In General

When you and/or your covered family members lose active coverage for any of a variety of reasons, the plan offers two forms of continuation coverage. To obtain either of these, you must qualify, apply and make timely payments as required by the plan. In some circumstances, you may have to provide notice to the Trust Office in order to obtain coverage. Below, the most common reasons for losing coverage are listed along with the basic qualifying criteria and applicable rates.

Self-Contribution Coverage

This program is a subsidized form of coverage available to certain temporarily unemployed or disabled participants. Coverage is available for six months with a possible six-month extension if you still qualify and are approved. After the six months (or 12 with an extension) you may elect COBRA coverage for the remainder of the 18-month maximum period allowed by COBRA. Self-Contribution Coverage is currently available under the A07 benefit package only.

You can elect to be covered for medical, prescription, dental, and vision benefits (but not time loss benefits) for $412.00 (effective 1/1/2010) per month.

You can elect the same package of benefits, but without dental coverage for $342.00 (effective 1/1/2010) per month.

You must complete the application and approval process and the Trust Office must receive your contribution on or before the 25th of each month. If you miss a payment, there is no grace period and no further coverage will be available.

COBRA Coverage

This program is a form of coverage mandated by federal law that is available to temporarily unemployed participants, terminated employees, disabled participants, recently retired participants or dependents of participants who lose coverage for a variety of reasons. Coverage can continue for up to 18 or 36 months as described below.

You can elect to be covered for medical, prescription, dental and vision for $821.00 (effective 1/1/2010) per month.

You can elect to be covered for medical, prescription and vision for $704.00 (effective 1/1/2010) per month.

18-Month Qualifying Events
Your termination of employment; or
Your layoff or reduction in hours of employment.

36-Month Qualifying Events
Death of the employee;
Divorce or legal separation between the employee and spouse; or
The dependent child ceases to meet the plan’s definition of “dependent.” You must complete the application and approval process and the Trust Office must receive the application and first payment according to the relevant deadlines. Subsequent payments must be received by the end of the month for which it is due, or coverage will cease and no further coverage will be available. There is no grace period for late payments.

Temporarily Out of Work/Insufficient Hours for Eligibility

If you become unemployed and are on the out-of-work list at your Local Union or if you are employed, recently dispatched to a contributing employer, and working to reestablish eligibility, then you may qualify for Self-Contribution Coverage as described above. If you do not qualify for Self-Contribution Coverage, you may still qualify for COBRA coverage. The maximum length of coverage in any combination of Self-Contribution Coverage and COBRA is 18 months.

Leaving the Trade

If you leave the trade and terminate employment, you may qualify for COBRA coverage. The maximum length of coverage in this circumstance is 18 months.

Disability

If you become disabled, you may qualify for COBRA coverage. The maximum length of coverage in this circumstance is 18 months at the normal COBRA rates and then an additional 11 months at $1,207.00 (effective 1/1/2010) per month with dental, $1,035.00 (effective 1/1/2010) per month without dental.

Retirement

When you retire, you may qualify for COBRA coverage. The maximum length of coverage in this circumstance is 18 months.

Divorce

If your spouse and/or children will lose coverage due to a divorce or legal separation, they can qualify for COBRA coverage. The responsible party must notify the Trust Office in order to obtain coverage. The maximum length of coverage in this circumstance is 36 months.

Dependent Reaches Age 19

If your dependent child reaches age 19 and is no longer a full-time student (or 24 and is no longer a full-time college student), they may qualify for COBRA coverage. The maximum length of coverage in this circumstance is 36 months. Disabled dependents and full-time students (through age 23) can continue coverage upon providing appropriate documentation to the Trust Office.

Death of Participant

If your spouse and/or children will lose coverage due to your death, they can qualify for COBRA coverage. The responsible party must notify the Trust Office in order to obtain coverage. The maximum length of coverage in this circumstance is 36 months.