Fill out the registration form on the website.

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Membership in Freelancers Union is free. The only fees we have are associated with enrollment in group insurance products. This fee covers the cost of administering the group plans.

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Our membership is open to independent workers—freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees and the self-employed.The eligibility requirements we have are only for the insurance products we offer. See the eligibility section of the website for more information.

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As a member of Freelancers Union you can:

- Create a profile and get listed in the Freelancers Yellow Pages
- Access discounts
- Post a project or gig
- Contribute to the resources
- Find and apply for a gig
- Manage your account and update your contact info
- Apply for insurance products
- Sign up to receive e-newsletters
- Network with other freelancers
- Post a message on the forum
- Get involved in advocacy so your voice is heard
- Attend a popular Freelancers Union event

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We offer health insurance in 31 states, dental, life and disability insurance nationwide. Freelancers across the country are welcome to become members of Freelancers Union in order to take advantage these and other benefits, such as discounts. Join now! To learn more about insurance available in your area, go to Insurance.

If something isn't available in your state, tell us! Complete a short survey and help us bring health insurance to your state!

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Sign in to the FreelancersUnion.org website and click on My Subscriptions in the My Membership section to check your subscriptions list. Make sure to select "yes" to receive the various email newsletters we offer our members. Also be sure to add the following email addresses to the safe list in your email program to prevent spam filters from removing incoming emails from your inbox:

membership@freelancersunion.org
benefits@freelancersunion.org
announcements@freelancersunion.org

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Sign in to the FreelancersUnion.org website and click on My Subscriptions in the My Membership section to check your subscriptions list. You can change your preferences to limit the number of informational emails you receive from us, and these preferences can be updated at any time.

Please note: we reserve the right to send notification emails relating to your account, as we believe it is important for you to be informed of any changes that may affect your membership, new rules, upcoming deadlines, changes to policy or products etc.

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We do not issue Freelancers Union membership cards. Membership in Freelancers Union offers a number of benefits, including corporate and member-to-member discounts. In order to access these discounts you may be required to show a Proof of Membership letter, which you can print directly from our website by signing in.

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Visit our Contact Us page.

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See the events page on the website for regular updates, or contact our events department at events@freelancersunion.org

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Unfortunately we are not in a position to offer legal advice. Please see the New York State Department of Labor’s website for further information and advice from other freelancers visit our forum.

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Freelancers Union is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization that provides its members with education, resources, and, subject to eligibility requirements, access to health, life, dental, and disability insurance. It is affiliated with Working Today, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1995 and launched a Portable Benefits Network for independent workers in 2001. The PBN was renamed Freelancers Union in 2003, and in 2008 Freelancers Union became a separate but affiliated entity with 501(c)(4) nonprofit status, which has enabled it expand its public policy work to include lobbying.

To read more about our organization, our founder, and what we're working on, see the About Us section of the website.

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Unfortunately we cannot accommodate walk-ins, but you may drop off your application at the drop-box in the front of the office. Contact Member Services either by phone or by email if you have any questions.

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Member Services works as quickly as possible within the given time frame to process documents, answer telephone calls and review applications. Occasionally there is a hold time as we may have a high volume of incoming calls and we answer all inquiries as thoroughly as possible. You may leave a voicemail or send an email, and a Member Services associate will respond as quickly as possible.

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If you want to start a discussion with other freelancers or pose a question to our members, you can do so in the forum.

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Sign in to the FreelancersUnion.org website and click on Account Information in the My Membership section to update your email address or password.

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Your username is the email address you choose to register with. If you forget your password you can have it reset by clicking Password Help, under the Sign In box, and following the instructions to create a new password. We’ll send you a validation email to confirm the change, so you must be able to access the inbox for the email address we have on file for you in order to receive the validation link. Once you’ve clicked on the validation link, you may then sign in to your account using your new password.

Note: It will take up to 24 hours for your password to be updated in our group insurance billing system.

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If your address changes, sign in to the FreelancersUnion.org website and click on Account Information in the My Membership section to update your account info.

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Freelancers Union offers members both group insurance plans and individual market insurance plans.

Group plans offer members an opportunity to join together to purchase plans at a group rate. For group plans, Freelancers Union holds the group policy and all enrollees have access to our selection of plans. We charge nominal fees in order to cover the cost of administering these plans. To be eligible for one of our group plans, members must go through the Freelancers Union eligibility process.

Individual market plans are plans where members deal directly with the insurance company for everything from application to paying monthly premiums and checking up on claims. Members can qualify for individual market health insurance plans through Golden Rule in 30 states. Freelancers Union doesn’t determine eligibility for individual market plans, but, depending on the rules in your state, rates and coverage can vary depending on your medical history. See the below table for group and individual market plans in your area.

