The Plan year for Welfare benefits begins on July 1 of each year. Generally the Fund Office will send enrollment packages to all eligible Local No. One members in late May. Eligibility for Welfare benefits is based on your earnings in the calendar year immediately prior to the July 1 start date. For more information regarding enrollment, please see the “Eligibility and Enrollment” page in the Welfare section.

There are special situations which may make it possible for you to enroll or make changes to your Welfare benefits during the Plan year. For more information, please see the section titled “Mid-Year Coverage Changes” on the “Eligibility and Enrollment” page.

The three Tiers have different levels of coverage. The highest level of coverage is Tier III, and the lowest level is Tier I. To see the major difference between the 3 coverage Tiers, please see the Benefit Comparison Chart.

The self-pay premiums are also different for the 3 Tiers, and you can compare those rates on the Self-Pay Premium Chart.

Your eligibility for a particular Tier of coverage is based on your calendar year earnings in the year prior to the July 1st start date for the Welfare Plan year. As an example, we will use your 2008 calendar year earnings to determine your eligibility for health coverage beginning July 1, 2009. The earnings threshold that you must meet for the different Tiers of coverage are as follows:

If you are eligible for Tier I or Tier II coverage, you have the option to “Buy-up” to Tier III coverage. The cost for the “Buy-up” is shown on the Self-Pay Premium Chart. Please note that you are not able to Buy-up from Tier I to Tier II coverage.

Please note that if you elect to Buy-up to Tier III coverage, it is not possible for you to change that election before the next July 1st open enrollment.

Self-pay premiums are shown on the Self-Pay Premium Chart. For more information regarding self-pay premiums, please see the “Self-Pay Premiums” page.

You will receive an invoice from the Fund Office in advance of the first day of each quarterly period. Checks or money orders should be made out to:

The Welfare Fund of Local No. One, IATSE

Cash payments may be made at the Fund Office, located on the 6th floor of 320 West 46th Street, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fund Office now accepts credit cards. For more information, click here. If it is more convenient, please note that you have the option to pay your self-pay premium upfront for the full year, or every 6 months, instead of every quarter.

Your self-pay insurance premiums are due in advance and must be received no later than the first day of each quarterly period (July 1st, October 1st, January 1st, and April 1st). If your payment is made after the due date, you will be charged a $25 late fee. If we do not receive your self-pay premium and $25 late fee by the end of the month in which it was due, your coverage will be terminated retroactive to the first day of the quarter for which you failed to timely pay, and you will not have another opportunity to enroll for the remainder of the Plan year.

If your coverage is terminated for not paying your self-pay premium on time, you will not be able to enroll for coverage until the next July 1st open enrollment, assuming that you are eligible at that time.

Unmarried dependent children remain eligible for health coverage while they are in full-time attendance at an accredited school or college, until the end of the calendar year in which they turn age 23. You will be required to provide proof of continued enrollment twice a year. Please call the Fund Office if you have any questions.

The customer service number is (800) 244-6224. That phone number and other important details regarding your health coverage are shown on your CIGNA ID card, which you should keep with you at all times.

For information regarding your coverage, including provider directories and claims information, you can go to MyCIGNA.com. If you haven’t been to the web site before, you will need to register. Just look for the blue “Register” button underneath the log-in section of CIGNA’s home page.

You can request a new CIGNA ID card at MyCIGNA.com. If you haven’t been to the web site before, you will need to register. Just look for the blue “Register” button underneath the log-in section of CIGNA’s home page.

Once you have logged in, go to the “MY PLANS” tab, and on the far right under “I Want to . . . “ you will see a link for printing a temporary ID card, or to request a new ID card.

If you have any problems related to your CIGNA-provided health care, or any issue related to you health care coverage, please call us here at the Fund Office: (212) 247-5225