STD benefit that pays after 30 days of illness or injury approximately $338 per week tax-free for 26 weeks.(The final offering of this plan is contingent on meeting the enrollment criteria for the Texas Board of Insurance of 30% of the group)
LTD benefit for Mauser, Ohmstede, US Steel OOH, and International Paper
Free $10,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policy for 2 Years for Calling into the Call Center to enroll or ask questions.
Why are we being offered insurance?
There are gaps in our benefit plans that were identified as each group of the locals employer benefit plans was reviewed.
STD Gaps:
New Hires- Full Pay vs Half pay for many of our employers for up to the first 13 years of employment
Employees that Work Overtime- in the event of illness or injury significant financial setback between benefit payout and out of cost medical expenses.
More Serious Diagnosis has out of expenses associated with medical plan
Cancer
Immediate individual max out of pocket expenses at diagnosis
Higher rates of cancer diagnosis between represented groups in the local
Life Insurance
Current employer provided life insurance is offered while you are employed
Price increases at age interval milestones
How does this insurance address the gaps?
STD
After 30 days of absence, 22 weeks of benefit is provided at $400.00 per week tax-free.
Cancer
First Diagnosis Benefit Payout — $7,500.00
Surgical Coverage Payout up to $3,000.00
Radiation/ Chemotherapy Payout up to $2,500.00/month
Hospital Confinement Payout $300.00/day
Self-Administered Drugs Payout up to $2,000.00/ month
The price locks in and does not increase as you get older.
Guaranteed Issue — No medical qualifying questions
Fully Portable — You can keep it after you retire
Terminal Illness Acceleration of Benefit — Pays 30% of Coverage if Terminal Condition Results in Life Span less than 12 months; Remainder paid at time of death.
Quality of Life Acceleration Benefit — Converts a portion of the death benefit to a monthly payment if the person is unable to do 2 of the 6 activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, feeding, using the restroom, walk) or has permanent cognitive impairment.
How much does it cost?
STD- Approximately $8.25 per week for the member
Cancer- Approximately $7.46 per week for the member
What is the deal with Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy the local provides?
It is provided at no charge when you call whether you enroll in other insurance or not
You must call to activate the AD&D policy which is $10,000 of coverage for two years.
Does this apply to members families as well?
Yes- if you are interested family can be covered as well.
How do you pay for it?
It can be set up to draft from your account, debit card, or credit card.
Why is this being handled by a call center? I don’t want high pressure sales for insurance.
They have a much understanding of the benefit plans. They can answer questions and are intaking personal information if you elect to enroll.
What is the number to the call center to enroll or ask questions?
501-943-4182
What was your experience with the call center?
They were helpful and answered my questions. It did not take long, and they were very professional. It was a good experience, and there was no pressure to purchase.
When does open enrollment end?
Then enrollment period is being extended until September 30th to give members the opportunity to ask questions and make decisions.
How does open enrollment work?
Like any other annual open enrollment, after it closes the next available opportunity to enroll will be September of 2026
We want to make sure you have information concerning this enrollment. Members often reach out to the local after a serious illness or injury occurs and they understand the financial hardship associated with recovery. If you believe one or more of the plans meets your personal needs give them a call and ask questions.
1. Is this available for all members, whether you have all full pay or partial full and half pay? Yes, the benefit will be available for all members.
2. Benefit up to $8,800 tax-free. The total payout for 26 weeks would be $10,400. Does this mean the first $8,800 is tax-free and then the remaining $1,600 is taxed? There is a 30-day elimination period or “waiting period”, so for the first 30 days of the disability, the benefit does not pay. We quoted it like this because almost every member had 100% pay for the first few weeks, even if they had only been on the job for a couple of years.
3. Does “30-Day Elimination Period” mean you must be out for 30 days before becoming eligible to receive the benefit? Yes, you have to be out for 30 days, and the benefit kicks in on the 31st day.
4. We have short-term disability. However, new hires are only offered a % of 26 weeks of full pay until they are employed for 13 years. How will this help? We will be able to offer a supplement of an additional $400.00 per week after the 4th week while you are healing post-surgery, accident, or are sick.