Plan Type & Availability	Carrier	How to Apply
Group Health NY,NJ,CT	Empire BlueCross BlueShield PerfectHealth	Use Freelancers Union Eligibility Process
Group Life 50 States	Guardian
Group Disability 50 States	Guardian
Group Dental 50 States	Guardian
Individual Health 30 States*	UnitedHealthcare's Golden Rule Insurance Company and other affiliates	Contact Golden Rule

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Follow the steps in the insurance section of this website.

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Yes, there are eligibility requirements for all of the group insurance plans. Eligibility requirements are based on industry/occupation, hours worked, and/or earnings. Please go to the eligibility section to see if you qualify for group insurance benefits through Freelancers Union.

The plans we offer through Golden Rule are individual market plans, which means that you'll deal directly with the insurance company for everything from application to paying your monthly premium and checking up on claims. Freelancers Union doesn't determine eligibility for the Golden Rule plans, but, depending on the rules in your state, rates and coverage can vary depending on your medical history.

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For health insurance cards:

Call Empire BlueCross BlueShield: 800.563.0319
Call PerfectHealth: 718.370.5380
Call Golden Rule: 800.657.8205

For dental insurance cards:

If you are on the Guardian MDG or HMO dental plan, contact Guardian directly:
New York: 888.618.2016
California and Texas: 800.273.3330
Florida, Illinois, and Michigan:866.494.4542

If you are on the Guardian PPO dental plan, contact our administrative office at benefits@freelancersunion.org

There are no cards for life and disability insurance.

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Freelancers Union Open Enrollment is a period when you can make changes to your enrollment in group insurance plans. Please note that Open Enrollment does not apply to individual market plans through Golden Rule. Open Enrollment takes place once a year and is a specified period of time when you can switch from one health or dental plan to another, and add or drop dependents from coverage. For group health insurance the open enrollment period takes place in December, for changes effective January 1st. For dental insurance, the open enrollment period takes place in September for changes effective October 1st.

You will receive notification 30 days in advance of the Open Enrollment period and can make changes to your insurance coverage any time during that period. See the Rules and Procedures page for more information about adding or removing dependents.

You may purchase life or disability insurance coverage for the first time at any time during the year; however, certain rules apply if you wish to make changes to your existing plan. Please see the Rules and Procedures section of our website for detailed instructions.

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Domestic partner coverage is available on the dental plans we offer through The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, and the group health plans we offer through Empire BlueCross BlueShield and PerfectHealth. See the Rules & Procedures section of the website for detailed instructions on how to add a domestic partner to your dental or health coverage.

For individual market plans, you will need to check directly with the carrier (contact Golden Rule.) Domestic partnership coverage is not currently available on our life and disability plans.

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For group health insurance plans in New York State through Empire BlueCross BlueShield and PerfectHealth, you will be able to enroll if you meet the Freelancers Union insurance eligibility requirements and your application is complete. There are no health-related questions or tests involved in the application for health or dental insurance.

For enrollment in life and/or disability insurance plans, you must meet the Freelancers Union insurance eligibility requirements, and your application must be reviewed and approved by the carrier.

Enrollment in individual market plans is pending review and approval of your application by the carrier. To learn more about the application process for plans provided through Golden Rule, contact Golden Rule.

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Choosing health insurance is a very personal decision and one that you should research well. Make sure you select a plan that covers your unique needs.
* For a list health insurance resources, see our resources.
* For help decoding insurance terms, see our glossary.

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Our Empire BlueCross BlueShield and PerfectHealth insurance plans in New York, as well as the Guardian dental, life, and disability insurance, are group plans which means that Freelancers Union holds the group policy and all enrollees have access to our selection of plans. In order to enroll in one of these group plans, you must meet our group's eligibility rules.

The plans we offer through Golden Rule are individual market plans, which means that you'll deal directly with the insurance company for everything from enrollment to paying monthly premiums and checking up on claims. Freelancers Union doesn't have any eligibility requirements for the Golden Rule plans, but, depending on the rules in your state, rates and coverage can vary depending on your medical history.

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We work hard to provide a variety of the most robust plans at the lowest possible rates for our members. With health insurance, cost is not always the bottom line. Plans vary greatly according to the insurer. Some may have a small price tag, but also limited coverage, high out-of-pocket costs, a small network of doctors or lesser-ranked hospitals. Others aren't insurance at all, but merely discounts on full-priced health services. Make sure you investigate each option thoroughly before choosing what is right for you.

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Your primary care physician, the hospital network and affiliated doctors will determine and provide your medical care. The insurance company is there to help pay the costs.

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A pre-existing condition is an injury or sickness that you have been diagnosed with or treated for in the last 6 months. If you consulted with a doctor, took medicine, or received other medical care or advice for the injury or sickness during the 6 months prior to becoming insured, your condition is considered pre-existing. Waiting periods may apply before you will be covered for further treatment or consultation.

Different health insurance carriers and plans handle diagnoses differently. If you think you have a pre-existing condition, we recommend that you check with your carrier (Empire BlueCross BlueShield or PerfectHealth) to determine if the specialists you see and the medications you take are covered.

