Eligibility

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Active employees

You can qualify for coverage through Plan A or Plan B. Once eligible, you can enroll yourself and your eligible dependents in health benefits through the Plan.

Plan A: You work at least 420 hours in a Plan A classification for participating employers over a consecutive three-month period. Coverage begins on the first day of the second calendar month following the three-month period. Coverage continues when you have at least 140 hours in your Hour Bank.

Plan B: You work at least 120 hours in a Plan B classification for participating employers over a one-month period. Coverage begins on the first day of the second calendar month following the one-month period. Coverage continues when you have at least 120 hours in your Hour Bank. See below for more information about your Hour Bank.

Non-bargaining employees: You become eligible for benefits on the first day of the month following a Trustee-approved agreement with your employer and receipt of relevant contributions from your employer. Non-bargaining employees do not accrue an Hour Bank.

Hour Bank

Your Hour Bank allows you to save up hours, so you can maintain eligibility for health benefits, even when you’re not working. Each hour you work for participating employers is credited to your Hour Bank, up to a maximum of 420 hours for Plan A participants or 360 hours for Plan B participants.

Each month, hours are deducted from your Hour Bank to maintain your eligibility for health coverage:

  • Plan A: 140 hours per month
  • Plan B: 120 hours per month

A lag month exists between the month in which your hours are worked and the month of eligibility provided by those hours.

If you complete Plan B classification and move to Plan A, any hours remaining in your Plan B Hour Bank will be credited to your Plan A Hour Bank.

When coverage ends

Coverage ends on the last day of the calendar month in which your Hour Bank does not have 140 hours (or 120 for Pre-Journeymen) to deduct for coverage for the following month.

If your eligibility terminates because of insufficient hours in your Hour Bank, it can be reinstated if your Hour Bank shows a total of at least 140 hours (or 120 for Pre-Journeymen) within a 12-calendar-month period subsequent to the termination of eligibility.

For non-bargaining employees, coverage ends at the end of the calendar month following the month in which your employer stops making contributions on your behalf.

If you lose coverage, you may be able to continue coverage under the Plan through COBRA. Electing COBRA coverage means that you’re responsible for the full cost of coverage. Purchasing different coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov may be a cheaper alternative to continuing your coverage through the Plan via COBRA.

Dependents

Once eligible, you may also enroll your eligible dependents in the Plan. Eligible dependents include:

  • Your legal spouse
  • Your biological and/or adopted children, and your stepchildren under age 26
  • A child for whom you have legal guardianship or who you’re required to cover under a qualified medical child support order
  • Your disabled child who became disabled before age 26

To enroll dependents, you must prove that they’re eligible. Proof may include a marriage, birth, or adoption certificate, or certification from a licensed physician that your child has a disability.

Midyear changes in status

Certain life events may change whether your dependents are eligible for benefits or not. You must provide supporting documents within 90 days of the event. Please notify the Fund Office immediately if you experience any of the following midyear changes in status:

  • Marriage, divorce, or legal separation
  • Spouse or dependent gains or loses coverage under another health plan
  • Birth or adoption of a child
  • Death in the family
  • Change of address
  • Your employment status changes
  • A dependent child turns age 26
  • Changing your beneficiary

Your spouse or one of your other dependents should notify the Administrative Office immediately in the event of your death.

Retirees

You’re eligible to self-pay for medical and dental benefits under the Plan if:

  • You were an active employee covered under Plan A with at least 10 years of pension credit, and you lost Plan A eligibility due to your retirement.
  • You were an active employee covered under Plan A with at least 25 years of pension credit.

Once eligible, you may also enroll your eligible dependents in the Plan. Eligible dependents include:

  • Your legal spouse
  • Your biological and/or adopted children, and your stepchildren under age 26
  • A child for whom you have legal guardianship or who you’re required to cover under a qualified medical child support order
  • Your disabled child who became disabled before age 26

If you’re eligible for and enrolled in Medicare, your medical and dental benefits will coordinate your coverage with Medicare. See the Health page for more information on coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees.