family
supplemental benefit
update
The
Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that weight-loss programs to treat
obesity are now covered under the Family Supplemental Benefit.
You can be reimbursed for the fees you pay to join a weight loss
program as well as to attend meetings. Following
IRS guidelines, the cost of special food you may purchase as part of the
weight loss program is not reimbursable. In
addition, weight loss program costs are not reimbursable if you’re
participating just to improve your appearance or for your general well being.
As
a reminder, the Family Supplemental Benefit pays for certain out-of-pocket
health care expenses for you or your eligible dependents up to a maximum
benefit per family each calendar year. For
2006, the maximum amount is based on the number of hours that were contributed
to the Welfare Fund on your behalf during the period beginning
June 1, 2004
and ending
May 31, 2005
, as shown below:
|
If the Number of Hours Contributed on Your
Behalf was …
|
|
Your Family Supplemental Benefit Maximum
is …
|
|
1,500
to 1,749
|
|
$250
|
|
1,750
to 1,999
|
|
$500
|
|
2,000
or more
|
|
$750
|
The
Family Supplemental Benefit is not available to you in 2005 if fewer than
1,500 hours were contributed on your behalf from
June 1, 2004
through
May 31, 2005
.
Following
are some examples of eligible expenses that qualify for reimbursement under
the Family Supplemental Benefit:
·
charges that exceed the lifetime or calendar year maximums stated in
the Welfare Plan;
·
unreimbursed medical,
vision or dental expenses, including orthodontia;
·
prescriptions not
covered under the plan;
·
vision care expenses,
such as orthoptics, vision training, radial keratotomy, lasik surgery;
·
acupuncture, performed
by a licensed practitioner;
·
chiropractic services
in excess of Plan limits, performed by a licensed practitioner;
·
special telephone
equipment and television adapter for closed-captioned service for the deaf;
and
·
any other health care
expense that is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a
legitimate federal tax deduction, including weight-loss programs to treat
obesity.
This
is not a complete list of eligible expenses.
If you have any questions regarding this benefit, or need a claim form,
please contact the Welfare Office at (630) 734-0074.