More detailed information about how Empire BlueCross BlueShield and PerfectHealth deal with pre-existing conditions can be found below. For individual market plans through Golden Rule, rates and coverage can vary depending on your medical history. This will depend on the rules in your state.

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The decision to cover any prescription medication, whether it’s a brand-name drug or the generic alternative, is at the discretion of the insurance company. The list of drugs that are covered is called a formulary. This formulary is subject to change without notice.

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A tax-advantaged savings account that you can use to pay for qualifying medical expenses; a portable account that you maintain as you move from job to job and project to project; a supplement to a high-deductible health plan.

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- The law limits how much you can deposit into your HSA each year

- In 2008, individuals can deposit $2,900, families can deposit $5,800. The 2008 catch-up contribution, for those over 55 years old, is $900.

- If you deposit more than allowed, you must withdraw the amount over the limit, plus any earnings on that amount, before April 15th of the next year

- If you don't withdraw the amount over the limit, you will be taxed 6 percent on that amount and its earnings

- Anyone can put money into your account - you, family members, employers - but once in the account, the money belongs to you and you receive both the gained interest and the tax benefit on those contributions.

- A one-time FSA/HRA/IRA rollover can be made into an HSA. You can only rollover the maximum contribution for that year.

- Individuals can contribute the maximum amount of yearly savings even if their deductible is not that high. For instance, a family with a deductible of just $2,000 can still put in the maximum of the $5,650; plus a catch-up provision of $800 for those over 55 years.

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- Withdraw money immediately for qualified medical expenses as recognized by the IRS

- Allow them to accumulate interest or dividends for spending in future years

- Invest them or keep them in a traditional bank account; either way, any gains accumulate tax-free and tax-deferred until your retirement, death, or disability

- There are no restrictions on how large the balance can grow as you make deposits and earn interest and dividends from year to year

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- You can deduct your HSA deposits on your income taxes, even if you don't itemize and even if the deposits are made by someone else

- Individuals who obtain a qualifying insurance plan in mid-year are able to take the full yearly deduction.

- If you take money out of your HSA to pay for something other than medical expenses before you turn 65, the amount withdrawn is taxed and you pay a 10 percent penalty on it

- After age 65, any money you withdraw and use for non-qualifying expenses is taxed at the normal rate for investment income

- Money used for qualifying medical expenses later in life - such as nursing home costs - can still be withdrawn tax-free

- Learn more about the expenses that the IRS allows you to pay for with money from your HSA

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- If you terminate your insurance plan, you can still keep your Health Savings Account

- Funds remaining in your account will continue to accrue interest

- You can continue to save the money in your account or use it to pay for qualified medical expenses

- You cannot make any further deposits to your HSA until you enroll in a new HSA qualified high deductible health plan

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- IRS Publication 969 explains the rules regarding HSAs

- For FAQs about HSAs visit the U.S. Treasury

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When you Sign in to our secure billing site to pay your bill, you can either set up a recurring EFT (electronic funds transfer) or choose a one-time EFT.

- If you choose a recurring EFT your outstanding balance will be debited from your checking account on the 2nd of each month or the first business day following the 2nd of the month.

- If you choose a one-time EFT, you will specify the amount that will be debited from your account; the transaction will be processed in 2-3 business days.

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Please contact our administrative office.

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If you live in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, HI, ID, IN, IA, LA, ME, MA, MS, MT, NE, NM, NY, ND, OK, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, or WY, send payments to:
Freelancers Union Administration
PO Box 512660
Philadelphia, PA 19175-2660

If you live in CA, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, WI, or WV, send payments to:
Freelancers Union Administration
PO Box 81556
Lincoln, NE 68501-1556

For future reference, this address is also on your bill.

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Sign in to the FreelancersUnion.org website and go to the My Membership section. Use the "View My Insurance Bill" link in the Account Information section to Sign In to our secure billing site.

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You may make payments via a savings or checking account. Credit cards are not accepted.

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You will receive a "Thank you for your payment" confirmation screen once you have successfully completed your online payment. You will not receive an email confirmation.

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See the eligibility section of our website for detailed information about the insurance eligibility requirements and instructions on how to apply.

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With the launch of our insurance products in 2001 we were able to offer the insurance benefits to only one industry. Over time we have been able to offer these benefits to a greater number of industries and continue to work with our insurance carriers to meet the growing needs of our membership.

If your industry is not currently eligible please let us know by filling out our survey (even if you do live in New York State), and sign up for our monthly e-newsletter for important notifications.

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If you recently started freelancing you may be able to apply. You would still need to demonstrate that you’ve worked a minimum of 20 hours per week for the last 8 weeks or that you’ve earned $10,000 for work done in the last six-month period within one of the eligible industries. Earnings may be shown from a previous job (granted it was also in one of the eligible industries) even if it was full-time. However, you must show that you’ve been paid at least once as a freelancer.

