But there are some things you can do -- beyond applying to the Railroad Retirement Board for unemployment benefits -- to ease the financial strain.
The following applies if you are covered under the NRC/UTU Health & Welfare Plan or the Railroad Employees National Health & Welfare Plan:
* If you are furloughed in December, your employee and dependent health-care coverage will continue through April 2009 -- for four months following the furlough. While there may be an employee cost-sharing contribution deducted from the December earnings (for January coverage), the remaining months of continued coverage will not require employee cost-sharing contributions.
* Generally, the plan provides continued coverage through the fourth month following the month in which you last provided compensated service, or received vacation pay (provided the vacation pay was received prior to the date of your furlough). Thus, if you are furloughed in January, coverage would continue through May.
* Some general committees may have local contract language that differs, and it is essential that you discuss your layoff with your local and/or general chairperson to make that determination.
* Also, if you are not covered by the NRC/UTU Health & Welfare Plan, or the Railroad Employees National Health& Welfare Plan, or are not sure if you are, you should also contact your local and/or general chairperson for more information.
More information may be found in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) books for these plans under the heading, "Eligibility and Coverage." If you do not have a copy of the SPD, you may obtain one by calling the insurance company that administers your benefits (Aetna, Highmark BCBS or United Health Care) at the toll-free phone number on your health-care ID card.
Also provided in that section on "Eligibility and Coverage" is information on extended coverage (beyond four months) under the so-called COBRA option. This law permits you to purchase the same group coverage for the individuals in your family desiring such additional coverage. The payment rates are determined on a per-person basis (adult/children) and are subject to increase March 1, 2009. To obtain information on the payment rates, contact United Health Care at 1-888-445-4379.
