Alaska Teamster-Employer Welfare and Pension Trusts

2.3 WHEN COVERAGE MUST BEGIN

A Retired Participant must enroll for Health and Welfare Trust benefits before coverage will begin for the Participant and his or her Dependents. Enrollment forms are available from the Trust Customer Service Office. A Retired Participant must submit a properly completed enrollment form by 30 days after the Participant’s retirement date under the Pension Trust, or by 30 days after losing coverage under this Plan, whichever is later. However, a Retired Participant who has not previously enrolled in this Plan may enroll by submitting a properly completed enrollment form by 30 days after ceasing work for a Contributing Employer if (1) the individual has been credited with at least 20,000 Covered Hours under the Welfare Trust since his or her retirement date under the Pension Trust, and (2) the individual has Covered Hours under the Welfare Trust in at least 12 months out of the last 48 months before ceasing work for a Contributing Employer.

Coverage for Retired Participants must begin when the Pension Trust pays the Participant his or her first pension check unless the Retired Participant has health coverage through the employment of the Retired Participant’s spouse or has coverage under this Plan because of Dollars Bank or COBRA continuation. If a Retired Participant has coverage through his or her spouse’s employment or has coverage under this Plan because of Dollars Bank or COBRA continuation, coverage for the Retired Participant will begin when that coverage ends, and the Retired Participant has timely made the required self-payment.

Retired Participants must enroll all eligible Dependents at the same time they enroll. Coverage for eligible Dependents begins on the same day the Retired Participant’s coverage begins, or the date the Dependent is acquired, if later. If a spouse has other health plan coverage through his or her employment when the Retired Participant enrolls, the Retired Participant may enroll the spouse when the spouse subsequently loses coverage. The Retired Participant must enroll the spouse within 60 days of loss of coverage, and coverage must be effective the day after the spouse’s prior coverage terminated. If a Retired Participant marries after enrollment, the new spouse must be enrolled within 60 days of the marriage.

The Surviving Spouse of a Retired Participant is also eligible for Health and Welfare benefits, provided the Surviving Spouse pays any required self-payments and was enrolled in the Plan on the date of the Retired Participant’s death.

A Retired Participant must submit a properly completed enrollment form by 30 days after the Participant’s retirement date under the Pension Trust, or by 30 days after losing coverage under this Plan, whichever is later.