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The application for insurance coverage begins online. If you have not already done so, register to become a member of Freelancers Union. After you sign in to our website you can initiate the application process by clicking Add Insurance in the My Membership section. You will need to complete an online registration form and then provide supporting documents to demonstrate that you meet the hours/earnings requirements. For further explanation and detailed descriptions of the required supporting documents visit the eligibility section of our website.

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Working Today – Freelancers Union will contact you within no less than 7 business days of receiving your eligibility application. If your application is missing anything, we will contact you by email. If your application is complete, you will receive an approval notification via email that will contain detailed enrollment instructions. Once your application is approved, you will be able to enroll in insurance.

All insurance (health, life, disability, and dental) can begin on the first of any given month. We must receive your complete application by the 10th of the month in order for you to enroll in insurance by the first of the next month. We will review your application and may contact the signer(s) of your Proof of Work Form(s) to verify your application materials.

If we determine that your application is not complete, we will contact you by email no sooner than 7 business days from the date we received your application to request additional documentation.

If you are asked to submit additional documents and we receive them after the 10th of the month (even if we received your initial documents by the 10th) your application was not complete by the 10th and you will be unable to enroll in insurance beginning on the 1st of the next month.

Approval and Enrollment: You will be notified by email when your application is approved, no sooner than 7 business days from the date we received your complete application. Your approval email will contain instructions for insurance enrollment. You must enroll in insurance within 30 days of your eligibility approval. If you do not enroll within 30 days you may have to complete the application process again.

If you're applying for life and/or disability insurance, the same general timeline applies, except that enrollment by the 1st of the following month is pending review and approval of your application by the carrier.

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No. Our eligibility requirement necessitates that we look at earnings for a specific time frame and unfortunately these documents do not allow for this. We will consider pay stubs, bank deposits, copies of checks, cancelled checks or an official letter written from client/employer as acceptable earnings documents.

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No. If you have one client or employer, submit one Proof of Work form. If you have 2 or more clients or employers you will need to submit at most 2 completed Proof of Work forms. If possible, use the clients with whom you have worked the most and or earned the most in the relevant time period. However, you will still need to submit documents demonstrating eligibility from as many clients as necessary to meet the eligibility requirements (even if you’re only submitting 1 or 2 Proof of Work forms).

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If you qualify in more than one industry it doesn’t matter which you select on your eligibility application, as the hours and earnings requirements are the same for every industry. If you need to choose two industries because you’re showing documentation from both to meet earning/hours requirements, then you should select both industries on your application.

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You should select both industries on your application. We will need Proof of Work forms from the two clients from whom you are showing the most earnings or hours. If it is difficult to decide which clients you should choose to sign your Proof of Work form(s), it is also acceptable to have your two most recent clients sign for you.

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You should ask the person or organization that is able to verify that you have worked or earned to sign your Proof of Work form. In the event that you’re on assignment through an agency, the company or organization for which you are doing the work can usually verify your hours, while the agency is usually able to verify either your hours or your earnings. Under ‘job description’ on the Proof of Work form, you should enter your job title plus the agency through which you are working. For example, if you are creating a website for a client and are being paid through an agency, you would write “Web Developer on assignment through ABC Staffing”.

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The application for insurance coverage begins online. If you have not already done so, register to become a member of Freelancers Union. After you sign in to our website you can initiate the application process by clicking Add Insurance in the My Membership section. You will need to complete an online registration form and then provide supporting documents to demonstrate that you meet the hours/earnings requirements.

For further explanation and detailed descriptions of the required supporting documents visit the eligibility section of our website.

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Freelancers Union will contact you within no less than 7 business days of receiving your eligibility application. If your application is missing anything, we will contact you by email. If your application is complete, you will receive an approval notification via email that will contain detailed enrollment instructions. Once your application is approved, you will be able to enroll in insurance.

All insurance (health, life, disability, and dental) can begin on the first of any given month. We must receive your complete application by the 10th of the month in order for you to enroll in insurance by the first of the next month. We will review your application and may contact the signer(s) of your Proof of Work Form(s) to verify your application materials.

If we determine that your application is not complete, we will contact you by email no sooner than 7 business days from the date we received your application to request additional documentation.

If you are asked to submit additional documents and we receive them after the 10th of the month (even if we received your initial documents by the 10th) your application was not complete by the 10th and you will be unable to enroll in insurance beginning on the 1st of the next month.

You will be notified by email when your application is approved, no sooner than 7 business days from the date we received your complete application. Your approval email will contain instructions for insurance enrollment. You must enroll in insurance within 30 days of your eligibility approval. If you do not enroll within 30 days you may have to complete the application process again.

If you're applying for life and/or disability insurance, the same general timeline applies, except that enrollment by the 1st of the following month is pending review and approval of your application by the carrier.

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Our eligibility requirement necessitates that we look at earnings for a specific time frame and unfortunately these documents do not allow for this. We will consider pay stubs, bank deposits, copies of checks, cancelled checks or an official letter written from client/employer as acceptable earnings documents.

