Newsletter

Coordination of Benefits - If you, or a covered dependent, has other insurance coverage, make sure to revisit the Health and Benefit Plan’s SPD, to learn what your responsibilities are and what you need to do and do timely, in order to coordinate the other insurer’s benefits with that of the 697 Health and Benefit Plan.

We are very grateful to be in an economy where there is work to be had within our craft and trade. What is equally gratifying to report is because of the current work situation there is a considerably lower call for this benefit. What’s the end result? Participants are refiling their S.U.B. Fund balances.

The HouseCall and Annual Wellness visit benefits that are available through your UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage Plan are designed to help the most infirmed of our retired population stay on-top of their health between regular doctor visits. In other words, to help to close any “gaps” in care.

September 8th marks the opening of the 2022 NFL season. That means it’s time to get your NFL Football Pool picks in. I know, I know. You are only in a confidence pool and the only reason you play is for bragging rights. Riiiiggghhhttt! Regardless the Fund recommends making some picks right now, you know, just in case you get busy.

Over the summer, an amendment to The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act was added that essentially placed the nation’s prevailing-wage law for construction workers, The Davis-Bacon Act, under attack.

For those who are not familiar, the Davis-Bacon Act ensures that workers on federally subsidized construction jobs of $2,000 or greater to be paid no less than the wages tradesperson’s and craftsperson’s would be paid for similar work performed within their jurisdiction.

Okay, sure, at first glance, I can see why you wouldn’t be that interested in reading any further. So let me start all over and retitle this piece with a title that is a bit sassier and more thought provoking:

Pop Quiz time.

ERTS is an anacronym for:

1. Expected Return to Service
2. Electronic Resources Tracking System
3. Embedded Real Time Systems
4. Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System

TAX FREE INCOME IN RETIREMENT IS A REALITY

AS YOU ARE A PARTICIPANT THAT UNDERSTANDS THIS REALITY, AND YOU WISH TO RETIRE ON YOUR OWN TERMS AND IN STYLE, YOU NEED TO DO THIS!

It neither takes mathematical machinations nor back of napkin calculations to determine that tax-free income is a great thing.

ATTENTION RETIREES
YOU CAN
RECEIVE YOUR MONTHLY PENSION BENEFIT AND A WEEKLY PAYCHECK

Here is how that works.

Retirees who wish to return to work under a Collective Bargaining Agreement of an IBEW Local Union from now until December 31st, 2022, are allowed to work AND receive their Local 697 monthly Pension Benefit if:

A) Ninety (90) calendar days have elapsed from the date of their first monthly IBEW Local 697 Pension benefit payment, and,

B) At the time that they return to work and throughout that stay of employment, the employees ERTS election delineates that all benefit fund contributions are to be reciprocated to the Benefit Funds of the IBEW Local 697.

If the retiree returns to work please be advised that:

C) You will maintain your current retiree status within the Lake County Indiana, NECA-IBEW Health and Benefit Plan.

Did you know that United Healthcare provides a hearing benefit? Specifically, the benefit is:

$0.00 cost for a Routine Hearing Test up to 1 per year.
$1,500 combined (meaning in total for both ears) allowance for hearing aids, every three years and only if you established a “Hearing Account” with United Healthcare prior to ordering your hearing aids.