Dependent Verification Process:
Memo from the Trustees

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MEMORANDUM

To: Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Plan Participants

From: Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Trust Fund Board of Trustees

Re: Dependent Eligibility Verification Process

Information about an upcoming Dependent Eligibility Verification Process
Check your Mail!

Our Health Plan is responsible for paying the claims of our participants and family members. The Plan uses contributions collected pursuant to Collective Bargaining Agreements to pay premiums for the healthcare benefits. Since the cost of medical services continues to rise, it is extremely important that the Plan control these costs and not pay claims on behalf of dependents who are not eligible.

The Trustees of the Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Trust Fund, are implementing a complete review of all dependents (spouses and children) enrolled in the Plan and partnered with Consova, a firm specializing in dependent eligibility verification process. In monitoring the Plan’s operations, we have become aware that there are a number of ineligible dependents covered by the Plan—either because participants do not remove them when their eligibility expires as required by Plan rules, or because participants are enrolling dependents who are not eligible.

Understand this: it is unfair to make the Plan and other participants pay for any ineligible dependents.

We realize that the Dependent Eligibility Verification may seem inconvenient for some of you, however, it is absolutely essential that we do everything we can to control Plan costs. By ensuring that we pay for the health benefits of only eligible dependents, we are controlling Plan costs—so that we can continue to provide the best possible benefits for eligible participants and eligible dependents. In preparation for the Dependent Eligibility Verification, be ready to provide copies of the certified marriage certificate, birth certificates, adoption certificate, court order/QMCSO, and federal tax returns. The Dependent Eligibility Verification mailer will commence later this month.

We hope that all participants will take the time to verify only those dependents who are legitimately eligible are enrolled in the Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Trust Fund. After we have a chance to review the results of the dependent eligibility verification, and have a clear view of the Plan’s true population, the Trustees will determine whether or not another dependent eligibility verification will be scheduled in 2019.

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