VERY SCARY

Halloween is this Thursday. I hope you have completed your costume, and you have already picked up the candy.

Wait. What? You are going to use last year’s costume and going to be handing out NECCO wafers?

Uggghhhhh! First, no kid wants NECCO wafers. Neither do any adults under eighty.

Secondly. What happened to you?

You know what is scarier than you using the same costume (again) and handing out NECCO wafers? Those people who:

  1. Continue to elevate their own needs above others, regardless of the cost.
  2. Insist that the world conforms to their point of view, regardless of the facts or other people’ perspectives.
  3. Feel entitled, because, well, they exist in the world. (Nice parenting Mom & Dad!)

Do you know someone like that? Yes? No?

Well, if you don’t, let me help you recognize them. Just look for the person getting all bent out of shape over the words on this page.

Think about this: “If the shoe doesn’t fit”, why get excited about these words. Conversely, if the shoe does fit, why would they get excited, upset or even angry about these words?

Now, ashamed and embarrassed, I can see. But upset, excited or angry, I cannot. After all, it is they who have chosen to disrespect the spirit of Halloween by using the same costume again and handing out NECCO wafers. (Both of those are deserved of a house egging. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)

But seriously, if this article occurs unpleasant it is because it is hitting a nerve. And, if it is hitting a nerve that is because the individual knows that they are deficient in their knowledge or actions or both.

Would these individuals prefer that we not say anything? Absolutely. In their mind that would mean that they could blame someone else as the sole source of their perceived problem. Interestingly, and in some weird way, they erroneously think that this also absolves them from their responsibility.

Take for example, the individual who has made self-payments for twenty-two (22) calendar quarters (that’s five and half years) out of the last forty (40) calendar quarters (that’s ten years) and is now appealing because he did not know when the self-payment for the last calendar quarter is due because he misplaced the shortage of hours (S.O.H.) notice. He actually stated within the appeal that it would be helpful if the date was communicated in other places and just not within the S.O.H. notice.

And yes, he has made self-payments before for the forth calendar quarter.

Now if you read both the Funds and Union newsletters of this past September, you would know that the Fund not only wrote about this very issue, and wrote about it at length, but also know that the due date is posted repeatedly in other places.

I have written prior whether or not all the communication and educational meetings actually make a difference. Sadly, the truth is that it doesn’t. Especially, if people are uninterested.

Conversely, maybe that “truth” just means that stating something once is enough. It is certainly sufficient for those who are paying attention, which are the majority of the participants. Moreover, it is not as if we are stopping anyone from paying attention. As a matter of fact, we invite everyone to do so.

Apparently, the answer to the question of when enough communication is, enough, is once. Wow. I feel kind of foolish as that answer has been right in front of us the entire time.

Now if you think otherwise, that’s cool. We respect that and remind you that the invitation extended two paragraphs prior, is an open invitation. So do, do not, do sometimes or never. That is totally up to you. We’re fine with whatever you decide. Just don’t make it everyone else’s fault, problem or expect to be bailed out if things go sideways.

Plus, it is not as if the Plan’s Summary Plan Description (SPD) Book doesn’t exist. The latter of which we urge you to read. Remember, this document contains pertinent information that you need to understand. Such information would include, but is not limited to:

  • How the Plan works,
  • What is covered,
  • What is not covered,
  • How the Plan’s coordination of benefit provision works and what happens when participants do not provide the plan, or provide the Plan timely, with the information it needs to properly adjudicate a claim.
  • How any in or out-of-network claim will be paid, and,
  • When any and every S.O.H payment is due.

As it relates to the last bullet point, if you do not know if you owe a shortage of hours payment for coverage within the first calendar quarter of 2025, you best find out. This time of year, moves fast, so if applicable, mark your calendars accordingly to make sure that your shortage of hours payment is received at the Benefit Funds office on time and in accordance to Plan provisions.

Regarding the fourth (4th) bullet point, if you have not completed the 2025 Health Care Fund Information Form sheet sent to all participants of the Lake County Indiana, NECA – IBEW, Health and Benefit Fund on September 26th, 2024, do so immediately and return that to the Fund Office.

By the way, failure to do so may adversely affect ….. Opps! There I go again. Over communicating. Suffice it to say, all that is listed within the appropriate section of SPD.

Lastly, in December, be on the lookout for that month’s newsletter as it will contain some very important news around the pharmaceutical benefit for all active and early retirees of the Plan.