MEDICAL COVERAGE, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, DENTAL, VISION CARE AND LIFE INSURANCE

You must have accumulated to your credit a minimum total of 500 hours worked. Coverage is to be effective on the first day of the second month after the month in which the eligibility requirements are satisfied. Example:  You reach 500 hours in August; your coverage begins October 1st. Thereafter, 125 hours per month is required to continue your monthly eligibility. If you fall below 125 hours worked in one month, you can draw from your reserve hour bank to continue eligibility.

Your coverage includes Medical, Prescription Drugs, Dental, Vision Care, Health Reimbursement Account, Member Assistance Program, and a Life Insurance policy of $5,000. Dental benefits are with Delta Dental or Redwood Health Services (same benefit schedule), vision benefits are with Vision Service Plan, health reimbursement account with Navia Benefits and member assistance benefits are with Optum. Please review the comparison of medical plans to help in your decision of which plan you want to choose.

If you reside in the Humboldt and Del Norte counties WHA HMO may be your choice, or out of state the Anthem PPO Plan may be your choice. Call the Trust Fund Office with your questions.

Insurance benefits, cost breakdown and applications are available upon request. We need to receive, in the Trust Office, the proper paperwork to cover you under the plan you choose. To cover your spouse or child(ren), if any, we must also receive a copy of your marriage certificate and child(ren) birth certificates. Should you have any questions, please contact the Trust Fund office at (707) 526-1996.

NOTE: IF NO COMPLETED APPROPRIATE ENROLLMENT FORM IS RECEIVED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AS OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH AFTER THE MINIMUM HOURS REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN MET, THE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE WILL BE DEFAULTED INTO EMPLOYEE-ONLY COVERAGE UNDER THE WESTERN HEALTH ADVANTAGE (WHA) HMO MEDICAL PLAN.

DEPENDENT COVERAGE:  For dependents, coverage is effective for the dependent on the date you meet the initial and continuing eligibility requirements, so long as a completed enrollment form is received by the Administrative Office with all the required information within 60 days of you meeting the eligibility requirements. Otherwise, coverage is effective the first day of the month following the month in which a completed enrollment form is received and approved by the Trustees. However, for a newborn child or an adopted child, coverage is effective on the date of birth or the date of adoption or placement for adoption with the condition that an enrollment form is completed and received by the Administrative Office within 60 days of the date of birth or the date of adoption or placement for adoption. If the prescribed enrollment form is not received by the Administrative Office within the 60-day period, the effective date will be the first day of the month following the month in which the enrollment form is received. Coverage for a new spouse is effective the first day of the month following the month in which an enrollment form is completed, and a copy of the marriage certificate is received by the Administrative Office. To obtain more information about these enrollment rights, please contact the Administrative Office at (707) 526-1996.

Sincerely,

Redwood Empire Electrical Workers

Health & Welfare Trust Fund

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 

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Please click on the appropriate insurance carrier if you wish to access their website.

1)     Kaiser Permanente (HMO):  Phone (800) 464-4000. Summary of Benefits and Coverage. Flu Self-Reporting Flyer in English, Fight the Flu in English, Flu Vaccine Facts in English, Fight the Flu in Spanish, Flu Vaccine Facts in Spanish. Away from Home flyer. Apps for Emotional Wellness Support. Mental Health. Wellness Support. Telehealth. Kaiser Classes.
 

2)     Sutter Health Plus (HMO):  Phone (855) 315-5800. Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
 

3)     Western Health Advantage (HMO):  Phone (888) 563-2250. Summary of Benefits and Coverage.

4)     Anthem Blue Cross PPO Plan (PPO):  For out of area participants only. Phone (844) 783-0927. Anthem Arbitration Agreement. Summary of Benefits and Coverage.

5)     United American:  For Medicare Retirees only. Phone (888) 344-2522.

6)     Two Dental Plan Options:

         a.  Delta Dental Plan of California:  Group #08359. Consider Delta Dental PPO providers to maximize your savings. The Delta Dental Premier network is also available, but remember that your costs will likely be less with a PPO Dentist. Delta Dental Benefit flyer. Delta Dental Go PPO flyer. Delta Dental postcard. Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier networks video. Out-of-Network Claim Submissions flyer. Reasons to Avoid High Out of Network Benefits flyer.

         b.  Redwood Health Services Dental Plan:  New Dental Plan offering effective 1/1/2024. Same benefits for either Dental Plan. Find a RHS Network Dentist:  www.rhsoptions.com. Benefit Summary. RHS Dental Application. Phone number is (800) 548-7677, opt 2. 
 

