Neither state nor federal law requires employers to offer health insurance to employees who work part-time. Accordingly, MUSE, the Marymount Adjunct Collective (MAC) and Marymount Manhattan College have negotiated a fund that members of these two bargaining units may tap to cover medical expenses.  

Who is eligible to participate in this fund? For members of the MUSE bargaining unit, it’s those who have reached their first anniversary as of January 1, 2025. For members of the MAC bargaining unit, it’s those who have taught a minimum of three semesters. These need not be three semesters in sequence. MMC offers some courses in sequences, and so hires some faculty to teach part of the course in the fall, and other faculty to teach the other part in the spring. 

What medical expenses are covered? Medical expenses incurred while the bargaining unit member was on the payroll during calendar year 2025 will be considered. However, further details are hard to come by. Changing state and federal laws regulate medical benefits such as these. Attached please find a guide from the firm that provides health insurance to MMC’s full-time employees, which may provide some more ideas as to the types of medical expenses covered. When in doubt submit! 

For those eligible for this fund, attached please find an application form. You may type on the form in the computer or print it out and write on it but do plan to print a copy. Gather your 2024 receipts. Use the form to list the receipts. Write the letters MRA on the form—there’s no specific place, but this signals to the processors which regulations to apply. Make a scan and/ or photocopy of the completed form and receipts. You can put the form and receipts into an envelope addressed to Benefit Resource, LLC, P.O.B. 642, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090.

Why are these forms going to Benefit Resource? Two reasons. First, Benefit Resource employees are trained in the regulations for processing medical reimbursements, so they are your best bet for getting everything the law entitles you to. Second, one federal regulation governing medical reimbursements protects the privacy of your medical information. Using Benefit Resource makes sure that no one at MMC will see clues as to medical conditions you’d prefer to keep to yourself. 

Will applicants be fully reimbursed? No, for two reasons. First, this benefit is taxable. Second, there's $35,000 in the fund and it is theoretically possible that Benefit Resource will approve expenditures in excess of that sum. If that happens, I'll explain the process for dividing up the fund among the applicants.

Benefits Resources Inc. is not currently accepting applications for this fund for 2025. You will receive information via a MUSE News in early 2026 once we have an application period for the 2025 submissions.