Plan B of the Teamsters Life Insurance Trust Fund is maintained for the exclusive benefit of eligible active employees and eligible retirees and are generally applicable to employees working at the employers listed below, different rules apply in some instances.  The Eligibility & Benefit Insert will describe any different rules that may affect you.  

Plan B Contributing Employers:

If you do not know your PLAN, contact the Trust's Administrative Office.

When Employer Paid Coverage Begins 

You are first covered for life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits on the date you complete 30 days of employment (employment status for 30 calendar days not seniority as such) for a contributing employer in a covered classification of employment. For this purpose, “covered classification of employment” refers to a class of employment established in a collective bargaining agreement which provides for participation in this Plan. If you are not actively at work on the 30^th day of employment, the start of coverage is deferred until you return to work.

For example, you are hired on June 17^th and therefore complete your 30^th day in employment status on July 16^th. However, you were laid-off from July 14^th through July 20^th and recalled on the 21^st. Even though your 30^th day of employment was on July 16^th you are not eligible for coverage until July 21^st, the date you returned to work.

The 30-day requirement is waived if you previously worked at the plant where you are now re-employed or have previous experience in the Northern California canning industry. If you meet this exception, your eligibility for benefits begins on the first day of the month you work one day in covered employment.

If your 30^th day of employment falls on or before the 15^th day of the month, your employer is required to make a contribution payment on your behalf for the month. If your 30^th day of employment begins after the 15^th, then even though you are covered, no contribution is required from the employer until the following month.

Classification Change

If your classification of employment changes (for example from Non-1400 Hour to 1400 Hour), your level of coverage changes effective with the first day of the month that coincides with or follows the date of your employment classification changed.

How Long Employer Paid Coverage Continues

After you have established eligibility for coverage, you are covered provided your employer continues to make the required contribution for each month during which you work one day, even if that day falls at the end of the month.  For 1400 Hour employees (or employees who met a similar full-time employment test as set forth in their collective bargaining agreement) vacation and sabbatical leave, if any, count as time worked.

When Employer-Paid Coverage Ends

Employer-paid life insurance coverage ends 31 days after the last day of the month in which you last worked one day (the “extension period”). Employer-paid benefits do NOT continue because you have been laid-off or are on medical leave.

For example, you worked at least one day in both January and February and no days in March. You are covered in January and February because you worked one day during each of these months. You are also covered by life insurance during March because of the 31-day “extension period”. You are not covered in April.

Unlike your life insurance coverage, your AD&D coverage ends on the last day of the month in which you work one day. In the above example, your AD&D coverage would end February 28^th.

Continuing Coverage by Making Self Payments

If you are laid-off or go on an approved leave of absence, you may continue your life and AD&D coverage for up to 24 months by making self-payments.  Employees who work on a seasonal basis (includes Non-1400 Hour employees) may prepay for off-season coverage through payroll deductions while working during the season.  One of the requirements for the retiree death benefit is ten years of continuous coverage prior to retirement.  Therefore, if you fail to self-pay for coverage when you are not working, you will not qualify for the retiree death benefit.

Self-payments must be made to your employer who will submit them to the Trust together with premiums for working employees.  Self-payments must begin the month after employer-paid coverage ends and must be continuous.  If you skip a month you cannot resume self-pay coverage without returning to covered employment and working at least one day.  Payments are due on the first day of the month for which coverage is being purchased.  Payments are considered late if they are not received within 30 days of the due date.  There is no grace period.  If a payment is late, self-pay coverage is cancelled.  As of July 1, 2006, the premium is $.85 per $1000 of coverage.  Based on these rates, a Non-1400 Hour employee eligible for $1,000 of coverage who wants to purchase ten months of off-season coverage will ask to have $8.50 withheld while working.  See your Eligibility and Benefit Insert for your self-pay premium rates. 

