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Medical Plan Update: Termination for Opt-Out of Plan Coverage

Effective 1/1/2018, medical coverage will be terminated at the end of the month following receipt of a spouse’s or an adult dependent’s notice to opt-out of plan coverage.

An eligible spouse or adult dependent children (age 18 or older) may elect to opt-out of plan coverage by submitting a signed written request to the plan. The opt-out will be effective for all claims incurred after the end of the month in which the opt-out notice is received by Carpenters Trusts. The opt-out will apply to all coverage, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance.

An opt-out of plan coverage is not a COBRA qualifying event and a spouse or dependent child who opts out will not be eligible for COBRA Continuation Coverage. Additionally, a spouse or dependent child who has opted out of coverage and is not enrolled in the plan at the time of a COBRA qualifying event will not be eligible to re-enroll or to elect COBRA Continuation Coverage.

A spouse or dependent child who opts out of coverage may enroll again, provided you satisfy the eligibility requirements for coverage during the month for which re-enrollment is sought. The re-enrollment will be effective the first day of the month following the month in which the enrollment request is received by Carpenters Trusts.

You may not unilaterally elect to remove your spouse or an adult dependent child without the spouse or adult dependent child’s written consent. A minor dependent child (under age 18) cannot opt-out of plan coverage and cannot be removed from the plan by you or your spouse.

For complete information about terms of coverage and benefits, review the Summary Plan Description on our website.