Initial Enrollment
When you apply for a pension benefit from the Pension Fund, the Fund office will let you know if you meet the eligibility requirements for the Retiree Insurance. If you do, the retiree benefits booklet, premium information, and an enrollment form will be sent to you. The enrollment form must be completed and returned to the Fund Office along with all supporting documentation requested on the form (marriage document, children’s birth certificates, etc.).

You and your eligible Dependents may elect to enroll in the BlueCross/BlueShield benefit and the Prescription Drug benefit. You do not have to enroll in both the BlueCross/BlueShield benefit and the Prescription Drug benefit if you do not wish to do so. However, you must enroll in the benefit(s) in which you wish to participate at the time of retirement.

If you do not enroll at the time of retirement, you will NOT be given another opportunity to enroll.

If you do enroll at the time of retirement, you may cancel the benefit coverage in which you elected to enroll at a later date by completing a cancellation form. Contact the Pension Department to request a cancellation form. The cancellation form must be received in the Pension Fund Office at least thirty (30) days before the first day of the month in which you wish coverage to terminate.

If you enroll at the time of retirement and then cancel coverage at a later date, you will NOT be allowed to re-enroll after the cancellation.

It is also important to note that, in order for your spouse and/or eligible dependents to enroll in either the BlueCross/BlueShield benefit or the Prescription Drug benefit, you (the participant) must be enrolled in the benefit(s) in which your spouse and/or eligible dependents wish to enroll.

Identification Cards
Identification cards are mailed to eligible retired participants at the time coverage becomes effective. Your cards will be issued with a Unique Identification Number (UID), which is used instead of your Social Security Number. It is important for you to become familiar with your UID number as you will use this number on all medical claims.

Effective Date of Retiree Coverage
You, your spouse, and your eligible dependents will become eligible for retiree insurance coverage on the first day of the month that your initial pension check is processed. There are certain situations when the retiree insurance coverage will not be effective at that time including run out of eligibility under the Active Plan of benefits, COBRA Continuation Coverage, and coverage by a spouse’s employer. These exceptions are described below.

It is important to note that, if for any reason your pension is being processed with a retroactive effective date the retiree insurance coverage will NOT be retroactive to the pension effective date.

Effect of “Active” Eligibility
Retiree coverage will not become effective, and you will NOT pay monthly premiums for the Retiree benefit(s) in which you elect to enroll, until the first of the month after your eligibility under the Active Plan of benefits end.

Effect of COBRA Continuation Coverage
If you elect COBRA continuation coverage, you must still make your elections concerning the Retiree coverage at the time of retirement. HOWEVER, the retiree coverage will not become effective, and you will NOT pay monthly premiums for the Retiree benefit(s) in which you elect to enroll until the first of the month after your COBRA benefits end. It is your responsibility to notify the Pension Fund IN WRITING by the fifteenth (15th) of the month in which your COBRA will end so that you can be added to the appropriate Retiree benefit(s) the following month.

Effect of Coverage by a Spouse’s Employer
If your spouse is covered through his/her employer, you may postpone coverage for your spouse (and Dependent children covered under your spouse’s employer plan) until your spouse’s coverage through his/her employer ceases. However, you must enroll your spouse in the appropriate (carpenter) retiree benefits(s) the month following the termination of his/her employer’s insurance.

You should request an enrollment form from the Pension Department at least thirty days in advance of the date that you wish to add your spouse to your coverage.

Additionally, postponement of coverage is only allowed for the benefit(s) that your spouse’s employer provides coverage. For example, if your spouse’s employer provides hospital and medical coverage but does not provide prescription coverage, your spouse can only postpone coverage under the BlueCross/BlueShield benefit. Your spouse cannot postpone coverage in the Prescription Drug benefit if your spouse’s employer does not provide prescription drug coverage.

Even though you can postpone coverage for your spouse, you cannot postpone coverage for yourself. This means that, even if you are covered by your spouse’s insurance, you must elect the Carpenters’ Retiree Welfare benefit(s) at the time of your retirement. If you do not elect coverage for yourself at the time of retirement, neither you nor your spouse or eligible dependents will be allowed to enroll at a later date.

New Spouse
If you marry after your retiree benefit(s) becomes effective, your new spouse will become eligible for coverage on the date of your marriage, provided that you complete an enrollment form (which can be requested by calling the Pension Department) and submit the required documentation (the marriage document) within sixty (60) days of your marriage. If you do not notify the Fund Office AND submit the required documentation within sixty (60) days of your marriage, coverage for your new spouse will be effective on the first day of the month following the Fund Office’s receipt of all of the required documentation.

New Dependent
If you acquire a new dependent after your retiree benefit(s) becomes effective, the dependent will become eligible for coverage on the date that you acquire the dependent, provided that you complete an enrollment form (which can be requested by calling the Pension Department) and submit the required documentation (the natural child’s birth certificate, the adoption papers, the legal guardianship papers, or other documentation as needed within sixty (60) days of the date you acquire the Dependent. If you do not notify the Fund Office AND submit the required documentation within sixty (60) days, coverage for your new dependent will be effective on the first day of the month following the Fund Office’s receipt of all of the required documentation.

Qualified Medical Child Support Orders (QMCSO)
A Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO) is a court order that requires a Retiree to provide medical coverage for his or her children (called alternate recipients) in situations involving divorce, legal separation, a paternity dispute or other domestic relations proceeding.

This Retiree Welfare Plan provides benefits according to the requirements of a QMCSO. The Fund Office will notify affected participants and alternate recipients if a QMCSO is received. You may obtain a copy of the Plan’s QMCSO procedures by contacting the Fund Office.