July 23, 2008
Brothers and Sisters:
Some Benefit news!
The Trustees recently made two changes in our benefits;
The first change is to the Compensation/Disability section of our Summary Plan Description.
When a member goes out on disability or compensation; our plan allows for continued medical coverage provided the member submits some kind of proof that he or she can not return to work (usually a doctors note). That proof has to be submitted each month and will extend coverage for up to 12 months.
If, in the 13th month that member is still not able to return to work, we offer continued coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986 or COBRA. A member could elect to pay for coverage for an additional 18 months under COBRA Rules.
As of January 1, 2008:
The Board of Trustees has amended the Summary Plan Description to read
If the participant returns to covered employment during the 12 month work related or non-work related disability then:
The Fund office will look back to the four (4) months prior to the members injury and if that member worked a minimum of three hundred (300) hours in that 4 month period then he will be eligible for regular coverage (without paying COBRA), beginning the first day of the month he returns to work after his/her injury.
If, in the 13th month that member is still not able to return to work, we will continue to offer coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986 or COBRA. A member could elect to pay for coverage thru our Benefit Fund for an additional 18 months under COBRA Rules.
The second change, which begins September 1, 2008, is that we will be using Express Scripts to fill our prescriptions.
This means you will be receiving a new prescription card. The Express Scripts ID cards will have the members name only (your dependants card will have your name on it). You’ll receive your ID card in a separate mailing before your coverage begins.
Express Scripts Mail Service Pharmacy will be your new mail pharmacy. Your prescriptions will still be delivered to your home and you can be assured that the change will take place as smoothly as possible
MAIL ORDER REFILLS ON FILE WITH CIGNA WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO EXPRESS SCRIPTS. YOU MUST OBTAIN A NEW MAIL ORDER PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR
If you currently use mail order please obtain two New Prescriptions from Your Doctor, one for a 30-day supply to fill at the participating local pharmacy (for September) and one for a 90-day prescription (with up to one year of refills, if appropriate).
Enclosed in your welcome packet from Express Scripts will be a Prescription Mail Order Form. Please allow 10 to 14 days for your initial order to be filled. For more information about filling your prescriptions, please call the Express Scripts dedicated toll-free number at 877-415-9980 on or after September 1, 2008.
Making this move will save money; saving money means we can look for ways to increase benefits. We truly appreciate your willingness to make changes like this.
If you have any questions, please give me a call at 718-937-4514.
Fraternally yours,
Lois A. Fusco
Fund Administrator
LAF/ms
c: Chairman
Board of Trustees