Welfare Trust Fund

The Summary Plan Description and Plan Document

The NECA-IBEW Welfare Trust Fund 2020 Edition Summary Plan Description and Plan Document ("SPD/PD"), as amended, contains complete features of the Base Plan, Alternative Plan, and Supplemental Retirement Plan. Further details related to Plan operations are contained in the Trust Agreement, documents, forms, and other agreements which are used to carry out Plan provisions.

Summary Plan Description/Plan Document

This booklet is called a Summary Plan Description and Plan Document (SPD/PD). This document contains the complete features of the Base Plan, Alternative Plan, and the Supplemental Retirement Plan.

View SPD/PD

Schedules of Benefits

The Schedules of Benefits for all Plans (Base, Alt, Retiree) summarizes the dollar benefits, quantity limits, deductibles, and co-insurance for each Plan.

View Schedules of Benefits

Newsletter

Newsletters contain messages from the Trustees, benefit notes and changes, and important information about your privacy and keeping your contact information current. Newsletters are generally released twice per year after the bi-annual Trustees Meetings. 

View Latest Newsletter

  

The SPD/PD is amended from time to time and is restated generally every five years. This SPD/PD, as amended, supersedes any previous SPD/PD. If the Plan is amended or modified, you will receive written notice of such changes in the form of a newsletter or Summary of Material Modifications (“SMM”). The Fund’s regular newsletters act as SMMs. These Plan change notices can be found in the Documents and Forms Library, in the Newsletters category, and should be kept with your SPD/PD.

Links to the Plan Amendments are listed below.

Amendment 1: Death/ADD/Disability benefits, Allowable Charges, and telemedicine

Amendment 2: Retiree Eligibility, the Voluntary Hours Donation Program, telemedicine, and reciprocity

Amendment 3: Additions to the SPD/PD Definitions, Surprise Medical Bills, and other patient protections

Amendment 4: Coverage of Speech and Occupational Therapy, COVID-19 testing

Amendment 4, Exhibit A: Changes to Schedules of Benefits as related to Amendment 4

Amendment 5: Medicare Advantage Plan and Retiree benefits

Amendment 6: Occlusal guards

Amendment 7: Voluntary Hours Donation Program

Amendment 8: Deleting of Grandfathered Status

Amendment 9: Changes to Covered Medical Expenses

Amendment 10: HIPAA privacy and security rule compliance

Amendment 11: Initial Eligibility and self-payments

Amendment 12: Deadline waiver requests

Amendment 13: Narcan benefit and Sword Health Online physical therapy benefit

Amendment 14: Special Education and Cellular or Gene Therapy

Amendment 15: Covered Medications, Prescription Drug Benefit Exclusions, General Limitations and Exclusions, and other benefits.


  

Health and Welfare Plan Benefits

A current Data Claim Statement (Data Card) is required to avoid any delays in processing your claims. For your convenience, the Data Card can be printed from this website; you can then complete and return the completed Data Card to NECA-IBEW by fax or postal mail. Please do not email the Data Card as it contains private information and email may not be HIPAA-compliant.

 

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Medical Benefits

A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is a group of physicians and hospitals that have negotiated a contract with the Welfare Trust Fund to provide discounts to members.

Physicians and hospitals that participate in the PPO Network are known as PPO Providers. BlueCross BlueShield is the Plan’s current PPO Network.

  Find a BCBS Provider

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Dental Benefits

The Welfare Trust Fund has an agreement with a Preferred Provider Dental Organization (PPDO), Guardian DentalGuard Preferred Select. You and your dependents may choose dental treatment provided by the PPDO or non-network providers. PPDO providers have negotiated discount prices with Guardian Dental. By using a PPDO provider, you will gain more services for your dental maximum.

  Find a Guardian Network Provider

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Vision Benefits

EyeMed is the vision care network that administers a network of vision care providers (known as the "Insight Network") on behalf of the Fund. Participants and Dependents eligible for vision benefits can choose to go to a provider in the EyeMed Insight network and receive discounts on services and materials, such as exams, frames, lenses, and contacts.

Find an EyeMed Provider

 

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Prescription Benefits

Prescription Drug Benefits are available to all employees and their eligible dependents. The Plan’s Prescription Drug Benefits are provided through MedImpact.

MedImpact

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Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), through TELUS Health, is a free resource to help Fund Participants and Dependents manage issues affecting their work or personal life, such as mental and behavioral health, substance abuse, financial wellbeing, and more. The Fund covers up to three free EAP visits per year.

Telus Health

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EPIC Hearing

The Welfare Trust Fund, in partnership with EPIC Hearing Service Plan, assists active participants and pre-Medicare retirees* in locating hearing care professionals and, in most cases, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for hearing exams and hearing aid devices.

EPIC Hearing

  

 

Welfare Trust Fund Documents & Forms

  

Welfare Trust Fund FAQs

Your coverage and benefits can be affected by Life Events.