For example, you work at least one day in January and February.  You are laid off in March but wish to continue your coverage by making self-payments.  Your first self-payment is due on March 1^st and must be made by March 30^th to avoid being late.  This self-payment covers you for the month of March.

As in the example above, if you do not pay by March 30^th, your AD&D coverage will end on February 28^th and, because of the 31-day “extension period,” your life coverage will end on March 31^st.

You do not have the right to make self-payments if you quit, retire or are terminated from employment.  However, you may be able to continue life coverage by converting to an individual policy. 

When Self-Pay Coverage Ends

Self-pay life coverage ends 31 days after the end of the month in which you:

• make your last self-payment;
• terminate employment; or
• come to the end of your 24-month self-pay period,

whichever is earliest. Once the 24-month period expires, you cannot self-pay for coverage until you earn coverage again based on hours worked.

For example, your lay-off Continues through April and May.  You self-pay for April but make no payment in May. Your AD&D coverage will end on April 30^th. Because of the 31-day “extension period” your life coverage will not end until May 31^st. Because no payment was made for May, you cannot self-pay for June or any subsequent month. Coverage will begin again on the first day of the month in which you return and work at least one day.

Conversion to an Individual Policy

So long as MetLife underwrites the group policy, if your life insurance coverage terminates, you have the right to purchase an individual policy from MetLife. You must apply for this coverage in accordance with the following deadlines: 

If you convert to an individual policy, you will make your premium payments directly to MetLife. The cost of the policy will depend on your sex and age. If you return to covered employment in the industry within two years, you must surrender your individual conversion policy (and you will be paid the cash surrender value thereof) before you can resume coverage under the Active Plan. Note, the time you are covered by the conversion policy does not count in meeting the 120-month requirement for coverage under the retiree plan. 

Retirees who lose Retiree Plan coverage may also convert their group coverage to an individual policy.

Standard Benefit Amount

The Plan pays benefits to active emloyees or their beneficiaries based on the level of contributions made by the Employer.  The benefit paid upon your death is referred to as the “Standard Benefit Amount (SBA).”  The Standard Benefit Amount for seasonally employed participants may be different from that for full-time employees.  In addition to benefits payable upon your death, benefits are also paid if you lose a limb or your eye sight.  The benefit payable in these instances is expressed as a percentage of the Standard Benefit Amount.  For example, the benefit paid when a limb or sight in one eye is lost is 50% of the Standard Benefit Amount.  So, if your beneficiaries receive $4,000 when you die then the amount payable to you upon losing a limb or sight in one eye is $2,000.  Under the Plan, once you retire the death benefit is $1,000, regardless of your Standard Benefit Amount as an active employee.  See the Eligibility & Benefit Insert for the Standard Benefit amount for your coverage. 

The chart below shows the benefit (expressed as a percentage of the Standard Benefit Amount) for each type of loss covered under the Plan.

To qualify for benefits under the accidental death and dismemberment policy, the accidental injury must occur while you are covered under that policy and the loss must occur within 12 months of the accidental injury and must be the direct result of the accidental injury, independent of any other cause.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Exclusions 

Appealing a Denied Life, AD&D or Retiree Death Benefit Claim

If a claim for Life, AD&D or retiree death benefits is wholly or partly denied, the claimant or his or her authorized representative may submit a request for a review of the claim. The request for review will be considered by a Review Panel designated by the Board of Trustees which shall consist of an equal number of Employer Trustees and Union Trustees. Requests for review must be sent to the Administrative Office which will refer the appeal to the Review Panel. This appeal must be filed within 60 days after the date the claim is denied. The claimant may submit written comments, documents, records, etc., with regard to his or her claim to the Administrative Office which will forward such information to the Review Panel. The claimant will also have an opportunity to review and obtain copies of all documents, records, and other information relevant to his or her claim, free of charge from the Administrative Office.