5. Our group employer does not have short-term disability. What will this offer? 60% salary replacement. Is it non-taxable? Yes, you are paying with an after-tax dollar.
6. Are there pre-existing conditions? The insurance has a 3/12 policy that looks back 3 months - anything you went to the doctor for or take medication for in the past three months prior to coverage will not be covered for the first 12 months.
Long Term Disability
1. Would this be paid out also if the company provided LTD was being paid to a member or is it one or the other? No. If your company offers a 60% LTD plan, we would not be able to offer an LTD plan through the Union. In the meeting last week, I was saying the LTD was quoted because, at that time, I did not know who had a company program. If you have a 60% program from the company, then we cannot do a union LTD program.
2. Is this an LTD plan that pays if you can’t perform your job or only if you can’t perform any job? For the first 2 years of your disability, the insurance company will only look at your job. After that time, they will look at your experience, education, and your hourly rate to see if they can help you find something comparable to what you were making before. They will not ask you to go flip burgers or anything like that.
3. Are there pre-existing conditions? The insurance has a 3/12 policy that looks back 3 months - anything you went to the doctor for or take medication for in the past three months prior to coverage will not be covered for the first 12 months.
Group Cancer and Specified Disease Coverage
1. What does “ICU Rider” mean? This is an additional rider you can purchase. If you are in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), you will receive an additional $325 per day you are confined.
2. Does the premium increase as I get older? No, the price is locked in.
3. Is there a first occurrence benefit payout for first cancer diagnosis? Yes, $7,500.00- plus much more coverage. Check out the plan summary for more information.
4. Is there a wellness benefit pay out? Yes, $75.00- plus much more coverage. Check out the plan summary for more information.
Group Term Life Insurance to Age 121
1. Is this for members only? Members and their families.
2. Does the premium increase as I get older? No, the price is locked in.
3. What does long-term care rider mean? Long term care rider – if you cannot bathe or dress yourself, or a cognitive impairment - the policy allows 4% per month to pay out to a care facility.
4. Is this life insurance a guaranteed issue? Yes. No medical qualifying questions.
5. What if I am given a terminable diagnosis? If you are within 12 months of passing, 30% of your death benefit will pay out with the remainder after you pass.
General Questions
1. If someone opts not to get coverage now, will there be an annual enrollment period? Yes, there will be an annual open enrollment each September.
2. If someone opts not to get coverage, will they be required to provide “Evidence of Insurability” to enroll at a later enrollment period? If they wait for an open enrollment, they will not have to fill out an evidence of insurability form. If they want to apply for coverage at a different time other than the open enrollment period, they will have to fill out the E of I form. With all new members, they will have 30 days from the time they become eligible members to sign up with no medical questions. If they do not sign up during that time, they will have to wait for an open enrollment.
3. How will the payment be made; payroll deduct etc.? We use a third-party administrator for premiums. They will pull the premiums from the member's account of choice(checking account, debit card or credit card), pay the premiums directly to the insurance company and send the reports which match the premiums.
4. When will the enrollment period begin, and how long will it last? The month of September 1-30th
5. If a non-member joins, when will they be eligible to enroll in the benefits? They will have 30 days from the time they join the union to enroll in the benefits. If they do not enroll during that time, they will have to wait for an open enrollment. If they elect to get out of the union, their insurance will be terminated. They will no longer meet the minimum requirements to be eligible for the insurance.
6. Will every new-hire class be eligible to enroll upon joining or will they have to wait for an annual enrollment period? With all new members/new hires, they will have 30 days from the time they become eligible members to sign up with no medical questions. If they do not sign up during that time, they will have to wait for an open enrollment. We will put together enrollment information for the new member packets, so they have the ability to enroll during those first 30 days.
7. How will members enroll? They will call the call center and identify themselves. They will be able to ask questions and enroll in their customized benefits.
8. Is there an additional benefit being offered just for enrolling? Yes, a $10,000 accidental death policy will be provided for the member at enrollment.
9. If a current member retires and would like to keep the plan as a retiree, can they keep it? They can keep their life insurance and cancer plans in retirement.
10. What if a non-member wants to enroll? They must be a member of USW Local 13-1 in order to receive the benefits.
