Active Members(RECEIVING AGENCY)

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL MEMBER

How long will my healthcare last?
How many hours do I have to work to have my healthcare paid for?
How can I pay for my healthcare bill?
Can I fax in my annuity deduction request for my healthcare payment?
How do I become eligible for healthcare once my coverage has been terminated due to nonpayment of premium?
How do the hours I work credit my healthcare?
When is my healthcare payment due?

How long will my healthcare last?
You need to call the fund office as this answer varies for each employee

How many hours do I have to work to have my healthcare paid for?
130 hours per month

How can I pay for my healthcare bill?
By check, annuity or SUB fund deduction only

Can I fax in my annuity/SUB fund deduction request for my healthcare payment?
Yes, fax it to 763-416-6196.

How do I become eligible for healthcare once my coverage has been terminated due to nonpayment of premium?
By either electing the cobra within the allowed time or by banking 130 hours in your premium credit account (see page 7 of the SPD)

How do the hours I work credit my healthcare?
They credit 2 months from the time you work them (example March work hours applies towards May healthcare)

When is my healthcare payment due?
Healthcare payments are by the 20th of the month for that month's coverage, if not received by the last day of the month coverage will be terminated.

SUB Plan(Supplemental Unemployment Benefit)

How do I become eligible to receive SUB Fund benefits?
How much is the benefit?
How do I apply for the SUB Plan benefit?
When are benefits paid by the Fund office?
What if I run out of unemployment but still have SUB Plan money?
Can I ever receive a lump sum payment?
Do I have to pay taxes on my SUB benefits?
Can I deduct my Health Care Premium from my SUB Fund?

How do I become eligible to receive SUB Fund benefits?
You need at least $1200.00 in Employer Contributions to your individual account to qualify for the supplemental unemployment benefit (the "SUB Plan") unless you are using it for your healthcare premiums. This level only has to be met once and a minimum account balance is also required.

How much is the benefit?
$250.00 per week of eligible unemployment pay (20% federal & 5% state). We do pay for your waiting week.

How do I apply for the SUB Plan benefit?
As of 8/1/2006, the Minnesota Unemployment office no longer issues check stubs for their payments. To collect from the SUB Fund you will now need to go to the Minnesota Unemployment website and print off 2 pages to send in each time. The first page is called the Contact Information page(which indicates your name and address)along with the Payment Information page(select the date range you are requesting). You will also need to write either your Social Security Number or the Medical ID number on both pages. Please contact our office for an application. The application is good for 1 year.

When are benefits paid by the Fund office?
Every Monday. We must have the Contact Information and Payment Information pages in our office before Monday morning for a check to be cut that day.

What if I run out of unemployment but still have SUB Plan money?
Call 763-493-8843 at the Fund Office.

Can I ever receive a lump sum payment?
Yes, if there is a 4 month period where there are no hours reported.

Do I have to pay taxes on my SUB benefits?
Yes, we automatically take 20% Federal, 5% State - MANDATORY

Can I deduct my Health Care Premium from my SUB Fund?
A special provision of the Plan allows you to withdraw funds from your SUB account to pay for Electrical Workers Local No. 292 Health Care Plan premiums for you and your dependents if you are unemployed, or have insufficient contributions made on your behalf. To qualify, you must:

 

401(k) Plan

How may a participant diversify investments under this retirement plan?
What are the investment options under this retirement plan?
Explain the difference between a Defined Benefit Retirement Plan and a Defined Contribution Retirement plan?

How may a participant diversify investments under this retirement plan?
A participant may diversify investments by either calling New York Life Investment Management Benefits Complete at 1-800-294-3575 or by using the Benefits Complete Internet Web Site at www.bcomplete.com.

What are the investment options under this retirement plan?
There are over 20 investment options. If a participant does not select from the investment options, his account will be invested in the Local 292 Balanced Trust Fund. A participant may also select from three asset allocation options. These are an Income Portfolio, a Growth & Income Portfolio and a Growth Portfolio.

Explain the difference between a Defined Benefit Retirement Plan and a Defined Contribution Retirement plan?
In a Defined Benefit Retirement Plan the benefit that is payable is defined in terms of a unit benefit which is normally payable on a monthly basis in the form of an annuity at retirement. In a Defined Contribution Plan each participant has an account with a dollar balance and the benefit that is payable at retirement is limited to the dollar balance that is in the participant's account.

 

Local PensionPlan

What is required to be vested in the Local 292 Pension?
What are the requirements to qualify under the Rule of 85?
What does it mean to be qualified under the Rule of 85?

