Are you aware of the various ways to save money through NYSUT Member Benefits Trust? With more than 40 endorsed insurance, financial, legal and discount plans, it’s hard to keep track of what’s available.

UUP bargaining unit members with access to e-mail should consider joining “MAP,” Member Benefits’ Member Assistance Program. Approximately every three weeks, members will receive a brief e-mail message. It may be an advance notice of a change in an existing plan, an announcement of a new endorsement or a reminder about an endorsed program. These e-mail messages are immediately recognizable by the subject line: MAP Alert.

Members have the option of reading the brief text message in an e-mail format or in html format, complete with eye-pleasing colors and graphics.

Occasionally, MAPers are asked for opinions on programs under consideration for future endorsement, including which features are most important to them.When possible, MAPers help Member Benefits test potential new programs and services and provide feedback. For example, MAPers helped kick the tires on the new online look-up service, My Program Participation, before it was introduced in January.

Sometimes MAP Alerts include the opportunity to win valuable prizes offered by Member Benefits or providers of its endorsed programs. MAPers have received such prizes as admission tickets to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, 100 free gallons of heating oil from HEAT USA, a Bose Wave® Music System, a digital camera and a GPS device.

Since MAP messages are sent from Member Benefits, a member’s e-mail address is not shared with any outside parties. Member Benefits oversees the content, as well as the frequency of e-mail communications to ensure members will not be bombarded.

To join, simply complete a brief sign-up form on the Member Benefits Web site at www.memberbenefits.nysut.org. MAP Alerts will begin within three weeks.

For information about contractual expense reimbursement/endorsement arrangements with providers of endorsed programs, please call NYSUT Member Benefits Trust at (800) 626-8101, e-mail benefits@nysutmail.org visit www.memberbenefits.nysut.org or refer to your NYSUT Member Benefits Trust Summary Plan Description. Agency fee payers to NYSUT are eligible to participate in NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed programs.