Disability Insurance.
To change your benefit level, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, follow the prompts, and select Change next to Disability Insurance. You will be asked to download and complete proof of insurability documentation that Guardian requires. Guardian will send you written notice when your coverage is approved, or if it is denied. The benefit level change will take effect on the date Guardian approves it.
To change your elimination period, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, follow the prompts, and select Change next to Disability Insurance.
If you change from a 90 day to a 30 day elimination period, you will be asked to download and complete proof of insurability documentation that Guardian requires. Guardian will send you written notice when the change is approved, or if it is denied. The change in elimination period will take effect on the date Guardian approves it.
Proof of insurability documentation is not required to change from a 30 day to a 90 day elimination period. Guardian will send you written notice when the change is approved. The change in elimination period will take effect on the date of approval.
Disability insurance is only available to eligible members of Freelancers Union and is not available to members' dependents.
You can add dependents at the time you enroll in a plan. Otherwise, you can add dependents during the annual open enrollment period for your plan, or as the result of a qualifying event. These qualifying events are:
Please note: No qualifying events are required to add dependents to term life coverage. No dependents can be added to long term disability insurance.
You must add your dependents within 30 days of the qualifying event that makes them eligible.
Newborns or newly-adopted children may be added after 30 days from the birth or adoption, but the effective date of coverage will then be the 1st of the month immediately following the month in which the request was received.
Except for a new child (see rules above), the effective date for coverage is the first of the month immediately following the date of the event.
To add a dependent to your insurance plan after a qualifying event, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. You will be asked to send proof of the event to our Administrative Office by fax or mail. Proof includes:
If you have any questions, contact our Administrative Office.
Dependents can be removed from your health, PPO dental, or life insurance plans for any reason at any time. To remove a dependent, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts. These termination requests cannot be made over the phone.
The dependent's coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the termination is requested. Please note that terminations cannot be made retroactively, but payments made for future months will be refunded.
If your coverage has been terminated because of non-payment, you have 30 days from the effective date of the termination (or until the last day of the month in which the reinstatement period takes place) to reinstate your coverage. The reinstatement is retroactive to the effective date of your termination, meaning you will have had continuous coverage.
To reinstate, you must make a payment for your entire past due amount plus the reinstatement fee no later than the deadline described above. You can make a payment online or send in a check. Checks must be received by the deadline described above. Upon receipt of your payment, coverage for you and your dependents will be reinstated. Reinstatement requests received after the deadline will not be honored.
Your monthly invoice will be posted on the billing and enrollment website on the 15th of each month (or next business day). You will also receive an invoice reminder via email* on the 15th of each month, 45 days before the coverage month being billed. The invoice will include charges for all plans in which you are enrolled, as well as any applicable fees. So, a bill received on April 15 is for coverage starting June 1 and any related fees.
Payments can be made by automatic EFT**, one-time EFT, or by paper check.
Payment for your total outstanding balance is due on the 1st of the month before the start of the coverage month. If your payment is late, you will receive two reminder notices: one on the 10th and one on the 20th .prior the start of the coverage month. If full payment is not received by the 1st day of the coverage month, your coverage will be terminated as of the last day of the month for which you have paid. Any claims accrued after your termination date will become your responsibility to pay.
Example: For June coverage, you will receive a bill on April 15. Payment is due by May 1 (if you elect to pay by automatic EFT, payment will be debited from your account on May 2). You will receive two standard late notices around the 10th and 20th of the May. If you have not paid for June by June 1st), your insurance coverage will be terminated as of May 31st.
* Paper invoices can be sent for an administrative fee of $2 per invoice.
**If you choose to pay by automatic EFT, your full outstanding balance will be debited from your account on the 2nd of the month or the following business day.
You can terminate your coverage for any reason at any time, except for the first two months of coverage. Once coverage begins, you can only terminate you coverage after these first two months.
Any payments you have made for future months of coverage will be refunded. The effective date of the termination will be the last day of the month in which the termination is requested and cannot be made retroactively. For all plans, your termination from a plan for any reason will result in termination of any and all dependents.
To terminate your coverage, sign in, select Billing and Enrollment, select Your Benefits, Change Current Benefits, and follow the prompts.
NOTE: If you want to remove a dependent from your plan but do not want to completely end your coverage please see Adding/Removing Dependents