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If you have one client or employer, submit one Proof of Work form. If you have 2 or more clients or employers you will need to submit at most 2 completed Proof of Work forms. If possible, use the clients with whom you have worked the most and or earned the most in the relevant time period. However, you will still need to submit documents demonstrating eligibility from as many clients as necessary to meet the eligibility requirements (even if you’re only submitting 1 or 2 Proof of Work forms).

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If you qualify in more than one industry it doesn’t matter which you select on your eligibility application, as the hours and earnings requirements are the same for every industry. If you need to choose two industries because you’re showing documentation from both to meet earning/hours requirements, then you should select both industries on your application.

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You should select both industries on your application. We will need Proof of Work forms from the two clients from whom you are showing the most earnings or hours. If it is difficult to decide which clients you should choose to sign your Proof of Work form(s), it is also acceptable to have your two most recent clients sign for you.

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You should ask the person or organization that is able to verify that you have worked or earned to sign your Proof of Work form. In the event that you’re on assignment through an agency, the company or organization for which you are doing the work can usually verify your hours, while the agency is usually able to verify either your hours or your earnings. Under ‘job description’ on the Proof of Work form, you should enter your job title plus the agency through which you are working. For example, if you are creating a website for a client and are being paid through an agency, you would write “Web Developer on assignment through ABC Staffing”.

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You will receive detailed enrollment instructions in your approval notification email. In order to get health insurance, you will need to complete the online enrollment process and submit a payment for your first two months of coverage, the $65 annual access fee, and the $40 set up fee.

Note: Additional fees apply for paper enrollment in health insurance.

You will have 30 days (from the date of your approval) to enroll in any of the benefits plans. If you do not enroll within that 30-day period, you will have to submit additional eligibility materials.

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You have 30 days to enroll after being approved and will have the option of selecting either of the next 2 months as a coverage start date on the enrollment form. If you decide not to elect coverage when you first become eligible, you may be required to re-prove your eligibility when you do decide to enroll in any of the insurance products.

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Freelancers Union health insurance plans have been designed to encourage long-term participation. Therefore, if you terminate your coverage, you may be subject to a 9-month waiting period and fees if you choose to re-enroll.

If it has been less than 9 months since you terminated and you want to re-enroll:

We will waive the 9-month waiting period only if you can show that you have been continuously covered by a comparable health insurance plan. Such coverage must have commenced immediately upon dropping your coverage with Freelancers Union, and must have been terminated no more than 60 days before your new application for eligibility. As proof of prior coverage, you must provide a HIPAA Certificate or other written proof from the insurance company. 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 an Access Fee.

OR

If you have not been continuously covered by a comparable health insurance plan during the entire period between dropping your coverage with Freelancers Union to no more than 60 days from when you start the eligibility application, you will be subject to the 9-month waiting period before you can re-enroll.

If it has been more than 9 months since you terminated:

You have satisfied the 9-month waiting period. If you choose to re-enroll, you will need to complete the eligibility application again and 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 an Access Fee.

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You will receive an e-mail confirmation when your enrollment in the insurance plans has been processed. You will receive your health insurance and/or dental insurance ID card(s) and insurance materials approximately 2-3 weeks after you complete the enrollment forms. You will not receive ID cards for life or disability insurance.

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Once you’ve enrolled in a product it can take two to three weeks for the insurance provider to mail out the benefits booklet. You may receive this booklet after the coverage itself has actually begun. The Summary of Benefits for each of the group insurance plans we offer is available on our website and should serve as a guide to your coverage. See the insurance for more details.

Note: Members on Empire health insurance have not received benefits boooklets, but will in the future. The reason for the delay is because the Freelancers Union plans are custom-designed, Empire has had to write new benefits booklets for each of them. The language in the booklets is currently being approved by the State of New York, and unfortunately, their review process can take longer than we'd like.

We want to assure you that your insurance plan was approved by the State, and it won't be changing. As soon as the benefits booklet itself is released, you'll get a hard copy in the mail. (To update your mailing address, please make changes to your account info at both the Freelancers Union website and the Empire website.) We're sorry that we can't yet tell you when, exactly, your benefits booklet will arrive.

In the mean time, you can ask Freelancers Union Member Services any specific questions you have about what your plan covers. Contact us or contact Empire customer service at 800.662.5193.

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Coverage details are outlined in the Summary of Benefits for each plan, which are available in the health insurance section of the website.

We also have an online glossary of commonly-used insurance terms that may help explain the benefits.

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PerfectHealth: You may only use MultiPlan doctors in your state of residency. Visits to doctors in another state will not be covered or applied toward your deductible.

PerfectHealth Hospital Network*: If you reside in New York State, you may only use the HIP hospital network (with MultiPlan doctors). If you reside outside New York State, you may only use MultiPlan hospitals (with MultiPlan doctors) in your state of residency.

*This does not apply to emergency visits. In the event of an emergency, you should visit the closest hospital and follow the procedures listed on your insurance card.

