Northwest Carpenters Health and Security Plan

Monthly Contributions 

Coverage is on a month-to-month basis as long as you and your dependents continue to meet the eligibility requirements and the required monthly contributions are made to the plan.

Monthly Contribution Rate

There are different monthly contribution rates depending on (1) who is enrolled in Retiree Coverage, and (2) who is eligible for Medicare. Monthly contribution rates are established by the Board of Trustees and are increased as medical costs increase and the needs of the plan change. You will be notified of the current monthly contribution rate when you apply and will be informed, in writing, if this amount changes.

Service-based Subsidy

The monthly contribution rates for Retiree Coverage are currently subsidized by contributions paid on behalf of participants who worked or are working under collective bargaining agreements. The subsidy is “service based” which means the cost of Retiree Coverage is reduced by an amount – 0 percent to 25 percent – depending on the total number of hours of covered service you worked under the Northwest Carpenters Health and Security Plan, including prorated contributions transferred to the plan under money follows the carpenter.

Retiree Coverage – Service-Based Subsidy

Career Hours In This Plan

Less than 15,000

15,000-24,999

25,000-34,999

35,000-44,999

45,000-54,999

Greater than 54,999

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

The service-based subsidy levels apply for retirees and dependents. It also applies to early retirees, Medicare-eligible retirees, and those covered under SecureHorizons. Post-retirement service hours worked on or after January 1, 2008 count toward your career hour total.

Medicare Part D offers a low-income subsidy for certain individuals. If you are enrolled in the Express Scripts Medicare Prescription Plan, Northwest Carpenters Trusts will notify you if you qualify. This may mean a lower monthly contribution rate.

Retiree Premium Credits

Retiree Premium Credits were previously provided to participants covered under the Oregon-SW Washington Carpenters-Employers Health and Welfare Plan. The plan will continue to recognize these Retiree Premium Credits earned as of September 1, 2021. No new Retiree Premium Credit accruals will be allowed on or after September 1, 2021. However, beginning with July 2021 work hours, additional subsidy can be earned under the Northwest Carpenters Health and Security Plan retiree subsidy schedule (please see “Service-Based Subsidy” above).

Retiree Health Reimbursement Accounts

You can use your Retiree Health Reimbursement Account to cover a portion of your monthly contribution for Retiree Coverage or COBRA Coverage if you are retired (please see Retiree Health Reimbursement Accounts).

Payment Process

Your monthly contribution is due by the tenth of the month prior to next month’s coverage. For example, the contribution for February is due by January 10. Contributions can be made in several ways:

  • You can authorize automatic monthly deductions from the Northwest Carpenters Retirement Plan.
  • You can authorize Northwest Carpenters Trusts to bill you on a monthly basis. This is the only option available to retired lathers and retirees previously covered under the Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming benefit package.
  • If you have a Retiree Health Reimbursement Account, it can be used to pay a portion of the monthly contribution, with the balance of the monthly contribution paid in one of the two ways described above.

Failure to make the required monthly contribution will terminate coverage at the end of the last month for which payment was made. When coverage is terminated for failure to pay the monthly contribution, it cannot be reinstated.

Last Updated: 10/30/2023