Open enrollment begins November 1 for BLET Short Term Disability plan
CLEVELAND, November 2 Open Enrollment for 2010 under the BLETs Short Term Disability insurance begins on November 1, 2009, and runs through December 15, 2009.
If you are a locomotive engineer working on a railroad that participated in the Wage Rules portion of the national agreement dated December 16, 2003, your coverage under Part A (described below) of the BLET Short Term Disability Plan will automatically continue.
Last year, if you opted out of Part B coverage (also described below), then you can opt back in during this enrollment period. If you currently participate and wish to opt out of Part B coverage, you can also do so during this enrollment period.
Part A Non-Occupational Disabilities
Effective January 1, 2010, there will be no changes to Part A coverage:
Your eligibility and $40 premium is submitted by the railroad on a monthly basis.
Part A pays $402 per week for non-occupational disabilities only.
Occupational disabilities are not covered.
Each eligible member is insured for $50,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
Part B Occupational Disabilities
Effective January 1, 2010 there will be no changes to Part B coverage:
Part B is voluntary. Participation in this additional occupational coverage is not required.
The weekly benefit for occupational disabilities is $402 per week.
Each eligible member is insured for $50,000 of AD&D coverage.
The benefit is not subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement (no repayment after a personal injury settlement).
The benefit is not considered taxable income.
The cost is $23 per month and will be payroll deducted with your monthly union dues.
NOTE: UTU members working as engineers are eligible for Part A and may purchase Part B coverage by making an annual payment of $276 to the BLET Trust Fund.
IMPORTANT:
Eligibility for Part B is dependent on your eligibility for Part A. In order to be eligible for Part A, you must have seven starts in a month with one start as an engineer.
If you are furloughed to train service and become ineligible for Part A coverage, you must notify the Secretary-Treasurer of your local division immediately. At that time, you have three options:
1. Continue coverage of Part A and Part B by paying $40 directly to the BLET Trust Fund by the 10th of the month and continuing payroll deduction of $23 for Part B. Coverage may only be continued for six months under this option. If you choose this option, you will need to contact the Plan Administrator (information below) for additional instructions.
2. Discontinue coverage of Part B temporarily until you return to engineer status and become eligible for Part A. An engineer, who loses Part A coverage due to no fault of his own, may resume coverage for Part B once he returns to engineer status and becomes eligible for Part A. You must keep the Secretary-Treasurer of you local division informed of your status.
3. OPT-OUT of Part B by completing an OPT-OUT form. If you choose to opt-out of Part B, you may only resume coverage during a subsequent annual enrollment period.
If you currently do NOT participate and choose to do nothing, you will continue to be only eligible for Part A coverage.
If you currently do NOT participate and would like to sign-up for Part B coverage during this open enrollment period, or if you do currently participate and would like to opt-out of Part B coverage, you must notify the Secretary-Treasurer of your local division by completing and returning the attached form by December 15, 2009. Your election will become effective on January 1, 2010.
Members who OPT-OUT of Part B coverage effective January 1, 2010, will not be eligible to enroll for the coverage until the next annual enrollment period.
Anyone with questions can contact Jim Bradford, BLET Short Term Disability Administrator, at (216) 241-2630, ext. 205, or email: Bradford @ble-t.org.
A copy of the opt-in/opt-out form is available below:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/STD-opt-inout.pdf
Monday, November 02, 2009
bentley@ble.org
