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Latham, NY 12110

800-626-8101 M-F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

memberbenefits.nysut.org

NYSUT Member Benefits Trust

NYSUT Member Benefits Corporation

©Copyright 2012

Fall 2012 A quarterly digest for all your Member Benefits news Issue 4

Inside this issue:

Dealing with Disasters .....................pg 6

Heating with Propane .......................pg 7

15 Smile Fun Facts ...........................pg 8

Proper Child Seat Safety ..................pg 9

Member Benefits E-Direct

ways to

AVOID

online Shopping

perils!

5

Table of ContentsFrom the Director........................................................................................................................................ 3We’ve got a lot going on! Find out from Director Lynette Metz what’s new in

Member Benefits and what’s on the horizon.

5 ways to avoid online shopping perils .................................................................................4Make sure your online shopping experience this holiday season is a safe

and secure one.

Preparing for the worst & hoping for the best....................................................................6Take the proper steps to put your life back together after a natural disaster strikes.

Are you heating with propane? ................................................................................................7Get the most out of your propane dollar with tips from another of our newestendorsed program providers.

15 smile fun facts ............................................................................................................................8 Learn more about the benefits of smiling from one of our newest endorsedprogram providers.

Kids Korner: Proper child seat safety......................................................................................9Have a child or grandchild on the way? Get your vehicle ready for your little one!

How much is that pet in the window?..................................................................................10Tips to consider before surprising someone with a pet (or getting one yourself)

this holiday season.

Member Benefits E-Direct is a quarterly publication produced by NYSUT Member Benefits designed to

educate NYSUT members about a variety of topics and issues of importance to them and their families.

The goal of this e-newsletter is to serve as an educational and informative piece that helps our hard-

working members to make better informed decisions in their lives.

For information about any of our programs or about contractual endorsement arrangements with

providers of endorsed programs, please contact NYSUT Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 or visit

memberbenefits.nysut.org. Agency fee payers to NYSUT are eligible to participate in NYSUT Member

Benefits-endorsed programs.

2 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 2

Hello again, andwelcome to the Fall2012 issue of MemberBenefits E-Direct! It’shard to believe thatthis is our last issueof the year.

Seems like justyesterday that we werelaunching this new

publication, and here we stand almost one yearlater. It’s been another busy year and we have alot on the horizon.

First off, we’re very excited to announce ournewest Member Benefits Corporation-endorsedprograms: 1800Flowers.com and Propane USA!NYSUT members now have the opportunity tosave 20% on fresh flowers, gourmet giftbaskets, chocolates, spa baskets, and muchmore through 1800Flowers.com.

Meanwhile, Propane USA is a brand newbenefit for NYSUT members that negotiateslower prices on propane from top-rated localdealers and also eliminates unnecessarypropane fees.

In addition, we’re looking at adding a number ofnew discount programs in the near future. Ourpopular discount programs are one of the mainreasons why members visit the MemberBenefits website, so we’re continually looking toexpand these offerings by offering new qualityendorsed programs.

Several enhancements have been made to our endorsed Legal Service Plan. EffectiveOctober 1, 2012, the Business Rider has beenenhanced to include the following services at noadditional cost to participants: free telephoneconsultations, free letter writing (limit of 10 perPlan year) and free document review (limit of sixpages per document).

For those of you that may be landlords, considerpurchasing the Business Rider and have yournext tenant contract reviewed by an attorney.

On the insurance side of the house, our originalendorsed Catastrophe Major Medical (CMM)Insurance Plan is now closed to new applicants.Our new CMM II product has been filed with theNew York State Department of FinancialServices, but it could take the NYSDFS up to ayear to approve the new plan.

If you would like a brochure, enrollmentmaterials when the program has been approvedor to be added to the waiting list, please contactMarsh U.S. Consumer – the plan administrator– toll-free at 888-386-9788.

We’re still looking into a new Long-Term CareInsurance program. The long-term care industryremains quite volatile so we are taking our timein researching our options for a new carrier; wewant to be certain that we are making the rightdecisions for our members.

Make sure you check out our feature story thisissue for some helpful hints on avoiding those“too good to be true” deals as we enter theholiday season. We at Member Benefits want tohelp our members have a safe and secureonline shopping experience.

Finally, our thoughts and prayers are withall NYSUT members affected by the recentSuperstorm Sandy that devastated theNortheast. Check out page 6 for a specialstory about preparing for and dealing withnatural disasters.

