News & Changes

Welfare Fund Plan Benefit Changes effective 4/1/2011 and 6/1/2011

Dear Participant:

At the March 30th, 2011 Board of Trustees' Meeting, the following changes were approved by the Trustees for the Welfare Fund:

The Trustees have approved to continuing coverage for the spouses and/or dependent children of Medicare Retirees after 3/1/2011.  To offset the costs associated with this coverage, the following changes were approved by the Trustees effective 6/1/2011:

Self-Payment (Buy-In) - If the Participant has worked over 100 hours but less than 200 hours during a calendar quarter in any of the two calendar quarters prior to termination of benefits, the Participant has the option to buy the remaining hours at the applicable hourly Welfare Fund contribution rate.  A Self-Payment may be granted once per 12 month period.

Coverage after Member Death:  For members covered continuously for 5 years with 25 Pension Credits and die after age 52, dependent coverage is extended for 5 years with COBRA running concurrently.  For members covered continuously for 5 years and die prior to age 52, dependent coverage is extended for 5 years with COBRA running concurrently.

  1. Non-Medicare spouses and/or dependent children of Medicare Retirees' can continue coverage on our Retiree Plan until the spouse attains age 65 or becomes Medicare eligible.  The dependent child can continue coverage until the dependent attains age 23 and is a full time student.
  2. The first dependent covered (whether it is a spouse or a dependent child) will pay a monthly premium of $500.00 for benefits and any additional dependents will pay a $400.00 monthly premium for benefits.
  3. The first dependent covered (whether it is a spouse or a dependent child) will pay a monthly premium of $500.00 for benefits and any additional dependents will pay a $400.00 monthly premium for benefits.
  • In-Network Deductible of $750.00 and Out-of-Netowrk Deductible of $1,000.00 per person/per year.
  • In-Network Coinsurance of 20% and Out-of-Network Coinsurance of 50%.
  • In-Network Out-of-Pocket Maximum (OOP) of $5,000.00 per person/per year.
  1. The participants covered under the non-Medicare Retiree Plan will have the following Prescription Benefit Changes through the MagnacareRx Prescription Plan.
  • Annual prescription deductible of $400.00, Retail (local pharmacy), Mail Order (RxDN), and Specialty (Diplomat) combined, per person/per year.
  • 20% Coinsurance per prescription will apply after the annual deductible has been met.
  • Retail copayment minimums are $10 (generic) /$25 (brand formulary) /$50 (brand non-formulary) with a maximum of $75 per 30 day prescription.
  • Mail Order copayment minimums are $20 (generic) /$50 (brand formulary) /$100 (non-formulary) with a maximum of $150 per 90 day prescription.
  • Specialty copayment minimum is $50 with a maximum of $150 per 30 day prescription.

A Summary Plan Description (SPD), once completed will be mailed to you.  In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Fund Office.

Please click here to view the notice

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