What is required to be vested in the Local 292 Pension?
A participant needs five plan years with at least 850 hours of service with a participating employer to be vested.

What are the requirements to qualify under the Rule of 85?
To qualify under the Rule of 85 a participant's age plus years of benefit service must total at least 85. A year of benefit service is defined as a plan year with at least 425 hours. For example, a participant who is 55 years old with 30 years of benefit service would qualify under the Rule of 85.

What does it mean to be qualified under the Rule of 85?
If a participant is qualified under the Rule of 85, he is eligible, even though he is from 55 to 61 years of age, to receive the full Pension benefit that would otherwise be payable at the normal retirement age under the Plan (age 62).

Disability

Is there a waiting period before benefits will be paid?
What is the amount of the weekly benefit?
How long can I receive disability benefits?
When are disability payments issued?

Is there a waiting period before benefits will be paid?
There is a seven day waiting period before benefits begin. If confined to a hospital there is no waiting period.

What is the amount of the weekly benefit?
The Plan's Loss of Time Benefit is amended so as to provide that for weeks 1 through 6, loss of time benefits will be paid at the lesser of: 65% of the Employee's Actual Weekly Wage or 65% of the Current Journeyman Wireman's Weekly Wage. For weeks 7 thorough 72, loss of time benefits will be paid at 65% of the Employee's Actual Weekly Wage to a maximum of the Current Effective Minnesota Unemployment Compensation Weekly Rate. The Loss of Time Benefit is subject to a 72 week cap per occurrence of total disability and a lifetime maximum of 144 weeks (72 week lifetime maximum for chemical dependency or mental health benefits).

How long can I receive disability benefits?
The Loss of Time Benefit is subject to a 72 week cap per occurrence of total disability and a lifetime maximum of 144 weeks (72 week lifetime maximum for chemical dependency or mental health benefits).

When are disability payments issued?
Payments are issued on the 1st and the 15th of the month.

MEDICAL Active or Pre-Medicare members

Please refer to the "Benefits At A Glance-Active" or
"Benefits At A Glance-PreMedicare", which will answer many questions

Am I covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance?
What area's am I covered in?
What are yearly limits on physicals at a Blue Cross Provider?
What is the coverage for mammograms with a Blue Cross provider?
What is the coverage for Colonoscopy's with a Blue Cross provider?
What are my chiropractic benefits with a Blue Cross provider?
Do we have coverage for acupuncture?
What if I need immunizations for traveling?
What if I have a child that reaches 19 years of age?

Am I covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance?
No, you are covered by the I.B.E.W. Local No. 292 Health Care Plan.
The Health Care Plan is self-insured and self-administrated. Blue Cross Blue Shield is paid a fee for the 292 Health Care Plan to be able to take advantage of their negotiated discounts with their providers.

What area's am I covered in?
You are in the "Blue Card" Program which allows us coverage in the entire USA plus 19 other countries world wide. Please visit the Blue Cross link or at www.bluecrossmn.com.

What are yearly limits on physicals at a Blue Cross Provider?
At least 1 week old but less than 2 years we pay 100% of required immunizations and associated office visits at specified intervals.

At least 2 years old but less than 19 years old we pay up to $150.00 per calendar year except for immunizations required for admission to public school are covered at 100% regardless of this limit. Flu shots included with annual physicals are not considered immunizations and there would be a $2.00 co-pay.

At least 19 years old to Medicare eligible we pay up to $250.00 per calendar year.

What is the coverage for mammograms with a Blue Cross provider?

If you are at least 40 years of age we cover 100% of eligible expenses for one mammogram per calendar year. Under age 40 it is considered part of your yearly physical exam.

What is the coverage for Colonoscopy's with a Blue Cross provider?
If you are at least 50 years of age we cover 85% of eligible expenses for one routine screening every three years after the $100.00 deductible. If you are younger than 50 and a doctor can verify with a letter of medical necessity that there is a severe presence of family history of colon cancer we will pay 85% of eligible expenses after deductible.

What are my chiropractic benefits with a Blue Cross provider?
After the $100.00 deductible we pay 85% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $500.00 per calendar year.

Do we have coverage for acupuncture?
Acupuncture is combined with the chiropractic benefit for payment. You have a maximum of $500.00 per calendar year for both combined.

