Welfare Notes - November 2011

November, 2011

Initial Active Eligibility & Coverage

Active members become eligible for coverage in the month after they complete 120 mandays within a 12-month period.  Once a member becomes eligible, the member must enroll in a plan for coverage.  The medical and dental plan choices are dependent upon your residence or the port from which you ship. 

Continuing Eligibility & Coverage for Active Participants

After initial eligibility requirements have been met, continuing coverage requires the participant to work at least 60 mandays within the eligibility period earned.  Depending upon the months in which those 60 days are worked, the beginning and ending months for the new eligibility period will vary because continuing coverage is based on a “rolling” eligibility period.  The new eligibility period starts in the month following the 60th day worked.  As an example, if a member with an initial Group One eligibility period January 01, 2011 through December 31, 2011 ships 60 Group One days in June and July 2011, the new Group One eligibility period and coverage earned would be August 01, 2011 through July 31, 2012.    

In another example, if a member initially earns Group Two eligibility for the period January 01, 2011 through June 30, 2011 and subsequently works 60 days in March and April 2011, the new Group Two eligibility period and coverage earned would be May 01, 2011 through October 31, 2011. Each time another 60 Group Two days is worked, a new rolling eligibility period begins in the month following the 60th day worked.
  
Group One Mandays can count for Group One, Group Two, or Group Three eligibility.  Group Two Mandays can count for Group Two or Group Three eligibility.  Group Three Mandays can count only for Group Three eligibility.

Group One eligibility is good for 12 months of member and dependent coverage.  Group Two eligibility is good for 6 months of member and dependent coverage.  Group Three eligibility is good for 6 months of member only coverage.

To reestablish eligibility that has lapsed due to insufficient qualifying mandays, 120 qualifying mandays must be worked in the appropriate Group or Groups in a consecutive 12-month period beginning after eligibility lapsed. Please contact the SUP Welfare Plan Office for any eligibility or benefit coverage questions.

Michelle Chang, Administrator  
Patty Martin  
Virginia Briggs, Claims   
Michael Jacyna, Eligibility