If you die while you are eligible for Plan coverage as an active Employee under the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73 Welfare Plan A for Active Members, eligibility for your Dependents will continue under Plan A for Active Members without self-contribution for as long as you would have been eligible for coverage under Plan A for Active Members, based on your accumulated eligibility.
Your Dependents may then continue coverage under this Plan, the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73 Welfare Fund Plan for Retired Members, through this special health coverage continuation rule if:
- You died as an active Employee,
- Your accumulated eligibility under Plan A for Active Members has been exhausted,
- You had at least ten (10) pension credits awarded by the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73 Pension Fund at the time of your death,
- You were eligible for a pension (including a Reciprocal Pension) from the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73 Pension Fund at the time of your death, and your surviving spouse is receiving a survivor’s pension as the result of your death, and
- You worked at least fifteen (15) full years with Employers that were signatories to collective bargaining agreements with the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Union or one of the Sheet Metal Workers’ Unions.
To be eligible to continue coverage under this Special Health Coverage Continuation provision, your surviving spouse must waive COBRA Continuation Coverage.
Your surviving eligible spouse and Eligible Dependent Children must make the required self-payments to the Plan for this coverage at a rate set by the Trustees. Self-payments must begin in the month following the month of your death. This special coverage is only available if your spouse was married to you throughout the 12-month period immediately before your death.
Your spouse’s coverage under this provision will terminate if your surviving eligible spouse remarries following your death. If your surviving eligible spouse remarries, your spouse may elect to continue coverage for an additional 36-month period after remarriage. This coverage will be the same coverage the surviving spouse received under the Special Health Coverage. Continuation provisions, will be offered at the COBRA rate of coverage, but will not constitute COBRA coverage.
Coverage will terminate for your surviving Dependent Child who continues coverage under the Special Health Coverage Continuation provisions when the Dependent Child no longer meets the definition of Eligible Dependent under the Plan. The Dependent Child may elect COBRA Continuation Coverage for up to 36 months from the date the Child no longer meets the definition of an Eligible Dependent.
If you die as an active Employee without meeting the requirements of this provision, your surviving eligible spouse and Eligible Dependent Children will be entitled to COBRA continuation coverage only.
If your surviving eligible spouse is receiving a pension from the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73 Pension Fund, there is no continuation of eligibility under the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73 Welfare Fund Plan A for Active Members and self-payments for Retiree Plan benefits must begin immediately.
The premium for coverage is based upon the surviving eligible spouse’s age. The rate will generally be decreased when the surviving spouse reaches age 60, again when the surviving spouse reaches age 62, and again when the surviving spouse reaches age 65. If the surviving spouse remarries, the Eligible Dependent Children’s coverage will continue under the Special Health Coverage Continuation provisions, until each Child reaches the limiting age.