The review by the Review Panel will consider all information submitted by the claimant, regardless of whether it was reviewed as part of the initial determination. The Review Panel will render a decision within 60 days of receiving the appeal from the Administrative Office unless special circumstances require an extension of time of up to an additional 60 days. If such an extension is required, the claimant will be notified in writing by the Review Panel before the initial 60-day period ends.

If the appeal is denied, a notice of determination will be provided to the claimant that will include:

•  Specific reasons for the denial;
• Specific references to the Plan provisions upon which the denial is based;
• A statement regarding the claimant’s right to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits; and
• A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA § 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review.

 The decision of the Review Panel on appeal is FINAL AND BINDING on all persons.

Appealing a Denied Request for Disability Premium Waiver

If a claim for a disability premium waiver is denied, the claimant or his or her authorized representative may submit a request for a review. The request for review will be considered by a Review Panel designated by the Board of Trustees which shall consist of an equal number of Employer Trustees and Union Trustees. Requests for review must be sent to the Administrative Office which will refer the appeal to the Review Panel. Appeals regarding a disability premium waiver must be filed within 180 days after the date the claim is denied by the Administrative Office. The claimant may submit written comments, documents, records, etc., relating to his or her claim to the Administrative Office which will forward such information to the Review Panel. The claimant will also have an opportunity to review and obtain copies of all documents, records, and other information relevant to his or her claim, free of charge from the Administrative Office.

The Review Panel will take into account all information submitted by the claimant, regardless of whether it was reviewed as part of the initial determination. Where an appeal is based on a medical judgment, the Review Panel will consult with a properly trained health care professional. The health care professional will not be the same individual who was consulted in connection with the initial determination nor a subordinate of that individual. The identity of any medical or vocational expert whose advice was obtained in connection with the appeal will be provided upon request.

Within 45 days after the Review Panel receives a request for review, the Review Panel will:

1. Grant the disability premium waiver; or
2. Send written notice to the claimant explaining that special circumstances require additional time (up to 45 days) to process the claim and give the date by which a decision is expected to be made. If additional information is needed to decide the claim, the notice will specify the needed information. If additional information is requested, the claimant will have 45 days to provide the information. If the claimant does not provide the requested information within 45 days, a decision will be made on the basis of the previously submitted information; or
3. Send written notification to the claimant that the appeal has been denied, in whole or in part. This notice will include:
   • Specific reasons for the denial;
   • Specific references to the Plan provisions upon which the denial is based;
   • A statement regarding the claimant’s right to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits;
   • A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA § 502(a); and
   • The notice may also specify:
     
     • Whether an internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse determination, and either the specific rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion or a statement that such information is available upon request free of charge; or
     • Whether the determination was based on an exclusion or limit, and either an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment for the determination or a statement that such information is available upon request free of charge.

The Review Panel’s decision on appeals is FINAL AND BINDING on all parties.

Naming Beneficiaries 

It is important that you name one or more beneficiaries when you first become eligible for Active Plan coverage. You can do this by filing out the Trust’s Beneficiary Designation form and mailing it to the Administrative Office. BE SURE TO SIGN AND DATE the beneficiary form. Unsigned forms or forms received by the Trust after you die are not valid. 

You may change your beneficiary any time you want by filing out a new form. You cannot change your beneficiary by calling the Administrative Office. The change must be made in writing on a form approved by the Trust. 

Enrollment - Beneficiary Designation Form  

Preference Beneficiary Rule 

If you do not designate a beneficiary, your death benefit under either the Active or Retiree Plan will be paid to beneficiaries in the following order: 

1. To your spouse (a domestic partner registered as such with the State of California is considered to be a spouse).
2. To your children, equally, if you have no spouse.
3. To your parents, equally, if you have no children.
4. To your brothers and sisters, equally, if you have no parents.
5. To your estate. 

ANY PAYMENT MADE IN GOOD FAITH TO ANY OF THE ABOVE BENEFICIARIES DISCHARGES THE TRUST’S LIABILITY TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH PAYMENT.