Remember that you can always call uswith any questions at 800-626-8101 orvisit memberbenefits.nysut.org.

-- Lynette A. MetzDirector, NYSUT Member Benefits TrustCEO, NYSUT Member Benefits Corporation

From the Director

3 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 3

Well, the holidays are fast approaching

and we all know what that means... it’s

shopping season!

“Cyber Monday” (taking place on the Mondayimmediately following Thanksgiving) hasquickly joined “Black Friday” as one of thebusiest shopping days of the year, and weat NYSUT Member Benefits want to makesure that you have a safe and secure onlineshopping experience.

According to various sources, consumers nowspend approximately $1 billion on Cyber Mondayeach year. In addition, 80% of all online salestake place in the four weeks between BlackFriday and the weekend before Christmas.

What does this mean? Well, for starters, itmeans there are a number of merchants lookingto offer special purchasing incentives and a lot ofpeople looking for great discounts; it also meansthese same potential buyers are leavingthemselves wide open to potential scams fromunscrupulous online thieves.

Always exercise caution and good judgmentwhen it comes to online deals. The old adage

has never been more accurate when it comes toonline shopping: “If it sounds too good to be true,it most likely is.”

While we all want to believe that ad offering a 60” LCD flat screen television for $100,we know in our heads that this is justnot realistic.

Check out the following tips fromwikihow.com to make sureyour online shopping experiencethis holiday season is a safeand secure one:

#1: Know who you’re dealingwith – Make sure that you knowthe identity, location and contactinformation for the online retailer.

Besides learning these details, it’s also smart tomake sure that the company has a positiveonline reputation. Do an online search to find outwhat others are saying about their experienceswith the company.

While one or two negative reviews about aproduct should not dissuade you from

4 |Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 4 5 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 5

ways to avoid

online shopping

perils!

DidYou know?

53% of smartphone ownersand 64% of tablet owners plan

to do holiday shopping on thosedevices -- Mobile CommerceDaily

5

4 |Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 4 5 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 5

purchasing it, be leery if the majority ofproduct reviews are negative. Trust your instincts!

#2: Learn about additional billing, “specialcharges” and guarantees before you

buy – Always look for any additionalcosts and payment details prior

to submitting your credit card information.

Oftentimes, merchants willoffer the lowest prices... and

then make up for them withexcessive shipping &

handling charges.

Before you buy any item, find outabout these delivery charges, when

you’ll actually be billed and how to return the product if necessary.

#3: Only use secure sites for onlinepurchases – Never supply your credit cardinformation online unless you are using asecure site. Always check the address bar inyour browser to see if it changes from “http” to“https”; the “s” in the address bar means that itis a secure site. It’s also a good idea to stay

with reputable vendor sites that have good online reputations.

#4: Keep a record of your purchase details– Always print the details of the time, date,receipt number, and order confirmation afterpurchasing an item online.

#5: Look for your CVV code – A reputablesite will request the three-digit CVV (CardVerification Value) code on the back of yourcredit card whenever you make an onlinepurchase (American Express uses a four-digitcode on the front of the card).

Keeping all of this in mind, make sure youhave fun with your online shopping! Don’t let afew bad apples ruin your holidays.

Remember that you can always look to ourMember Benefits-endorsed discount programsto assist you with your online shopping.

You may also want to consider enrolling in ourEquifax Credit Watch Gold program for someadded credit protection this holiday season.

And if you happen to find a legitimate 60”

television for $100, let us know!

ways to avoid

online shopping

perils!

DidYou know?

53% of smartphone ownersand 64% of tablet owners plan

to do holiday shopping on thosedevices -- Mobile CommerceDaily

Check out the following tips from the New York State Department of

Financial Services and State of New Jersey Department of Banking &

Insurance to help put the pieces of your life back together in

the wake of the most recent natural disaster to strike.

Take stock immediately following the disaster – After it

is safe to return to your home, assess and take photos of the

damage for your insurance company. Do not dispose of property

until an insurance adjuster has reviewed it for your claim.

Handling the claim – Your insurance company will send

an insurance adjuster to survey the damage at no cost to

you. Make sure to be present when the adjuster inspects

your property.

Repairing the damage – To avoid the potential for fraud, check

licensing and references before hiring a contractor. Be very leery

of unlicensed contractors who show up in your neighborhood

looking to remove debris for a fee.

After you rebuild – Conduct a home inventory after you

re-establish your home following the disaster. After you have

completed the home inventory, contact your agent to make

sure your homeowners policy is enough to cover your

new investments.