Empire Direct POS network: The in-network coverage area for the Direct POS plan includes the following counties only:

Prescription drug coverage is included in all of the health plans that we offer, but the coverage is not the same on every plan. For all EPO plans, however, an in-network doctor must write the prescription in order for it to be covered. Please visit the insurnace section for more information on our plans.

PerfectHealth plan members receive a discounted rate on prescription drugs when they shop at one of the 57,700 participating pharmacies nationwide that accepts Express Scripts. This discount is automatically applied when you show your PerfectHealth plan card and can also be obtained through the Express Scripts mail order service. After the deductible is met prescriptions are covered at 70% of the cost paid by the member. See the Express Scripts website to locate a participating pharmacy near you, and visit the health insurance section of our website for more information about the PerfectHealth plans offered.

Empire plan members receive their prescriptions through Caremark. Visit Caremark's website for participating pharmacies.

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There is no drug formulary for the PerfectHealth plans. For information about Empire's formulary, please visit Empire's website.

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For PerfectHealth plans:

Before you reach your deductible you are eligible for discounted rates for in-network medical expenses. If you visit a MultiPlan doctor you will be charged a negotiated discount rate. You pay nothing at the time of the visit and shortly after, both you and your doctor will receive an Explanation of Benefits from PerfectHealth. Your doctor will then send you an adjusted bill and you will pay your doctor. After you pay the doctor, you should submit a claim to PerfectHealth so that your medical expenses are applied to your deductible.

For Empire plans:

Claim forms are available on Empire's website. To get a cliam form, sign into your Empire account or contact Empire directly at 800.563.0319.

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Under the PerfectHealth plans, mental health services are covered 100% according to the Summary of Benefits for each plan, after the annual deductible has been met.
Under the Empire plans, mental health services are covered, but require pre-authorization. Review the summary of benefits for coverage details on your plan.

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The policy for pre-existing conditions differs by insurance company. Below is a snapshot of the policies for Empire and PerfectHealth. However, we recommend carefully reviewing your Benefits Booklet for more specific exclusions and limitations.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield health insurance plans do not have any coverage restrictions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.Pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition and genetic information may not be treated as a pre-existing condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to such genetic information.

PerfectHealth considers pregnancy a pre-existing condition. Additionally, if you have symptoms which would cause a person of ordinary prudence to seek medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment within 6 months before becoming insured, those symptoms will be considered a pre-existing condition.If you have been uninsured for more than 90 days before your enrollment date in one of Freelancers Union’s PerfectHealth plans, there will be a waiting period of 12 months before a pre-existing condition is covered.

If you have had no gap in coverage or have been uninsured for a period of less than 90 days prior to enrolling with Freelancers Union, coverage for pre-existing conditions depends on how long you were enrolled in your previous plan. If you were covered under your previous plan for 12 months or more, treatment for pre-existing conditions will be covered with no waiting period. If you were covered under your previous plan for less than 12 months, the number of months you were covered on your previous plan will be credited toward your waiting period as follows: your waiting period will equal 12 months minus the number of months you were enrolled in your previous plan.

PerfectHealth will ask you for documentation of your previous coverage once you have enrolled. You may not be able to access coverage for pre-existing conditions until that paperwork is completed. In addition, PerfectHealth may have to authorize certain treatments or procedures before you receive them.

For questions about pre-existing conditions, contact Member Services.

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Empire: Maternity and newborn care are covered, but some care may be subject to the deductible on certain plans. Review the summary of benefits for coverage details on your plan.

PerfectHealth: Maternity and newborn care are covered after the annual deductible has been met.

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Your spouse, domestic partner and dependent children may be covered with you on this plan. Please see Rules and Procedures.

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You can purchase health insurance coverage for your spouse or dependents at the time you enroll. Otherwise, you can add spouse or dependent coverage at any of the following other times:

- During the annual Open Enrollment period in December for an effective change date of January 1st. You will receive notification 30 days in advance of the Open Enrollment period and can change status anytime during that period.

- Where there is a Qualifying Event, such as a marriage, a divorce, a death, the birth of a child, an adoption or the placement of a foster child.

- At any other time, provided you can prove that the spouse or dependent has been terminated from insurance coverage less than 63 days prior and can show proof of that coverage.

See the Rules & Procedures section for more detailed information on adding and removing dependents.

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To cancel your insurance coverage, send the request in writing to benefits@freelancersunion.org. Terminations can only be processed for the last day of any given month. In the event you terminate your participation in Freelancers Union's health insurance, in order to re-qualify, you must:

Do one of the following things:

Provide proof that you were covered by a comparable health insurance plan during the entire period between dropping your coverage with Freelancers Union and reapplying.

OR

Wait nine months from the date you terminated your coverage with Freelancers Union, then meet the eligibility requirements at the time of reapplication and pay the application fee. You will also be charged the annual access fee if it has been more than one year since you last paid the access fee.

