When to Enroll

Overview

Active Employees

You should complete an enrollment application to enroll yourself and your eligible dependents when you are hired by a participating employer.

• When your enrollment application is completed and on file with the Trust, your coverage will begin when you have met the Initial Eligibility requirements.
• IMPORTANT: Failure to timely complete and submit an enrollment application may result in delayed payment of claims or ineligibility for benefits.

Retirees

You may enroll in a Retiree Plan when you retire due to age or disability and have met the eligibility requirements.

IMPORTANT: Retirees must enroll eligible dependents at the time of retirement under the Active Employee Plan. You may not add dependents after you enroll in a Retiree Plan.

NOTE: You and your eligible spouse may have an opportunity to defer enrollment (separately or together) in a Retiree Plan until age 62 or 65 in certain situations. See details in the Retiree Plans Summary Plan Description or contact the Administrative Office.

When Your Benefits Begin

Active Employees

Benefits coverage for yourself and your enrolled dependents begins at 12:01 a.m. on the date you meet the Initial Eligibility requirements.

• You must have completed and submitted an Enrollment Form to the Administrative Office.
• You must be “on the payroll” of a participating employer on the date you become eligible.
  » For example, if you work the required hours in January and February, coverage will become effective April 1, only if you are on the payroll of a participating employer on that date.
  » If you are off work due to disability, layoff or leave of absence, including military service, you are considered to be “on the payroll” for purposes of benefits coverage.
• If you are unable to work on the effective date because of disability, coverage for Weekly Accident and Sickness Benefits will not begin until the date you return to active employment, provided you are still eligible at that time.

Retirees

If you enroll in a Retiree Plan, benefits coverage for yourself and your enrolled dependents begins on the first day of the first calendar month in which you are no longer eligible for benefits under the Active Employee Plan. Coverage cannot be effective:

• Before your retirement date, and
• Before the Administrative Office receives your payment for Retiree Plan coverage.

When Your Benefits End

Active Employees

Benefits coverage for yourself and your enrolled dependents will end on the last day of the month following the month you lose eligibility because:

• You do not work or get paid for at least 100 hours by a participating employer for any reason.
• Your participating employer fails to make contributions to the Trust on your behalf. 
• You become a full-time member of the military forces (land, sea or air) of any country.

Your enrolled dependent's coverage ends when the individual no longer qualifies as your dependent or when your own coverage ends. 

When your benefits coverage ends, you and your dependents may qualify to continue self-pay coverage through COBRA.

Retirees 

Benefits coverage for yourself and enrolled dependents will end when:

• You begin working for an employer who has an employee group health plan, even if you are not eligible to participate because of job status, hours worked, waiting period, or you do not enroll or pay required premiums.
• You do not make your monthly payment to the Trust.
• Your former participating employer stops contributing to the Trust (in some situations).
• You die.

When coverage ends, you and your dependents may qualify to continue self-pay coverage through COBRA.