CFAO | News

PacifiCare Behavioral Health and U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, California have announced a merger effective in 2010. After the merger of these two plans they will be recognized under the new name of OptumHealth, Behavioral Solutions of California. The merger and name change will have no impact on member benefits, treatment or interaction with their Customer Service department, and their website, www.liveandworkwell.com, will remain the same.

The Board of Trustees announces that effective September 1, 2009, Kaiser benefits for Plan B and Flat Rate Participants will change back to a "Traditional HMO" plan. More>>

Retiree Health and Welfare - Late Enrollment Rules - An additional provision is added to the Retiree Plan allowing individuals, or their dependents, that have coverage through Medicare or a State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and subsequently lose that coverage, to enroll in the Plan within 60 days of losing that coverage. Sixty days is also allowed for enrollment if a Participant or their dependent becomes eligible for a premium assistance program through Medicaid or CHIP. Late enrollment provisions apply to those Participants who were deemed eligible for Retiree Health and Welfare at the time of retirement, but chose to delay their coverage. Refer to the Plan Rules and Regulations for questions regarding the Plan. View the notice.

Post-Retirement Prohibited Employment - The Boards of the Carpenters Pension Trust Fund for Northern California and the Carpenters Annuity Trust Fund for Northern California have applied a special temporary window period, June 1, 2009 through August 31, 2011, with modified Prohibited Employment rules. Whether or not a job will result in the suspension of benefit payments is subject to Trustee interpretation. If you are considering working and want clarification on how it may impact your benefits you may wish to submit an inquiry to the Prohibited Employment Committee.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law February 17, 2009, provides a temporary premium reduction subsidy of 65 percent for COBRA continuation coverage charged to eligible individuals. The subsidy, which may last up to 9 months, is available to COBRA qualified beneficiaries who elect COBRA and whose qualifying event is related to involuntary termination of covered employment. Although the subsidy will not apply to all COBRA eligible beneficiaries, it may help those who experienced a termination of employment between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. The Fund Office mailed a notice and application on April 17, 2009, to those Participants with a COBRA Qualifying Event on or after September 1, 2008. If you received the notice and feel you may qualify, please complete the Request for Treatment as an Assistance Eligible Individual. The COBRA Election Form must also be completed if you are not already on COBRA continuation coverage. Return the documents to this office as soon as possible. Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive written notice regarding the outcome of your application.

The Health and Welfare Board of Trustees announces a change to an in-house claims system for Participants in the Indemnity Medical Plan. There will be no change in benefits for Participants in this Plan and the preferred provider network and prior authorizations will still be through Anthem Blue Cross. Indemnity Medical Plan Participants and providers have been notified of the change effective January 1, 2009.

Board of Trustees announces benefit improvements to the Carpenters Health and Welfare Plans including Indemnity Medical Plan changes, Delta Dental benefit enhancement for pregnant women and a Medicare Supplemental Benefit change for Retirees. More>>

Open Enrollment for the Health and Welfare Flat Rate Plan will be November 1, through November 30. The Flat Rate plan allows, employers to offer health coverage to their full-time Non-Bargaining Agreement Employees. More>>

Northern California Carpenters announces the Northern California Carpenters 401(k) Plan to be effective September 1, 2008. Notices were sent to all Employers and Participants with more information regarding this new plan. This new plan has been introduced to give Participants the opportunity to make voluntary contributions to their retirement savings.

The Board of Trustees for the Carpenters Health & Welfare Trust Fund announces changes that affect Retiree Health and Welfare Self-Payments, including a rebate for those who qualify and a change in the way subsidies are calculated.

Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust Fund announces the reinstatement of Delta Dental for Plan B Participants effective July 1, 2008 and other Plan B and Flat Rate Plan changes effective January 1, 2009. More>>

Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust Fund announces benefit changes to the Indemnity Medical and Prescription Drug Plans. More>>

The vacation checks will be mailed on Thursday, January 31, 2008. If you are expecting a vacation check and you do not receive it by Thursday, February 7th, please contact the Fund Office.

Open Enrollment for the Health and Welfare Flat Rate Plan will be November 1 through November 30. The Flat Rate Plan allows employers to offer health coverage to their full-time Non-Bargaining Agreement Employees. More>>

10-12-2007

Effective January 1, 2008, Health Net will no longer be available for Active Participants. Current Health Net participants will be enrolled in the Indemnity Medical Plan effective January 1st, unless they wish to enroll in Kaiser. In order to enroll in Kaiser, the participant must reside in the Kaiser service area and must submit a new enrollment form to the Trust Fund Office.

10-12-2007

Effective January 1, 2008, Retiree Health and Welfare rates are scheduled to increase substantially. Kaiser and Health Net participants will face the highest increases due to changes to the overall rate structure. A notice was mailed on October 12th indicating the rates the Fund will be paying for each Retiree. Retirees can expect to pay approximately 50% of the rates published in that notice. Retirees affected by the rate increases will receive a separate notice in November indicating their new rate.

08-27-2007

Effective October 1, 2007, Examinetics Mobile Health Testing Program (formerly Health Examinetics) will no longer be available for Indemnity Plan Participants. The Fund's adult routine physical examination benefit will still be available. Contact the Trust Fund with any questions regarding the physical benefit.

Effective September 1, 2007, all Plan B Health and Welfare Participants will be switched from Delta Dental to UnitedHealthcare Dental for Dental Coverage. Information regarding this change has been mailed to all affected participants.

Effective September 1, 2007, all Health and Welfare Participants enrolled in the Indemnity Medical Plan will be switched from Prescription Solutions to Medco.

New contributions put in place. It is important to note that rates may vary depending on whether an employer's contract was extended or not.

Dates announced for 2007 Annuity Trust Fund Self Direct Investment Education Meetings.

The vacation checks were mailed on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. If you are expecting a vacation check and you do not receive it by Thursday, February 8th, please call the Fund Office at 1(888) 547-2054.

The vacation checks were mailed on Tuesday, January 31, 2006. If you are expecting a vacation check and you do not receive it by Thursday, February 9th, please call the Fund Office at 1(888) 547-2054.

The Trustees of the Carpenters Pension Plan are addressing ongoing Pension concerns. Attend an informational meeting at a Local Union near you for more information.