Mechanics Dispatch - October 7, 2019
SFO Teamsters:
Be on the lookout for the Aflac reps for the next couple of weeks. Contact your shop stewards for more info.
BENEFIT UPDATE
Dear Members:
As many of you are aware the Airline Division has built a mutually beneficial relationship with Aflac Insurance in this last few years and this relationship has helped our membership with affordable coverage for their families that offers whole life, accident, critical illness and short-term disability coverage. We are pleased to announce that as a result of the Airline Division and AFLAC we have added a Hospital Indemnity Program (HIP) as part of this program which will be available starting January 1, 2020.
The hospital indemnity policy will pay you cash for any hospitalization with at least one overnight stay, including those related to workers’ compensation claims. You will have a choice of two plans, a high or low option based upon the medical plan you have, so that you can select a plan you can comfortably afford.
The HIP will have guarantee issue, including:
no exclusions for pre-existing conditions (including pregnancy);
guaranteed issue coverage for all family members, including children up to age 26;
a policy that is fully portable when you leave United Airlines
I am also pleased to announce that because of the relationship we have built with Aflac all four of the current policies rates will remain unchanged through 2022. This is your union working for you and giving you choices of coverage that meet you and your family's individual needs.
The Airline Division will continue explore different areas of volunteer benefits that meet the members’ needs at a reasonable cost.
Open enrollment
With open enrollment right around the corner, October 7th-27th for employees and October 28th -November 8th for retirees, it is important that you are aware of changes to your benefit choices. The Company flyer is in the mail or you have already received it.
If you have vision coverage this year and you do not actively enroll, you will be automatically enrolled into one of the new plans as shown below:
IMPORTANT UPDATES FOR HEALTHY REWARDS PPO PARTICIPANTS:
$4,800 cap on hopw much you can accumulate in your HRA goes into effect January 1, 2020 - be sure your HRA balance is below $4,800 so you don't miss out on wellness incentive dollars from United Airlines.
As announced during last year’s Annual Enrollment, starting on January 1, 2020, there will be a limit on how much you can accumulate in your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) — $4,800.
If you participate in the Healthy Rewards PPO plan, you can earn wellness incentive dollars from United in the form of an HRA contribution when you complete your annual physical prior to the end of the year. HRA funds carry over year after year, as long as you remain enrolled in the Healthy Rewards PPO plan.
However, beginning on January 1, 2020, the amount that you can accumulate in the Healthy Rewards HRA will be capped at $4,800. If your HRA balance is at or above the $4,800 cap on January 1, 2020, you will not be eligible to earn your wellness dollars from United for 2020 (even if you complete your physical by year‑end). Eligibility for the wellness incentive will be determined in December for the upcoming incentive year.
In order to earn the full incentive amount from United in 2020, you will need to ensure you have completed your annual physical and your HRA balance is at or below the following amount by December 31, 2019:
The Healthy Rewards Program, HRA, should not be confused with the Health Reimbursement account, VEBA HRA. These are two separate programs with no relationship to each other. There is no cap on the VEBA
Fraternally,
Ken Meidinger
International Representative
Airline Division
UAL Benefits Coordinator
Look for this new coverage the next time the Aflac team visits your station in 2020. For more information, click here or contact Ken Meidinger at kenmeidinger@aol.com.