Northwest Carpenters Health and Security Plan

Self-Contribution Coverage 

Eligibility

Six months of Self-Contribution Coverage is available if you are a qualified unemployed or disabled participant. To be eligible you must be:

  • Unemployed and actively maintained on the out-of-work list at the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters or the regional council in the jurisdiction in which you are working, and not doing any work for gain or profit, even if on a temporary basis; or
  • Employed and recently dispatched to a contributing employer and working to reestablish dollar bank eligibility; or
  • Disabled with the attending physician continually certifying the disability.

To be eligible for this six-month Self-Contribution Coverage you must also have been eligible for benefits based on dollar bank eligibility for at least three months during each twelve-month period of the thirty-six months immediately preceding loss of eligibility due to unemployment or temporary disability.

If you are an apprentice, you must have been eligible for benefits based on dollar bank eligibility for at least three months during each twelve-month period you participated in the Apprenticeship Program. You must also be in good standing with the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC).

Disabled or disability, as used for this provision, means your inability to work in your normal job because of an illness or injury.

Participation in Self-Contribution Coverage cannot be used to help establish eligibility for Retiree Coverage.

Notification Requirements

If you meet the above requirements and are eligible to participate in Self-Contribution Coverage, Northwest Carpenters Trusts mails an application to you the month before your coverage would otherwise terminate. If you wish to purchase continuation coverage, complete the application and return it with your first month’s payment to Northwest Carpenters Trusts. Please make your check payable to Northwest Carpenters Health and Security Trust. Your application and payment must be received by Northwest Carpenters Trusts before your dollar bank eligibility terminates. Northwest Carpenters Trusts will notify you, in writing, of acceptance or denial of your application.

Cost and Payment

Once your application has been approved, coverage is on a month-to-month basis as long as you continue to meet the necessary requirements. Dependents are included at no additional charge. Billings are mailed in the first week of the month for the following month’s coverage. Payment is due upon receipt of the bill but not later than the 25th of the same month. There is no grace period. Failure to make the necessary payment terminates coverage. The monthly contribution rates are established by the Board of Trustees and are subject to change.

Duration of Coverage

Self-Contribution Coverage is available for a six-month period but can be renewed upon request for an additional six-month period if you demonstrate to the plan’s satisfaction that you continue to satisfy the requirements listed above. Once you return to work for a contributing employer, you can continue self-contributions until you reestablish dollar bank eligibility, but in no event for more than 12 months. Self-Contribution Coverage runs concurrently with COBRA coverage and is not in addition to COBRA coverage. You may elect COBRA once Self-Contribution Coverage terminates. The total Self-Contribution Coverage and COBRA Coverage may not exceed 18 months, or 36 months in the case of a qualified beneficiary (spouse or dependent child) who has a second qualifying event.

Choice of Coverage

There are two options to choose from:

  • Self-Contribution Coverage With Dental. This option is the same as dollar bank eligibility but does not provide time loss benefits.
  • Self-Contribution Coverage Without Dental. This option is the same as dollar bank eligibility but does not provide time loss or dental benefits.

If you do not qualify for Self-Contribution Coverage, you may qualify for COBRA Coverage for a period of time not to exceed the total period of time allowed by federal law.

Last Updated: 10/31/2023