MSK Direct and National Cancer Prevention Month

February 3, 2025

As an NYCDCC Welfare Fund participant, you and your family have access to a dedicated team of world-renowned cancer specialists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to guide you through your unique cancer journey, wherever you are.

MSK Direct: Frequently Asked Questions

What is MSK Direct?
The NYCDCC Welfare Fund has partnered with MSK to bring you and your family members MSK Direct, a program that offers guided access to expert cancer care from a team of dedicated cancer specialists. The team includes experienced nurses, social workers and MSK Care Advisors who will be there to guide you through the process of getting care at MSK.

How can MSK Direct help me?
MSK Direct helps:
– Schedule an expedited initial appointment at MSK
– Gather necessary medical records for the first appointment at MSK
– Answer questions throughout your cancer journey & navigational support from oncology-certified nurses
– Facilitate virtual services for patients who are unable to travel to MSK
– Recommend a local facility if the patient lives far from MSK and prefers to be treated closer to home

Who is eligible to use MSK Direct?
All NYCDCC Welfare Fund participants and their family members have access to MSK Direct, regardless of enrollment in other health benefits offered by the NYCDCC Welfare Fund, at no additional cost beyond the standard copays, coinsurance and deductibles for the medical services received from MSK. Family members include, but are not limited to, spouse/partner, children, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, subject to insurance verification.

Do I have to enroll to participate in MSK Direct?
No, you do not need to enroll for MSK Direct. All NYCDCC Welfare Fund participants and their family members have access to the services provided by MSK Direct.

Do I have to pay extra to use MSK Direct?
No. All NYCDCC Welfare Fund participants and their family members have access to the services provided by MSK Direct at no additional cost. Medical care provided by MSK will be subject to the standard out of pocket costs (such as copays, deductibles and coinsurance) of each individual’s medical plan. MSK is considered an in-network facility under NYCDCC Welfare Fund’s Independence Administrators Blue Cross PPO or POS plans. Medicare-eligible retirees who are covered by the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan are eligible for all MSK Direct services, but these services may be considered out-of-network. Call MSK Direct or your health plan to verify your health plan’s coverage. There are fees associated with MSK Direct’s remote services. See “Can I get a second opinion at MSK?” for further details.

How can I contact MSK Direct?
You and your family members can call the NYCDCC Welfare Fund’s dedicated toll-free MSK Direct line at 833-786-3368 or 646-449-1541 (international), 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Messages left outside of these hours of operation will be returned the next business day.

Where can I learn more about MSK Direct?
To learn more about the services and information provided by MSK Direct, you can visit their webpage focused solely on NYCDCC Welfare Fund Participants: https://www.mskcc.org/direct/nycdcc-welfare-fund

MSK invites you to join a free webinar on the importance of cancer screening and prevention:

To learn more about MSK’s Cancer Screening Guidelines, click on the pamphlets below: