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Active Health & Welfare – Plan B

Medical Options

You are eligible for Plan B Medical if your employer has negotiated Plan B medical benefits with your union.

Plan B Enrollment Guide
Plan B Enrollment Form
Plan B-Anthem SBC
Plan B-Kaiser SBC

Kaiser Permanente (HMO)

With an HMO, you must receive all your care through a Kaiser hospital or Kaiser physician contracted with the HMO in which you are enrolled. Non-Kaiser expenses will only be covered for emergency services. You must live or work within the service area to enroll. Covered charges are not subject to a lifetime maximum.

If you enroll in Kaiser, you are encouraged to select a Primary Care Physician (PCP). You must use only Kaiser Permanente physicians and facilities. For Kaiser Permanente physicians & locations go to www.kp.org.

An annual deductible of $500 ($1,000 for a family) applies to all benefits except doctor office visits and preventive care. Once the deductible is satisfied, you must pay a small copayment.

Direct Pay Medical Plan (PPO)

Unlike an HMO, medically necessary care from any licensed provider that you select will be covered in accordance with Plan rules. The Plan has arrangements with Anthem Blue Cross under which various hospitals, laboratories, physicians and specialists agree to provide care to you at negotiated Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) rates. You will have less out-of-pocket expense when an Anthem Blue Cross PPO hospital, laboratory, physician, or specialist is used. In California, the Blue Cross network is called “Prudent Buyer.”

In all other states, the PPO is provided through the National Blue Cross /Blue Shield Association. For provider listings in California go to www.bluecrossca.com and for provider listings in all other states go to www.bluecares.com.

You must pay the first $500 ($1,500 for a family) in medical expenses every year (a larger deductible applies for Washington residents). You must then pay a portion of covered expenses. In general, the plan will pay 85% of contracted rates for a PPO provider and 50% of allowed charges for a provider not contracted with Anthem Blue Cross or the National Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association. The maximum annual out-of-pocket expenses paid directly to a PPO provider for an individual is $1,500 ($3,000 for 2 family members and $4,400 per family). There is no lifetime or annual maximum.

You also receive greater benefits when you have an elective hospital stay pre-certified by Anthem Blue Cross before you are admitted. The toll-free number for California and all other states is (800) 274-7767. For emergency admissions, Blue Cross must be contacted within 48 hours.

Health Reimbursement Account

Starting September 1, 2014, available funds from your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) can be used to pay your deductible, copayment and coinsurance amounts for eligible medical, prescription drug, dental and vision expenses for you and your dependents.

  • Your employer will provide funding for your HRA. The amount of the funding is based on the Agreement between your employer and the Union.
  • A card will be sent to your home address allowing you to use the benefit. The card functions just like a debit card and is accepted at the vast majority of service providers’ offices and pharmacies.
  • The HRA amount will be contributed to the account whether you enroll in Kaiser or the Direct Pay Plan.
  • For new eligible participants, you will receive a prorated amount based on your employer’s participation date for the HRA program.
  • An additional $50 per month HRA credit will be provided to those who enroll in the Direct Pay Plan instead of Kaiser. This is in addition to any HRA amount provided by your employer. The balances on your card will carry forward in addition to the new HRA amount.
  • Once the HRA contribution amount is exhausted in a calendar year, expenses are paid by you or your dependent until the out-of-pocket maximum is satisfied.
  • Unused HRA amounts will roll over from year to year. Each January when your deductible and out-of-pocket maximums are reset, your HRA funding will reset as well to the amount agreed on by the employer and Union.
  • You are permitted to permanently opt out of and waive future reimbursements from the HRA at least annually, in a time and manner determined by the Fund Office.  Upon your termination of employment, you may opt out and waive future reimbursements from the HRA.
  • The HRA only covers medical expenses, prescription drugs, dental, vision and certain IRS approved over-the-counter supplies and medications. A list of approved over-the-counter items can be found on the IRS’s website.

Prescription Drug Coverage

Your prescription drug coverage will depend on the plan you are enrolled in.