8)     Vision Service Plan:  Group Number is 12045240. VSP Benefit flyer.

9)     Health Reimbursement Account:  Navia Benefit Solutions. Group:  REW. List of Eligible Expenses. IRS Frequently Asked Questions.
 

10)     Optum Health Behavioral Solutions - Member Assistance Program (MAP) or Employee Assistance Program (EAP):  Please call (877) 22-LABOR (1-877-225-2267) to inquire about your benefits. Please note that Redwood Empire Electrical Workers is your employer. Click for MAP Brochure. Click for MAP Flyer. Click for 2 minute video explaining the benefit. Click for MAP Merger Notice.  Website:  www.liveandworkwell.com. The access code is redwoodelectrical.

11)     BUILT Non-Smoking Program:  California Smokers' Helpline, call (800) NO-BUTTS (1-800-662-8887). Please inquire with your medical plan for reimbursements for particular non-smoking products.

HEALTH & WELFARE GENERAL INFORMATION BOOKLET - Please click on download below.

H&W PARTICIPANT BENEFITS REFERENCE CARD - Please click on download below.

H&W Participant Benefits Reference Card.pdf

Health & Welfare 2017 General Info Booklet.pdf

WANT TO QUIT SMOKING OR CHEWING TOBACCO?

The Californis Smokers' Helpline is a telephone program that can help you quit smoking.  Helpline services are free; funded by the California Department of Health.

When you call, a friendly staff person will offer a choice of services:  self-help materials, a referral list of other programs, and confidential one-on-one counseling over the phone.

Whether you're ready to quit smoking or just thinking about it, call 1-800-NO-BUTTS (1-800-662-8887). 

Whether you're ready to quit chewing tobacco or just thinking about it, call 1-800-844-CHEW (1-800-844-2439).

Does the telphone counseling really work?  Yes!   People who receive counseling are twice as likely to stay quit as those who try to quit on thier own.

What are the Plan Benefits?  Check with your medical plan insurance carrier for the tobacco cessation benefits provided.

1. How do I change my mailing address?
   Contact the Trust Fund office at (707) 526-1996. 
    
2. How many hours are required to initiate eligibility for coverage?
   An active employee must have accumulated a minimum of 500 hours. Coverage is to be effective on the first day of the second month after that month in which this eligibility requirement is satisfied. Example: You reach 500 hours in the month of August; your coverage begins October 1st. 
    
3. How many hours are required to maintain coverage?
   After qualifying for initial eligibility, a charge for coverage shall be 125 hours per month against the person's accumulated reserve hours, until insufficient hours remain in their reserve. Hours worked in one month shall not apply toward coverage in the next month, but in the second following month. If you fall below 125 hours worked in one month, you can draw from your reserve hour bank to continue eligibility. 
    
4. How do I discover how many hours I've accrued in my reserve bank?
   Contact the Trust Fund office at (707) 526-1996. 
    
5. What benefits are included with the coverage?
   Your coverage includes Medical, Prescription Drugs, Dental, Vision Care, Member Assistance Program and a Life Insurance policy of $5,000. All participants and their eligible family members have dental coverage with the Delta Dental Plan of California, vision coverage with Vision Service Plan, member assistance program with PacifiCare Behavioral Health and Life Insurance with PacifiCare. 
    
6. What Medical Plans are available?
   These are the medical plans available to choose from (request further information on any or all of these plans at the Trust Fund office):
    
   • Kaiser Permanente Medical Plan (HMO)  
   • Sutter Health Plus HMO
   • Western Health Advantage (WHA) HMO
   • Anthem PPO Plan – only available to participants outside of the service area of the HMOs
   • United American for Medicare Retirees only
      
7. How do I receive a list of Providers who participant in each Medical Plan, Delta Dental Plan, Vision Service Plan and/or PacifiCare?
   You can link to each individual website provided on the Insurance Carrier links in the Health & Welfare Plan options or request this information at the Trust Fund Office by calling (707) 526-1996. For PacifiCare benefits, please call (877) 22-LABOR (52267) to access benefit information. 
    
8. When is Open Enrollment?
   You are permitted to make your annual election to change your medical plan at any time during the year. Subject to any HIPAA Special Enrollment rights you may have (see page 26), you will not be able to change medical plans during the consecutive twelve-month period following the date of your election.