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Yes, you will be covered for emergencies anywhere in the world. Please note, however, that if an overseas hospital provides treatment to you, you will need to coordinate your care with your provider’s offices. Once your condition has stabilized, you may need to transfer to an in-network hospital. Doctor visits and other health care are not covered out-of-state. We recommend that you seek additional travel insurance from a reputable source whenever you plan on traveling.

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PerfectHealth uses the MultiPlan Inc. doctor network and both the MultiPlan and HIP Health Plan of New York hospital networks depending on where you live. You must see a MultiPlan doctor (even in the hospital) for your expenses to count toward your deductible or be covered once you've met your deductible.
Visit Empire's website to find a doctor in their network. We also have tips to help you find a doctor on Empire's website for both the Direct POS plan and the EPO plan. Empire's Direct POS plan require's members to select a PCP. Each member of a family can have a different PCP.

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You may want to ask your family, friends or colleagues if they know a doctor on the directory list, or you may want to search the network by geographic location, languages spoken or credentials that are important to you. You may also check for referrals from other Freelancers Union members posted in our online forum or on our resources. For information about Empire, please visit the Empire page.

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You do not need to select a PCP if you are on a PerfectHealth Plan. Empire's Direct POS plan require's members to select a PCP. Each member of a family can have a different PCP.You can change your PCP with Empire by visiting their website and signing into your account. If you're on Empire's EPO plan, you are not required to have a PCP.

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Empire: Visit Empire's website to find a doctor in their network. We also have tips to help you find a doctor on Empire's website for both the Direct POS plan and the EPO plan.

PerfectHealth: Use the MultiPlan website to perform a search of MultiPlan Facilities or Practitioners.
PerfectHealth uses the MultiPlan Inc. doctor network and both the MultiPlan and HIP Health Plan of New York.

Residency restrictions:

Doctor Network: You may use only MultiPlan doctors in your state of residency. Visits to doctors in another state will not be covered or applied towards your deductible.

Hospital Network*: If you reside in New York State, you may use only the HIP hospital network (with MultiPlan doctors). If you reside outside New York State, you may use only MultiPlan hospitals (with MultiPlan doctors) in your state of residency.
*This does not apply to emergency visits. In the event of an emergency, you should visit the closest hospital and follow the procedures listed on your insurance card.

Note: To search for a MultiPlan hospital using the MultiPlan website, select "Acute Care" in the Type of Facility hospital networks depending on where you live. You must see a MultiPlan doctor (even in the hospital) for your expenses to count toward your deductible or be covered once you've met your deductible.

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PerfectHealth: The PerfectHealth EPO plans we offer do not require you to get referrals to see specialists.

Empire: The Empire plans do not require referrals. If you are seeking a mental health specialist, your plan may require pre-authorization from Empire. Contact Empire directly for more information using the phone number on the back of your insurance card.For information about Empire, please visit the Empire page.

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Gynecologists are considered specialists, but you do not need a referral to see a gynecologist. Please note that you cannot choose a gynecologist as your primary care physician.

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Perform a provider search on Guardian’s website and select the network for the plan you are on: Select Managed DentalGuard - Florida, New York

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To have your dental services covered, you must go to the dental office that you choose when you enroll. You can find a conveniently located dentist in the MDG or HMO Directory of Participating General Dentists, or on the Guardian website. All of your dental care will be provided by, or arranged by, your selected dental office. For more information about the services covered in the MDG plan, see the Benefit Summary for your plan.

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You can change dental offices just by calling Guardian. The change will be effective on the first day of the next month, as long as you call before the 20th day of the month.
There’s no limit to the number of times you can change dental offices, but selections are always effective from the first day of a month to the last day of a month. Any services started at one dental office must be completed by that office, and your account with the first office must be paid in full before a transfer can be processed.To contact Guardian:

- New York: 888.618.2016

- California and Texas: 800.273.3330

- Florida, Illinois, and Michigan: 866.494.4542

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Each family member can enroll with a different dental office.

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The MDG or HMO network includes oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, orthodontists and pediatric dental specialists. If you need dental services that only a specialist can provide, your primary care dental office will request authorization from Guardian for you to see a participating specialist. (Usually your dental office will have the referral authorized within ten days; if it’s an emergency, it is faster.) You will be responsible for the patient charge shown in your booklet for any covered services performed by a specialist dentist.

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Your child must first be seen by a general dentist at your selected dental office. If a child under age six is unmanageable, a referral to a pediatric dental specialist may be made. After the child’s sixth birthday, pediatric specialty services will not be covered.

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With the MDG or HMO plan, most diagnostic and preventive services are covered at no cost to you. However, for basic, major and some preventive services, you will pay a certain amount -- which is referred to as a patient charge -- for each covered service you receive. The patient charges for your MDG or HMO plan are listed in your certificate of coverage booklet, so you’ll always know what you’ll have to pay for services you need. With The Guardian MDG or HMO plan, there are no deductibles, annual maximums or co-insurance, plus pre-treatment reviews are not required for services provided by your participating general dentist.