Kaiser Permanente (HMO) Enrollees

If you are enrolled in Kaiser, you must obtain your drugs at Kaiser Permanente pharmacies. Generic drugs are available with a $10 copayment and brand name drugs with a $30 copayment for a 30-day supply.

Direct Pay Medical Plan (PPO) Enrollees

These enrollees receive prescription drugs from the Trust Fund. You must use an OptumRx pharmacy. If you fill or refill prescriptions at a retail pharmacy, you will pay 20% of the charge plus $5 for up to a 30-day supply per formulary generic prescription or 20% of the charge per formulary brand name prescription or 20% of the charge plus $15 per non-formulary brand name prescription. The copayment is capped at $100 for certain formulary/non-formulary brand name   prescriptions at retail. For mail order, prescriptions are covered in full after a $40 copayment for formulary generic drugs and a $60 copayment for brand name drugs, regardless of whether the drug is on the formulary, for a 90-day supply. The out-of-pocket limit for individual is $2,000 ($4,000 per family).

Dental Options

If your employer has negotiated for dental benefits with your union, dental coverage is available to you and your eligible dependents. Each of your dental care choices covers preventive, basic, and major care. Benefits depend on the plan in which you enroll. New dental eligibles cannot enroll in Delta Dental or the Scheduled Direct Pay Plan for the first 12 months of coverage. Therefore, during their first 12 months of coverage, they are limited to enroll in one of the DMOs shown below. Dental Plan Options include:

  • Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO)  The Bright Now!/Newport Dental, MetLife, United Healthcare Dental and United Concordia Dental Plans operate like HMOs, providing services only through participating dental offices. You will be responsible for small copayments for most covered services.
  • Delta Dental Plan  Like the Direct Pay Medical Plan, the Delta Dental plan allows you to use any licensed dentist, but pays a higher benefit when you use Delta Preferred Option Dentists. For most participants, there is a $3,000 annual maximum benefit and you pay 20% of covered expenses when you use a Delta Preferred Option Dentist (30% of covered expenses when you do not). The maximum does not apply to pediatric dental services.
  • Scheduled Direct Pay Dental Plan  The Scheduled Dental Plan also allows you to use any licensed dentist of your choice. The Plan pays 100% of a scheduled amount for covered dental treatment, not to exceed a $3,000 annual maximum per eligible person. The maximum does not apply to pediatric dental services. However, the Plan offers members access to a dental PPO network First Dental Health (FDH). FDH providers offer members treatment at discounted rates. Therefore, your annual maximum benefit goes farther by using a FDH dentist. For information on locating a FDH dentist, please contact FDH at (800) 334-7244 or www.firstdentalhealth.com.

Orthodontics

If your employer has negotiated for self-funded orthodontic benefits with your union, Orthodontic coverage is available to you and your eligible dependents once you have been covered by the Plan for three months. If you are eligible for orthodontic coverage, orthodontic treatment will be covered in full up to a lifetime benefit of $3,000 per individual. If you enroll in a Dental Maintenance Organization, orthodontia may be available at discounted rates if you use a panel orthodontist. Regardless which dental plan option you have selected, orthodontic benefits are paid by the Fund Office once a claim is filed by your orthodontist.

Vision Care

If your employer has negotiated vision benefits with your union, whichever medical plan you choose, you may use Vision Service Plan’s (VSP) network of eye care professionals to receive exams, and purchase lenses and frames. Kaiser Permanente also offers eye exams.

Burial Benefit

If you are entitled to medical coverage through the Fund, you are automatically entitled to the Burial Benefit. This benefit provides payment of $2,500 to your designated beneficiary upon the death of a covered Participant. Burial benefits are available to Active Employees and his or her covered Dependents.

Life Insurance

If you are covered for Life Insurance, the amount available upon the death of you or your eligible dependents is dependent on your employer’s collective bargaining agreement with your union.

Direct Pay Medical Plan (PPO) Participants:

LiveHealth Online
1-888-548-3432
livehealthonline.com

24/7 NurseLine
1-866-670-1565 (phone service only)


Effective September 1, 2019 – Bright Now! (Newport) Dental Plan Option is Terminated