Who Can Enroll

Who is Eligible

Active Employees

You qualify to participate in the Active Employee Plan if:

1. You are employed by a participating employer with the Trust,
2. You work under a collective bargaining agreement which requires your employer to make contributions to the Trust on behalf of you and your covered dependents, and
3. You meet the Initial Eligibility requirements.

Initial Eligibility requirements:

Medical, Life and Weekly Income Benefits

• ‍‍You work (or are paid for) 100 or more hours in each of two consecutive months, and
• Your participating employer makes the required contributions to the Trust.

Eligibility begins on the first day of the second month after you work (or are paid for) two 100-hour months. For example, if you work (or are paid for) 100 or more hours in January, and again in February, your coverage will begin on April 1.

Note: If you quit or are discharged, and later return to work for the same or another participating employer, you must meet the Initial Eligibility requirements again.

Dental and Vision Benefits

• You work (or are paid for) 100 or more hours in each of four consecutive months after your medical benefits begins, and
• Your participating employer makes the required contributions to the Trust.

Eligibility for dental and vision benefits begins on the first day of the month following four months of eligibility for medical plan benefits. For example, if your medical plan benefits begin on April 1, and you work (or are paid) 100 or more hours in April, May, June and July, your coverage will begin on August 1. Except for a break caused by disability, layoff, or leave of absence, the four months of medical and life coverage must be consecutive.

Retirees Who Return to Work

Retirees who are enrolled in the Retiree Health and Welfare Plan and who return to work for a participating employer may enroll in the Active Employee Plan when:

• You work (or are paid for) 100 or more hours in each of six consecutive months, and
• Your participating employer makes the required contributions to the Trust.

Continuing Eligibility for Active Employee Plan Coverage

Once your coverage begins, it will continue based on your monthly work hours.

Summer Seasonal Help 

If you are hired as Summer Seasonal Help, you are not eligible to participate in the Active Employee Plan. However, if you are still working for the same employer on October 1 (or rehired before November 15) of the same calendar year, you become eligible. 

The hours you worked as Summer Seasonal Help count toward meeting the Initial Eligibility requirements, and your coverage may begin as early as October 1. 

Special Situations

See the Active Employee Plan Summary Plan Description or contact the Administrative Office for information regarding these situations:

• Coverage for non-contract employees (varies by employer)
• Special rules for employees of new participating employers
• Special rules for employees of a new start-up operation

Retired and Disabled Employees 

You qualify to enroll in a Retiree Plan if you meet the eligibility requirements. 

• You must retire because of age or disability from active employment with a participating employer under a collective bargaining agreement which requires your employer to make contributions to the Trust on behalf of you and your covered dependents.
  » If you are retiring due to a total and permanent disability from a participating employer, you must also be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.
• You must meet the WCIW CIC-TOC pension credit or WCIC/CIC Industry Service requirements based on your age.
• You must have been covered under the Active Employee Plan for the last six consecutive months immediately preceding your retirement date, and you must have been eligible under the Active Employee Plan for at least 24 out of 48 months, immediately preceding retirement.

Please see the Retiree Plan Summary Plan Description or contact the Trust Administrative Office for special limitations and additional details.

Eligible Dependents

When you enroll yourself in a Trust Health and Welfare Plan, you may also enroll:

• Your legal spouse
• Your children from birth to 26 years of age, regardless of marital, student, residence or tax-dependent status. This includes:
  » Your natural children
  » Stepchildren
  » Adopted children
  » Children placed for adoption
  » Children who are dependent upon you for support (meaning over 50% of the child’s support)
  » Children who are alternate recipients under a Qualified Medical Child Support Order 
• Your physically, mentally, and/or developmentally disabled children, regardless of age, provided the child is incapable of self-support, the child's disability began before age 26 and the child is living with you

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 Health and Welfare Plan.

The Trust may require documentation to prove dependent status.

Dependents who are not eligible include ex-spouses, children who have reached or passed their 26th birthday (unless they meet the criteria for a disabled dependent child), and parents or grandparents, even if they live with you.