A life event as related to your Fund Office health and welfare benefits is any event that changes your residence, household demographics, or a health insurance situation. There are many life events that require you to notify the Fund Office; this allows the Fund to update enrollment and eligibility records so that claims can be processed accordingly. Please notify the Fund Office as soon as possible if you experience any life events, such as moving to a new address, marriage, the birth/adoption of a child, divorce, or retirement.
Are you experiencing a life change?
Notify the Fund Office as soon as possible if you experience one of the following life events:
- Move to a new address
- Marriage
- Birth of a child
- Adoption
- Divorce
- You become disabled
- Retirement
- You become eligible for Medicare
- You or your spouse enter active military service
- Termination, lay off, or reduction in hours
- Your death (your spouse or beneficiary should contact the Fund Office)
Benefit Plan Checklist for Life Events
Move to a new address
- Contact the Fund Office to provide the new address
- Complete a new Data Card
- Update your address with your local union office
Marriage
- Marriage certificate; your spouse can be covered under your plan immediately upon marriage and when all required forms are received
- Complete a new Data Card
- Provide the spouse’s Social Security Number on the new Data Card
- Spousal and Dependent Insurance Form must be completed if your spouse is employed
- Review your beneficiary designation for the Plan’s life and accidental death and disability provisions
- Review the Fund rules for Coordination of Benefits, if applicable
Birth of a Child
- Complete a new Data Card
- Provide the dependent’s Social Security Number on the new Data Card
- Provide the dependent’s birth certificate as soon as possible
- Review your beneficiary designation for the Plan’s life and accidental death and disability provisions
- Review the Fund rules for Coordination of Benefits, if the dependent will have other insurance coverage
Adoption
- Complete a new Data Card
- Provide the dependent’s Social Security Number on the new Data Card
- Provide the dependent’s birth certificate as soon as possible
- Provide a copy of the legal adoption papers
- Review your beneficiary designation for the Plan’s life and accidental death and disability provisions
- Review the Fund rules for Coordination of Benefits, if the dependent will have other insurance coverage
Dependent Child turns 18
- Customer Consent form signed by the dependent, if the dependent wishes to allow access to his/her medical information.
Dependent Child turns 26
- When your dependent child turns 26, their eligibility will end with the Fund at the end of the month that they turn 26.
Divorce/Legal Separation
- Divorce decree or legal separation document
- Legal orders regarding any dependents’ custody and/or directives for medical coverage
- Review your beneficiary designation for the Plan’s life and accidental death and disability provisions; upon divorce, your spouse is automatically removed as beneficiary
Retirement
- Review your eligibility for the supplemental retirement benefit plan
- You must be at least 55 years old, or totally disabled
- You must meet eligibility for benefits requirements dependent on recent eligibility with the Fund
- Submit an application for the retiree plan to the Fund Office within 90 days of:
- Your last day of work
- The date on your social security award letter
- The date on your social security disability award letter
- The expiration of your accumulated hour bank
- Submit acceptable proof of retirement to the Fund Office, such as:
- An award letter from the National Electrical Benefit Fund
- An award letter from any other IBEW-sponsored pension fund
- An award letter from the Social Security Administration
Death
- Death certificate
- Contact information for deceased person’s representative or power of attorney
Experiencing a Life Event?