FAQs

Part D: Employee Account Benefits

(Note: the rules in this Part are for the Employee Account benefits; they do not apply to regular monthly benefits from the Trust, which are discussed above in Part C.)

What benefits are offered by an Employee Account? Top

The Trust maintains individual Employee Accounts, generally for the transfer of sick or vacation leave to the Trust. The expenses covered from an Employee Account are the same as for the monthly lifetime benefits, i.e., reimbursement of “Covered Expenses” (see Part B).  However, there are two important differences:

  • The claim can be in any amount up to the amount in the Employee Account; and
  • Claims are paid only until the Employee Account balance is exhausted (not for lifetime).

What happens to Employee Account benefits upon the death of a participant? Top

In the event of death, a Surviving Spouse may utilize the deceased participant’s Employee Account funds to pay for covered medical expenses until the balance reaches zero.

Possible forfeiture. Note: if there is no Surviving Spouse, then the balance of the Employee Account is divided equally among all Children (as defined in the Plan) for reimbursement of Covered Expenses. If there are no Children, then it forfeits to the Trust.