Rolling Twelve Month Open Enrollment Procedure

Once you are enrolled in a medical or dental plan, you must remain enrolled in that plan for twelve consecutive months.  After those twelve months, you may change your enrollment to an alternative plan.   Example:  Bob enrolls in the Self-Funded Medical Plan in February of 2004.  Bob may first switch to an HMO Plan for February 2005 coverage and may switch to an HMO Plan for any month after February of 2005.  To switch coverage Bob must request a change of coverage form from the Fund, complete the form and return it to the Fund by the 15^th day of the month preceding the month coverage will change.  If Bob files a change form with the Fund Offices by March 15, 2005, his HMO coverage shall be effective April 1, 2005.

The Trustees have adopted two exceptions to the requirement that you remain within a particular plan for a minimum of twelve months prior to switching to another plan.

First, if your doctor, medical group or hospital discontinues participation in the HMO or PPO program in which you are enrolled, you may change your enrollment by a request to the Fund Offices.  This same exception is applicable to the Dental Plan.  To accomplish this change you must request a change form from the Fund Offices.  The completed change form must be received by the Fund Offices by the 15^th day of the month preceding the month of the change, i.e. January 15^th for February coverage.  

Second, if you are enrolled in an HMO Plan and move outside of the HMO’s service area, you may change your enrollment by a request to the Fund Offices.  You must request from the Fund Offices a change form and return the completed form to the Fund Offices.  Such a request must be received by the Fund Offices by the 15^th day of the month preceding the month of change, i.e. the 15^th day of January for February coverage.