Make note of the following tips to help better prepare for the

next natural disaster before it occurs.

Create a fully-stocked Disaster Supplies Kit – Your kit should

include at least three gallons of water per person; canned food;

a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries; a well-

stocked first-aid kit; clothing and bedding; and essential

medications for each family member.

Learn about flood protection – Flood damage is not covered

by most New York state homeowners policies; it is normally

offered as a separate policy.

Assemble and secure important documents – Shrink wrap

and store your documents in a small, portable, waterproof kit

that includes Social Security cards; birth certificates; marriage

certificates; important family photos; Wills; Health Care Proxies;

insurance policies; and copies of medical prescriptions.

Prepare an emergency contact list – It is crucial to keep an

emergency contact list with you that contains the addresses and

phone numbers of family members, close friends, physicians,

attorneys, insurance agents, etc.

With millions of East Coast residents struggling to recover from the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy and total

repair costs estimated to be in the billions, it’s crucial to take the proper steps to begin putting your life back together as

quickly as possible.

The NYSUT website has a variety of information related to the storm and those affected by it. Click here to learn more.

Many people make the mistake of not knowing what their homeowners insurance policy actually covers. Do you know

whether your policy covers full replacement or an agreed upon amount for items? The last thing you want after a

disaster strikes is to find out that your policy doesn’t cover what you thought it did.

Preparing for the worst & hoping for the best

Remember that if you’re a NYSUT member who has purchased our endorsed MetLife Auto & Home homeowners insurance policy, we are

here as your advocate. If you ever feel that information is not being disclosed to you properly or are having issues that need to be resolved,

we are on your side to assist you. Call us at 800-626-8101 or visit memberbenefits.nysut.org.

6 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 6

7 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 7

Are you heating with propane?

Did you know that millions of Americans usepropane each year, and not just for grilling andcooking? Propane is a versatile fuel that can beused to heat your home or hot water, or evenpower your appliances.

If yours is one of those households, you know thatpropane can also be quite expensive. Inaddition to the cost of the fuel itself,many companies charge you fees oneverything from renting a tank tomaking a delivery.

Check out the following fivetips from Propane USA toget the most out of yourpropane dollar:

Tip #1: Purchase your own

propane tank – By purchasingyour own tank, you won’t have topay hundreds or thousands of dollarsin leasing fees every year, and you won’t belocked in to one supplier.

Tip #2: Shop around – Whether you own your

tank or not, it pays to shop around. The next timethat you get a delivery, check the price and thencall around to see if you’re getting a good deal.

Tip #3: Challenge excessive fees – Many

propane companies charge a laundry list of fees totheir customers, including tank rental, delivery

fees, low usage fees, and more. Pick up the phoneand tell them that you think it’s too much. You’repaying for the propane... why should you pay forall of the extra add-ons?

Tip #4: Be careful with pre-buys – There are

a number of propane companies that offerpre-buys before the beginning of the season.

This can mean shelling out hundreds oreven thousands of dollars beforeyou’ve gotten a drop of propane. If

you do pre-buy, make sure thatyou’re confident the price isright and the company is

financially stable and ableto deliver on its promises.

Tip #5: Join Propane USA –

Propane USA is a brand newbenefit for NYSUT members that

negotiates lower prices on propanefrom top-rated local dealers and eliminates

fees. There are no tank rental, delivery orenvironmental compliance fees.

NYSUT members also receive $50 of free propaneand a $100 gift certificate good towards thepurchase of your own propane tank so that youcan save even more!

Learn more about Propane USA by calling toll-free888-767-9185 or visiting propaneusa.info/nysut.

DidYou know?

Propane provides more energy per unit of volume than natural gas.

8 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 8

Smiling is the universal sign of happiness. Handshakes, hugs and bows all mean

different things to different people... but smiling spans across all cultures.

There are a whole host of benefits that come from smiling – which can come in

handy as the days get shorter and shorter. Check out the following tips from

1800Flowers.com to learn more about the benefits of smiling.

Facts:

1: It’s scientifically proven that people are attracted to those who smile

and are pushed away by those who frown or scowl.

2: You can trick yourself into being in a better mood simply by smiling.

3: Smiling helps you relax and boosts your immune system.

4: Smiling lowers blood pressure.

5: Smiling releases endorphins and relieves stress.

6: Smiling is sometimes referred to as a natural pain killer!

7: Smiles are contagious.

8: It takes 43 muscles to frown... but only two muscles to smile!

