NYCDCC Welfare Fund to Waive Co-payments for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing

March 16, 2020

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the New York City District Council of Carpenters Welfare Fund is pleased to report that all Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing under the Empire BlueCross BlueShield plan will have related co-payments waived for eligible participants and dependents. Although a mandate from the federal government to waive co-payments for Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing technically did not apply to self-insured plans such as the NYCDCC Welfare Fund, the Board of Trustees, with the best interests of the membership in mind, made a decision to move forward with the waiver nonetheless. 

Additionally, for all NYCDCC Welfare Fund Medicare-Eligible Retirees covered under the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Plan, Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing costs will be waived as well. 

We strongly encourage anyone who feels symptoms associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), or anyone who has been in close proximity to someone who has been diagnosed with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), to seek medical assistance immediately. Medical assistance could include your primary care physician, an Urgent Care Center, a local hospital, or a telehealth visit through LiveHealth Online. 

If you have questions regarding the process by which you can be tested for the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please contact Empire BlueCross BlueShield at (844) 416-6387, UnitedHealthcare at (888) 736-7441, or call your local health department.