Open enrollment begins December 1, 2016 for the BLET Short Term Disability Part B Plan
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 30, 2016 — Open Enrollment for 2017 under the BLET’s Short Term Disability Part B insurance plan begins on December 1, 2016 and will end December 30, 2016. Part B Plan coverage under this open enrollment will take effect on January 1, 2017.
If you are a locomotive engineer working on a railroad that participated in the Wage/Rules portion of the National Agreement dated December 16, 2003 (BNSF, NS and Amtrak did not participate in this Plan so this information does not apply to engineers working on these properties), your coverage under Part A (described below) of the BLET Short Term Disability Plan will automatically continue based on continuing eligibility.
If you currently do not participate in Part B coverage(also described below), you may elect coverage during this enrollment period. If you currently participate and wish to opt out of Part B coverage, you also may do so during this enrollment period or at any other time with proper notice to BLET (see information following below).
Part A Plan — NON-OCCUPATIONAL DISABILITIES.
Benefits and coverage are as follows:
• Your eligibility is based on the payment of the premium being submitted by the railroad on a monthly basis to the BLET Trust. The railroad carrier pays the premium each month for Part A based on the eligibility.
• Part A benefits are $375 per week for non-occupational disabilities, with a maximum of 52 weeks of benefits.
• There is a 14-day waiting period before benefits are paid.
• Part A benefits are taxable as ordinary income – you will receive a W-2 from MetLife
• There is no Accidental Death or Dismemberment provision in this plan.
Part B Plan — OCCUPATIONAL DISABILITIES.
Part B is voluntary. Participation in this additional occupational coverage is not required.
Benefits and coverage are as follows:
• Part B benefits are $375 per week for occupational disabilities, with a maximum of 52 weeks of benefits.
• There is a 14-day waiting period before benefits are paid.
• The Part B premium will be paid by means of an automatic monthly direct debit withdrawal authorization arranged with your banking/financial institution. The Part B premium is $20.00 per month.
• Part B benefits are not subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement or any other personal injury settlement.
• Part B benefits are not considered taxable as ordinary income.
• There is no Accidental Death or Dismemberment provision in this plan.
• Effective January 1, 2017 if a member loses eligibility for Part A (non-occupational disabilities), enrollment in Part B will no longer insure a member for Part A coverage.
IMPORTANT:
Be aware that your initial eligibility for Part B remains dependent on your eligibility for Part A. In order to be eligible for Part A, you must have seven (7) starts in a month with one (1) start as an engineer in the month prior to enrolling for coverage.
CHOICES THAT MUST BE MADE BY DECEMBER 30, 2016:
If you are CURRENTLY ENROLLED in Part B:
To remain covered, you must sign and return a new authorization form to allow the BLET to collect the increased premium of $20.00 per month which is effective on January 1, 2017. New authorization forms have been mailed to all current Part B participants.
Authorization forms must be completed following the instructions on the form and be received by BLET before the close of business on December 30, 2016. The current authorization form will be void on January 1, 2017. If we do not receive your form by December 30, 2016 you will not be enrolled or covered by Part B.
To OPT-OUT of Part B coverage you may do so at any time (during open enrollment our outside the open enrollment period) by contacting Dave Ditzel (BLET Short Term Disability Liaison Officer) at (216)-241-2630, extension 205 or email at dditzel@ble-t.org, and we will send you the opt-out form.
Members who OPT-OUT of Part B coverage will not be eligible to re-enroll for that coverage until the next annual enrollment period and must meet eligibility requirements at that time. No exceptions will be made.
If you DO NOT currently participate in Part B and choose to do nothing, you will continue to be eligible for Part A coverage only.
If you DO NOT currently participate in Part B (and are eligible for Part A coverage) you may sign-up for Part B coverage during this open enrollment period. A letter for this purpose containing current information about the program, and an authorization form to complete and return to the BLET to authorize and start your monthly premium payments for Part B ($20.00 per month, effective January 1, 2017) is being sent by U.S. mail to all locomotive engineers eligible for Part A coverage at their current mailing address as provided by MetLife. This letter also includes a postage-paid return address envelope for sending your completed authorization form back to the BLET. Completed authorization forms must be received by BLET before the close of business on December 30, 2016.
All elections to enroll will become effective on January 1, 2017.
The monthly direct debits will occur on the 15th of each month, starting on January 15, 2017, and will continue until you opt-out.
FILING A CLAIM FOR BLET SHORT TERM DISABILITY
• Call (800)-858-6506 – this is the MetLife Claim Center, push “2” to initiate a new claim.
• Tell the operator you would like to file a new claim under “BLET Short Term Disability”.
• Provide information requested, including contact information for your attending physician(s).
• A Case Manager will be assigned and you will receive a file number, which you should keep available for future reference.
• Following the call, you will receive a form for authorization for release of your medical information from your doctor(s) to MetLife. Sign the document and return to MetLife.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, QUESTIONS and FORMS TO OPT-OUT OF PART B.
If you are eligible to enroll in Part B, but did not receive an open enrollment letter via US Mail, one can be sent to you by contacting Dave Ditzel at (216) 241-2630, extension 205, or email to dditzel@ble-t.org.
All questions regarding BLET Short Term Disability and forms to opt-out should contact Dave Ditzel, BLET Short Term Disability Liaison, at 216-241-2630, extension 205, or via email at dditzel@ble-t.org.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
bentley@ble-t.org