The IATSE National Health Plans administer two health insurance programs, Plan A and Plan C. There are some locals that administer their own plans. Under IATSE contracts, employers are required to contribute to these plans on behalf of their employees. These contributions are above and beyond wages. Plan A is a traditional plan best suited for full-time or staff employees. Plan C is designed specifically to address the needs of freelance employees. 

PLAN A

Plan A benefits include:

• Hospital and medical coverage through Empire BlueCross / BlueShield
• A prescription drug benefit through Caremark
• A weekly accident and sickness benefit that can provide a weekly income for up to 26 weeks, in the event you cannot work at your customary occupation, as a result of disability
• Dental benefits through Delta Dental or Self-Insured Dental Services (S.I.D.S.)
• Vision services through Davis Vision
• Life insurance that pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries in the event of your death

Employees qualify once they have worked 60 days under a contract in a period of six consecutive months. Coverage then starts on the first day of the second month after you complete the 60-day requirement, and continues for six months. Coverage continues uninterrupted beyond your initial eligibility period as long as you have 60 days in covered employment in each successive six-consecutive-month period. You may have an interruption in coverage if you fail to meet this requirement. The Fund Office will notify you if you don’t qualify for continued coverage as an active participant, and will send you a notice describing your right to pay for continuation coverage under the federal law known as “COBRA.”

You lose your eligibility for continued participation if you fail to work 60 days in a period of six consecutive months. When coverage ends for this reason, you will have an opportunity to continue your coverage under the federal law known as “COBRA.” COBRA requires that in certain circumstances health plans must offer the ability to self-pay for group coverage for a limited period of time.

Eligibility for coverage for your dependents begins on the same date that your coverage starts. Eligible dependents include your spouse, unmarried children until the age of 26, and domestic partner.

Click here for more information about Plan A (PDF).

PLAN C

Plan C is designed to provide flexibility for participants who are single, have dependents, or are covered by another insurance plan. Plan C benefits include:

• Hospital and medical coverage through Empire BlueCross / BlueShield
• A prescription drug benefit through Caremark
• In certain geographic areas, the option of participating in a health maintenance organization (“HMO”) as an alternative to the BlueCross and Caremark
• For participants in Puerto Rico, Triple-S, a preferred provider organization (“PPO”), provides medical, hospital and prescription drug benefits as alternatives to Blue Cross and Caremark
• Dental benefits through Delta Dental or Self-Insured Dental Services (S.I.D.S.)
• Vision services through Davis Vision
• A medical reimbursement program that lets you pay for certain unreimbursed medical expenses with money in your “CAPP” account
• Life insurance that pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries in the event of your death.

Eligibility for Plan C coverage is based upon employer contributions to a participant’s individual account. Once your employer has contributed an amount equal to one month’s C-2 coverage (currently $559) plus $150, you will be notified by the Fund of your eligibility to enroll. Participants can select from three plan choices; C-1, C-2 or C-3. Each level has a single and a family option. Insurance premiums are charged on a quarterly basis. Your premium is determined by the choices you make. The fund deducts the cost of your premium from your account. If your account contains less than the amount of the premium you can self-pay the difference. Each subsequent quarter you are sent a statement from the Fund reflecting the amount of employer contributions you’ve received, the amount of your premium, and the difference, if any, that you need to self-pay.

Plan C also includes a Medical Reimbursement Plan. This is designed for participants that have other health insurance coverage, either as a dependent on a spouse’s plan or a private insurer. Under the MRP, you provide the Fund proof of other coverage and your employer contributions are available to you to offset out-of-pocket expenses associated with your other coverage; i.e. deductibles, co-pays, etc.

Plan C allows you the flexibility to determine how best to provide health benefits to yourself and your family. 

Click here for more information about Plan C (PDF).