Eligibility for employees is based on hours worked under a collective bargaining agreement between IBEW Local 6 and a contributing employer. To initially establish eligibility you need 300 hours of covered work within a 12 month period. When you become eligible, you may select one of the three available plans. If you do not make a selection, you will automatically be enrolled in the Self Funded PPO Plan.

A Dependent of an Eligible Employee becomes eligible at the same time that the Employee becomes eligible, or the date the Dependent is acquired, if later.

Dependents include your lawful spouse, dependent children under age 19, dependent children age 19 through 24 who are full time students, certain disabled children, and domestic partners who qualify according to the Plan.

Effective 8/1/2010: Adult children up to age 26, regardless of marital, student or tax dependent status, may remain eligible for the Plan's medical coverage. The extended coverage does not include dental or vision. The adult child will not be eligible under the Plan, however, if the child is eligible for other group health plan coverage other than through a parent. The imputed income for such coverage is subject to California State Income Taxes, but not Federal Taxes. The Plan requires advance payment of all State Payroll taxes (including any employer portion) on a semi-annual basis.

Because the Trust office needs to process the contributions sent in by your employer, there is a lag month between the month your accumulated hours reach 300 and the month your eligibility begins. So, if you reach 300 hours for initial eligibility in December, then your coverage will begin on February 1st.

After you establish initial eligibility you must work at least 120 hours per month to remain covered. Note that for work prior to 11/2006, 125 hours were required.

The hour bank helps to keep you covered during months when you work less than 120 hours. Each month after that, if you work more than 120 hours, these hours will be added to your hour bank. If you work less than 120 hours and you have sufficient hours in your hour bank, hours will be withdrawn from the hour bank to make up the 120 hours needed for continued eligibility. The maximum number of hours you can save up in your hour bank is 1000. Note that for work prior to 11/2006, 125 hours were required.

Your coverage will end when the combined sum of your worked hours and/or your hour bank is less than the 120 required for continued coverage. When you lose coverage you may be able to make payments under the Plan's Continuation Coverage program,or under COBRA provisions of the Plan to continue coverage for a limited time. If you qualify under total disability rules, you may also be able to continue coverage.

You have 12 months after you lose coverage to reinstate without having to reestablish initial eligibility. To reinstate, you need to obtain a combination of worked and bank hours totaling 120 (125 before 11/06). Keep in mind that the lag month applies when you reinstate eligibility.