Total Disability (Disability Waiver Coverage) 

If, while covered by the Active Plan, you become Totally Disabled before your 65^th birthday then your life insurance coverage, but not AD&D, will continue so long as you remain Totally Disabled. You do not need to make self-payments (i.e. premiums are waived while you are Totally Disabled). However you do need to file a claim giving proof of your disability within 12 months of the date the disability began. And, whenever requested by the Administrative Office, you will need to furnish continuing proof of your disability. 

Totally Disabled means that because of sickness or injury you are completely and continuously unable to engage in any occupation or business for an income or profit, for which you are qualified by reason of education, training or experience. 

If, while you are Totally Disabled, you become eligible for the retiree death benefit, your disability benefit will be replaced by your retiree benefit. 

Disability Premium Waiver Application 

To retain coverage when you are Totally Disabled, you or your authorized representative MUST file a request for premium waiver. If the request is approved, you are covered without have to self-pay the premium (i.e. the premium is waived) for as long as you remain Totally Disabled. 

Deadline:  YOU MUST SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR PREMIUM WAIVER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE DATE YOUR DISABILITY BEGAN. 

Disability Waiver Form  

Sign the claimant’s portion and forward the form to your physician who must complete the sections describing your disability. Your physician must then file the request for premium waiver form with the Administrative Office. 

The Plan reserves the right to require ongoing proof of your continuing Total Disability. If you receive a request for an update on your condition, fill out your portion and forward it to your doctor. If you do not respond within 90 days, coverage under Total Disability provisions of the Active Plan will be cancelled.

Retiree Plan Death Benefit Eligibility 

When you die, your beneficiaries are eligible for a death benefit if you meet either of the following two tests and are not affected by any exclusion. 

Test 1 You retired prior to January 1, 1983, AND EITHER: 

    1. Began receiving a Teamster pension within 24 months (or 11 months for retirees who died before July 1, 2000) of the last day you were covered under the 

        Active Plan (grace period rule), OR

           2. You were age 65 when you retired. 

Test 2 You retired on or after January 1, 1983, AND you were continuously covered by the Active Plan for 120 months (120-month rule) AND EITHER

          1. Began receiving a Teamster pension within 24 months (or 11 months for retirees who died before July 1, 2000) of completing a period of 120 months of continuous

              coverage under the Active Plan (grace period rule), OR

          2. You are covered under the Active Plan for a reason other than disability waiver on or after your 65^th 

Exclusions: Even if you meet test 1 or test 2, you are NOT eligible for a retiree death benefit if:

          - You retired prior to February 1, 1973, the date the Trust started, or the date your employer first participated in the Trust, whichever is later.

          - You retired on or after January 1, 1983, and your employer (or a successor to that employer) no longer contributes to the Trust. (This exclusion does not apply to certain

            employers who have agreed to be subject to the withdrawal liability provisions of the Trust. A list of such employers is available from the Administrative Office.) 

Refer to the guidelines used in applying Tests 1 and 2. 

Conversion to Individual Policy

If you lose retiree coverage (because, for example, your former employer no longer contributes to the Trust) you have the right to purchase an individual policy from MetLife. 

So long as MetLife underwrites the group policy, if your life insurance coverage terminates, you have the right to purchase an individual policy from MetLife. You must apply for this coverage in accordance with the following deadlines: 

Unless a different amount is set forth in the Eligibility and Benefit Insert, the death benefit under the Retiree Plan is $1,000 whether you retired as a full-time employee or as a seasonal employee.   

If, after the effective date of your Teamster Pension you return to work, your death benefit will be the higher of your Active Plan benefit or your Retiree Plan benefit (but not both). For example, if you are a retired 1400 Hour employee eligible for the $2,000 benefit who returns to seasonal employment, your life insurance benefit will be $2,000, not $1,500, the Active Plan benefit while working as a seasonal Non-1400 Hour employee. Once your Active Plan coverage ends, you will continue to have coverage under the Retiree Plan.