Emergency resources from UC’s benefit plans

If you have lost an essential prescription medication, you or your pharmacy may call your pharmacy benefits administrator and request an emergency supply. You may also request a change of address for your home delivery, or a transfer to pick up your prescription at a network pharmacy.

There are a number of options available to those who need emotional support coping with stress and loss caused by a natural disaster or another emergency. Please contact your Faculty and Staff Assistance Program or your behavioral health plan for a referral.  

If you are a UC employee impacted by an emergency situation and you have a current disability claim, Lincoln Financial may be able to support you by:

• Exercising leniency with regard to providing notice of loss, proof of loss, medical record due dates, and appeal deadlines
• Accepting a verbal change-of-address (with appropriate information to establish identity)
• Offering the option to activate direct deposit for short-term disability
• Waiving the 10-day waiting period for stop payment procedures and reissuance of benefits

Lincoln Financial will send a special email message to claimants (who have provided an email address) covering the above information and providing alternate contact information.

Prudential stands ready to assist with any life or AD&D claim issues that might need special handling of any kind.

If you or a family member are affected by a natural disaster or another emergency, you may be able to use some of your UC 403(b) or 457(b) Plan funds to help you with expenses and rebuilding. Please contact Fidelity Retirement Services at 866-682-7787 regarding relaxed rules for loans and hardship withdrawals for employer-sponsored retirement savings plans like UC’s.

Please refer to the Summary Plan Descriptions, or contact Fidelity, to learn more about standard loan and hardship distributions available under the 403(b) Plan PDF and unforeseeable emergency withdrawals under the 457(b) Plan PDF

Regardless of whether you have legal insurance through UC, you can visit the ARAG Learning Center for resources to help you with the legal and financial issues caused by a natural disaster or another emergency. The site includes how to protect your rights as a homeowner or renter, who to contact for assistance, what to do if you’re the victim of a scam and more. 

If you’re a current ARAG legal insurance member, please call ARAG Customer Care at 800-828-1395 or send an email to service@ARAGlegal.com for help in dealing with this disaster.

UC has partnered with findhelp, a network of social assistance programs and resources in the U.S. that are free or offered at a reduced cost. Any UC health plan member or family member who needs support with their social, financial or physical health and well-being can use findhelp to search for resources in your community.