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Retiree H&W - Rules for Electing Retiree Coverage

Eligibility in the Retiree Plan

At the time of your retirement, you may elect to enroll in the Retiree Health & Welfare Plan if you meet the eligibility requirements of the Plan.  To be eligible you must have 25,000 hours of contributions to the Health & Welfare Fund or have had health & welfare contributions (that include retiree funding) for 60 of the past 84 months.

If you or your spouse are eligible for Medicare coverage YOU MUST ENROLL IN BOTH PARTS A & B OF MEDICARE. (see below)

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements of the Retiree Health & Welfare Plan at the time of your retirement, you may self-pay coverage for a COBRA plan as an active participant in order to gain eligibility as a retiree. The self-pay COBRA plan you select needs to include retiree funding for Health & Welfare. Retiree coverage must become effective the first of the month following termination of COBRA coverage.

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Enrollment in the Retiree Plan

You must enroll in the Retiree Health & Welfare Plan at the time of your first retirement in order to be continuously eligible for coverage.  If you do not enroll at the time of your first retirement, you will not be eligible to re-enroll except on the first of the month following your normal retirement age (currently age 58) or entitlement to Medicare.  Enrollments will not be accepted on any other dates. 

If you or your spouse are eligible for Medicare coverage YOU MUST ENROLL IN BOTH PARTS A & B OF MEDICARE. (see below)

Should you choose to enroll, your retiree coverage will commence immediately upon termination of active coverage.  If you have an hour bank, it will be exhausted prior to beginning retiree coverage. 

Coverage will be maintained so long as the monthly premium payments are received in a timely manner at the Administrative Office.  You may either have the amount of the premium withheld from your monthly pension or write a check to the Administrative Office each month. 

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Dependent Coverage Under the Retiree Plan

If you are married and/or have children as of the date you elect of retiree coverage, your dependents will be covered unless you waive coverage for them.  If you waive coverage for any dependent, that dependent cannot be re-enrolled at any future date.

If you or your spouse are eligible for Medicare coverage YOU MUST ENROLL IN BOTH PARTS A & B OF MEDICARE. (see below)

You may terminate coverage for any dependent at a future date.  If you terminate coverage for any dependent, that dependent cannot be re-enrolled in the future.  However, new dependents (spouse, natural children, adopted children or children placed for adoption) that you acquire in the future can be added if they are enrolled within 30 days of the date of the marriage, birth, etc.

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Re-Enrollment in the Retiree Plan

If you terminate retiree coverage on yourself for any reason, you may not re-enroll except as noted above--your normal retirement age (currently age 58), or entitlement to Medicare.

If you or your spouse are eligible for Medicare coverage YOU MUST ENROLL IN BOTH PARTS A & B OF MEDICARE. (see below)

If you return to active employment following retirement, you may re-establish eligibility under the plan as an active participant.  If so, retiree benefits will terminate on the first of the month in which you become covered as an active participant. Active coverage will be continued so long as you are actively employed and meet the eligibility requirements of the Trust for active coverage.  Upon termination of active coverage you will, once again, be given the opportunity to enroll in the retiree welfare plan.  If you waive enrollment on yourself and/or your dependents (if eligible) at that time, you will not be eligible to re-enroll except at age 58 or eligibility for Medicare.  If during your retirement you work outside of Alaska and reciprocate health & welfare hours to Alaska, hours will be credited towards active eligibility as noted above.

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If You or Spouse are Eligible for Medicare

Part A of Medicare covers general hospital expenses and Part B covers physicians and medical expenses. If you are eligible for Medicare and fail to enroll, BENEFITS UNDER THE RETIREE MEDICAL PLAN(S) WILL BE REDUCED AS THOUGH YOU WERE ENROLLED IN BOTH PARTS A AND B OF MEDICARE. This means benefits would be paid on assumption that you are enrolled in both parts A and B of Medicare; and if you have not enrolled, you could incur significant uncovered out-of-pocket expenses. We strongly encourage all retirees to contact Social Security to determine the procedures and timetables for enrollment in Medicare.

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Future Changes in the Retiree Plan

Please note the Retiree Health & Welfare Plan is provided at the discretion of the Board of Trustees and cannot be guaranteed in the future.  Additionally, the benefits and the amount of the monthly premium may be modified at any time by the Trustees. 

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