9: The two muscles that create a smile are the zygomatic major and

the orbicularis oculi.

10: Other muscles can simulate a smile, but only the two mentioned

above create a genuine, involuntary smile.

11: Duchenne smiles are the scientific name for genuine smiles.

12: The crinkling in the corner of the eyes is a tell-tale sign of a genuine smile.

13: Babies start smiling in their sleep as soon as they are born; they

begin to voluntarily smile as soon as four weeks of age.

14: Smiles are the most easily recognized facial expression – recognizable

from more than 300 feet away.

15: A dog smiles by wagging its tail!

Smile Fun Facts

For more information about 1800Flowers.com, please call 800-626-8101 or visit memberbenefits.nysut.org.

9 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 9

Great news... you’re about to become a

parent (or grandparent) for the first (or second orthird) time! You’ve planned and prepared andeven baby-proofed your home. Good job!

But, is your vehicle asprepared as your home?According to the NationalHighway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA),thousands of young children are killed or injured in crashes eachyear – mainly becausethree out of four childsafety seats are notproperly secured or notrestrained at all.

All 50 states in the U.S.along with the Districtof Columbia and PuertoRico require child safetyseats for infants andchildren that fit specificcriteria. And violatingthese laws is notsomething that istaken lightly.

Luckily, it is easier than ever today to learn how toinstall a child seat safely and correctly thanks tothe NHTSA’s LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children) campaign.

Nearly every child seat and the majority ofvehicles manufactured since September 1, 2002are required to use the LATCH system – whichmakes it easier to ensure that child safetyseats are properly secured every time youhit the road.

The NHTSA website offers a variety of helpfulinstallation instructionsand videos to assistyou along the way.If your child seat isnot equipped withthe LATCH system,always follow themanufacturer-providedinstruction manual.

The NHTSA websitealso offers a locatortool to help find a childcar seat inspectionstation near you.

Certified technicians willinspect your child carseat free of charge (inmost cases) and showyou how to correctly install and use it.

With the colder weather and inclementconditions on the way, don’t take a chance with the little ones. Visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfmfor more information.

Kids Corner: Proper child seat safety

The NHTSA offers the following childseat recommendations:

• All children under the age of one shouldalways ride in a rear-facing car seat.

• Keep children from one to three yearsold in a rear-facing seat as long as possible to keep them safe.

• Children four to seven years old shouldbe in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they reach the maximumheight or weight limit allowed by yourcar seat’s manufacturer.

• Keep children eight to 12 years old in abooster seat until they are big enoughto fit in a seat belt properly.

Are you thinking about giving or getting a new

pet this holiday season?

While there are plenty of pets who need a good home,

make sure your home – or the recipient of the pet – is

ready for the demands and responsibilities of caring for

a two- or four-legged friend.

Consider the tips from VPI Pet Insurance at the right

before surprising someone with the gift of a pet.

And remember, regardless of where you acquire

your new pet or what the seller says, always take it

to see your personal veterinarian within the first

week of bringing your pet home.

10 | Fall 2012 Fall 2012 | 10

How much is

that pet in the

window?

Tip #1: Make sure the recipient wants a pet and is

financially prepared – Be careful about giving a pet as

an unexpected gift to a family member or friend. Pets

require a considerable investment of both time and

money and aren’t right for everyone.

Tip #2: Don’t buy a pet on an impulse – Pets on sale

at shopping mall pet stores may look cute... but they

often have health issues. If you’re serious about buying

a pet, do your research and find a responsible breeder,

shelter or rescue group.

Tip #3: Consider adopting an “easier” pet – If you’re

thinking about giving a pet as a gift to a child, you may

also want to consider easier options such as fish,

turtles, mice, rabbits, or guinea pigs.

Tip #4: Create a toxic- and danger-free home

for pets – Household toxins can threaten the lives of

curious pets. Make sure that all household chemicals,

human medicines, poisonous houseplants, and

breakables are out of reach.

Tip #5: Choose a local veterinarian – Choosing a

veterinarian is the first step in ensuring a pet’s well-

being. Puppies and kittens need a series of

vaccinations, so make sure that you get any records

containing the pet’s history; this will help a veterinarian

to determine exactly which vaccinations are needed.

For more information about the Member Benefits-endorsed pet insurance program, please call

800-626-8101 or visit memberbenefits.nysut.org.

DidYou know?

Americans spentapproximately$50 billion on petsin 2011 -- American PetProducts Association