Medical Insurance For Out Of Work IAM Members & Families

As more and more of our IAM members are being furloughed with the loss of traditional employer-paid health insurance, the IAM Executive Council has approved a program to help address this problem. This program makes available at affordable costs, temporary and permanent medical insurance for out of work IAM members and their families.

These policies, offered by Employee Benefit Systems (EBS) and underwritten by Fortis Insurance Company, represent a significant savings over the cost of COBRA insurance, the federally mandated coverage that allows workers to continue their employers’ group health insurance for up to 18 months. EBS has provided individual and supplemental policies to more than 50,000 IAM members at their worksites over the past six years.

The health insurance program will be administered by the Department of Employment Services, a new department based at IAM headquarters. Former IAM Cares President Tony Chapman will serve as director of the new department.

Eligible IAM members can choose a temporary major medical policy that is available for as little as 30 days or as long as 185 days. This plan is available on an immediate basis, without a medical exam provided the applicant has no disqualifying preexisting medical conditions.

Eligible members or families needing coverage for more than six months may also choose between two permanent plans with different features, benefits and deductibles.

Various state laws govern eligibility and the plans are not currently available in all locations. Members will be advised of the new program in upcoming articles in the IAM Journal, Imail and in ‘Have you heard?’ bulletins distributed by District and Local Lodge Communicators. Additional information about the program is available by calling Tony Chapman at 301-967-4717 or by calling EBS at 888-521-2900.