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No. Under the plan, any necessary paperwork for services from participating dentists is handled by your selected dental office. You just show your MDG or HMO ID card.

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Call MDG or HMO Member Services and discuss your problem with the representative. He or she will work with you to help you resolve your problem. If you are still unsatisfied, you can submit a grievance form explaining the matter. Guardian Member Services or your dental office can provide a form for you to use. Guardian keeps track of all grievances and regularly reviews grievance reports to identify potential problem areas.To contact Guardian:

- New York: 888.618.2016

- California and Texas: 800.273.3330

- Florida, Illinois, and Michigan:866.494.4542

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Freelancers Union will notify you by email when your coverage takes effect.

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A deductible is the dollar amount of covered dental expenses you must pay during the year before benefits are paid by Guardian. This is generally based on the calendar year. Deductibles apply to each covered person. The deductible for the Guardian PPO plan is $50.00 per person (3 per family).

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Perform a provider search on Guardian’s website and select the network for the plan you are on: For PPO: Select DentalGuard Preferred

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If you visit a Guardian PPO Network Provider, the benefits described in the Benefit Summary will be paid based on a reduced fee schedule (this will mean lower out-of-pocket expenses). The network provider cannot charge in excess of the fee schedule, so you can receive more services with your yearly maximum. If you go to an out-of-network dentist, the benefits will be based on usual, customary and reasonable rates for a given area.

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An annual maximum is the maximum amount your dental plan will pay in benefits during the year. Both are generally based on the calendar year. Deductibles and annual maximums apply to each covered person. The annual maximum for the Guardian PPO plan is $1,000 per person.

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For some services, you may share in the cost of your dental expenses. This is represented as a percentage of the usual, customary and reasonable level (if a non-network dentist is used) or a percentage of the negotiated fee for covered services (if a network dentist is used). The percentage of co-insurance usually depends on the type of service received: Preventive, Basic or Major. See the Benefit Summary for the co-insurance amounts for the Guardian PPO plan.

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This refers to the set maximum fees for services that have been negotiated with our contracted network dentists and specialists. These average 30% less than the fees they usually charge.

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For all courses of treatment expected to exceed $300, your dentist should submit a report to Guardian describing the proposed treatment and itemizing expected charges. Guardian will review the report and send the dentist an estimate of benefits they will pay. Emergency treatment, oral examination, cleanings, and x-rays may be performed before the review is prepared.

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Network dentists have contracted with Guardian to submit claim forms and accept benefits directly from Guardian. Some non-network dentists may submit claims directly to Guardian. More often, however, non-network dentists will require that you pay for services at the time they are rendered. Afterwards, complete a claim form and forward it to Guardian along with a copy of your payment receipt.

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No. If they wanted to, every family member could go to a different network or non-network dentist or specialist, every time they need care.

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Usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR) charges for covered services are determined by using the usual level of charges made by the majority of dentists in the same geographic area for the same service. If your dentist’s fee is lower than the UCR charge, the plan will pay benefits based on the actual fee. If the fee is higher, the plan will pay benefits based only on the UCR charge, and you are responsible for any amount above the UCR limit.

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Call PPO Member Services (1.800.541.7846) and discuss your problem with the representative. He or she will work with you to help you resolve your problem. If you are still unsatisfied, you can submit a grievance form explaining the matter. Guardian Member Services or your dental office can provide a form for you to use. Guardian keeps track of all grievances, and regularly reviews grievance reports to identify potential problem areas.

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Freelancers Union will notify you by email when your coverage takes effect.

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People who work independently stand to lose the most in the case of sickness or injury. Protecting yourself with disability insurance to cover unexpected costs and lost wages is a smart move. Investing in good life insurance will give you the peace of mind of knowing that the people who depend on you are taken care of, should anything happen to you. We selected Guardian as our life and disability insurance provider based on their 146-year history. As the fourth-largest mutual life insurance company in the country, Guardian can afford to make a long-term commitment to Freelancers Union and our members.

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Health-related questions are not asked in the eligibility application, nor are they a part of the enrollment for health or dental insurance. If you're applying for life or disability insurance, you will be asked qualifying questions about your health and medical background.

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Everyone has his or her own life insurance needs and budget, but the rule of thumb is that you should have 3 to 5 times your annual salary in life insurance coverage.

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Participant and spouse rates are based on age, gender and tobacco usage.

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Yes, but any increase is subject to providing evidence of insurability, and approval is not guaranteed.

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Rates are grouped in five-year age bands and will change as you move from one age band to the next. Generally, premiums are adjusted on the group policy's anniversary date.

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There are no ID cards for life insurance, but you will receive an email confirmation once your enrollment is complete. You will receive a copy of the benefit booklet for your life insurance plan in the mail; this can also be downloaded from our website for your records. If there is any discrepancy between the Summary of Benefits on our website and your Guardian benefit booklet, the benefit booklet prevails.

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