Retired Members   Back to Health & Welfare Retirees Most Frequently Asked Questions How can I be Eligible for the Health & Welfare Plan as a retired employee? You are eligible if :- you are a dues paying member of an Ironworkers Local Union; you are receiving a monthly pension from the California Ironworkers Field Pension Trust and if you retire on or after June 1, 1989, you have at least 15 years of pension credit earned under the jurisdiction of the California Ironworkers Field Pension Trust out of the last 20 years prior to your retirement date; 10 if you retire on a disability pension, or a regular pension at 62. What are the criteria for my Dependents to be Eligible for Medical Benefit? You may elect Medical Benefits for your eligible dependents. Your eligible dependents are your legal spouse and your unmarried children under age 21 if they depend upon you for support and maintenance. Unmarried children include step-children who live with you and legally adopted children who depend upon you for support and maintenance. Your unmarried children also include children placed with you for adoption if you have assumed and retained a legal obligation for total or partial support of that child in anticipation of adoption and children born out of wedlock if you are shown to be the parent by birth certificate or appropriate judicial decree. In addition, this Plan will provide coverage for dependent children if required by a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO). Any child who is a foster child or who is age 18 to 21, self-supporting and covered under another group insurance plan is not an eligible dependent. Any spouse who is eligible under the Plan as an Active Employee or Retired Employee will also be considered eligible as a dependent, provided the required self-contribution is made. When both husband and wife are covered as Active Employees or Retired Employees, their children are eligible as dependents of both, provided the required self-contribution is made. If a person has dual coverage under the Plan because he is eligible and covered: both as an employee and a dependent, or as the dependent of two covered employees, the total amount of benefits payable under the Plan will not exceed the amount of expense actually incurred for which benefits are provided. Is Self-Contribution Required for coverage's? A self-contribution is required for coverage under the Retiree Plan. The amount of the self-contribution is determined by the Board of Trustees. A self-contribution is made through a deduction from your monthly pension benefit from the California Ironworkers Field Pension Trust. This deduction is made automatically for each month of coverage while this Plan is in effect and while you and your dependents continue to meet the Plan's eligibility rules. You may terminate coverage upon 60 days advance written notice to the Fund Office. When does Coverage Become Effective? You and your eligible dependents must elect coverage under the Plan's Medical Benefits by returning a properly completed premium deduction authorization form (PEN-008) to the Fund Office at the time of retirement. If coverage is declined, it may not be elected at a later date. If a properly completed premium deduction authorization form (PEN-008) is received from you on a timely basis, your Medical Benefits will become effective on the later of the following dates: the first day of the month in which a pension benefit is payable; or the date your eligibility as an Active Employee terminates. If you elect coverage for your dependents, your dependent's coverage will become effective on the later of the following dates: the date your coverage becomes effective; or the date you acquire the dependent. When does Coverage Terminate? Your coverage will terminate on the earlier of the following dates: the date you are no longer a dues paying member of an Ironworkers Local Union; the date you are no longer eligible for a pension. the date you are approved to work for a signatory contractor under Article VIII, Section 8(a)(IV) of the Pension Plan. the date your pension is suspended for failure to give proper notification that you are working in covered employment or for a non-signatory contractor in work covered by the collective bargaining agreement; the date you become eligible as an employee for health an welfare benefits from some other group insurance plan, excluding Medicare; the date you enter full-time military duty; or the first day of the month following 60 days from the date the Fund Office received your written request to terminate coverage. Once terminated, you WILL NOT be allowed to reinstate coverage as a Retiree at a later date. (This does not apply to disability pensioners who return to work and retire at a later date.) Your eligible dependent's coverage will terminate on the earlier of the following dates unless he or she qualifies for, and properly enroll in, the "Continuation Coverage" explained in the employee manual. the date your eligibility terminates; the date your dependent no longer qualifies as a dependent, as defined in the employee manual. the date your dependent enters full-time military duty; or the first day of the month following 60 days from the date the Fund Office receive your written request to terminate your dependent's coverage. How does the Prefered Provider option (PPO) work? Please Refer to the Comprehensive Major Medical Benefits CL-002