What if I need immunizations for traveling?
There are two clinics that do these immunizations they are:
Park Nicollet - 952-993-3131
University of MN (Bointon Health) - 612-625-3222
There is a $2.00 co-pay per immunization.
****When you call you must make sure that the clinic and the doctors are still in the Blue Cross network.****

What if I have a child that reaches 19 years of age?
The Fund office must receive proof of full time student status for each school year after 19 years old up to age 25.

 

Prescription

How do I know if a certain prescription is covered?
Have the Pharmacist run the prescription through Prime Therapeutics, using the XZ number on your medical/dental/pharmacy card.

Who is my provider?
Beginning on March 1, 2009 the IBEW 292 Health Plan is rolling out a new mail order program to help you and the Plan save money.  The benefit to you is by participating in the mail order Rx program, not only do you receive a 3 month supply of your medications, but you can save money as well.

Starting on March 1, 2009 you can convert your current mail prescription with two programs shown below to receive a three month supply of your medications.    

• 90-day Home Delivery Program –
  • Option 1
    • Step 1     Contact your doctor’s office to convert your prescription to a 90-day supply.
    • Step 2     Complete the order form previously received and mail it with your prescription and payment to PrimeMail.
  • Option 2
    • Step 1     Call PrimeMail on or after 3/1/2009 at 1-877-579-7627
    • Step 2     Provide script and doctor’s information and PrimeMail will take care of the rest.
    • Step 3     (PrimeMail will order new prescriptions and transfer current prescriptions.)  
      

 

Vision

When will I be re-eligible for the VSP benefits?
Contact VSP and give them your Identification number (which is your social security number).

 

Dental

WE RECOMMEND THAT BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY RESTORATIVE OR ORAL SURGERY DONE YOU HAVE THE DENTIST GIVE YOU A PRE-DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS. THIS WAY YOU WILL KNOW BEFORE THE WORK IS DONE HOW MUCH YOU WILL OWE.

HOW DO I FIND A DELTA DENTAL PROVIDER?
IS ORTHODONTIA COVERED?
WHAT IS THE ANNUAL MAXIMUM?
IS GENERAL ANESTHESIA COVERED IN A HOSPITAL SETTING FOR CHILDREN?

HOW DO I FIND A DELTA DENTAL PROVIDER?
www.deltadental.com OR CLICK ON LINKS.

IS ORTHODONTIA COVERED?
YES, UP TO $2000.00 LIFETIME FOR CHILDREN AGES 19 AND UNDER

WHAT IS THE ANNUAL MAXIMUM?
$1500.00 PER PERSON PER YEAR TO COVER EXAMS AND RESTORATIVE. YOU HAVE AN EXTRA $1000.00 THAT WILL COVER ORAL SURGERY.

IS GENERAL ANESTHESIA COVERED IN A HOSPITAL SETTING FOR CHILDREN?
NO, WE DO NOT COVER ANYTHING IN A HOSPITAL SETTING FOR DENTAL WORK FOR ANYONE.

 

 

VACATION / HOLIDAY

WHAT ARE MY CHOICES OF INSTITUTIONS TO SEND MY VACATION/HOLIDAY MONEY TO?
WHEN CAN I WITHDRAW MONEY FROM MY ACCOUNT?

WHAT ARE MY CHOICES OF INSTITUTIONS TO SEND MY VACATION/HOLIDAY MONEY TO?
ELECTRUS CREDIT UNION 763-569-4000 OR 1-800-252-4239

MN BUILDING TRADES CREDIT UNION 612-379-2006

WHEN CAN I WITHDRAW MONEY FROM MY ACCOUNT?
USUALLY AT THE END OF THE MONTH AFTER THEY HAVE POSTED IT TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN UPDATED BENEFICIARY ON FILE WITH YOUR CREDIT UNION.

 

RETIREMENT

HOW LONG IN ADVANCE SHOULD I LET YOU KNOW I WANT TO RETIRE?
WILL I BE PENALIZED FOR TAKING A DISTRIBUTION FROM MY DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN IF I AM YOUNGER THAN 59 ½ ?

HOW LONG IN ADVANCE SHOULD I LET YOU KNOW I WANT TO RETIRE?
WE NEED APPROX. 2 MONTHS LEAD TIME.

WILL I BE PENALIZED FOR TAKING A DISTRIBUTION FROM MY DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN IF I AM YOUNGER THAN 59 ½ ?
NO, YOU WILL PAY THE NORMAL TAX ONLY IF YOU ARE RETIRED BETWEEN 55 YEARS AND 59 ½ .